Five Essential Tips for Choosing the Right House Sitter for Your Smallholding

Smallholdings and large rural properties in England and Wales present their own unique challenges for housesitters. Alongside the need to ensure pets are happy and healthy, there’s often the additional responsibility of keeping the poultry fed, watered, and safe from Mr Fox. Care might also be needed for livestock, including rare breed sheep, alpacas, ponies, and pigs to name the most common.

Rural properties can feel isolated and, unlike towns and cities, are often extremely dark at night. Many housesitters might find staying in large, unfamiliar homes intimidating, particularly in winter, when storm-felled trees can block roads or snow and ice make narrow country lanes more treacherous. Talking roads, ideally, the housesitter should be able to get to and from your home using their own transport and this may be an obvious first question to put to them.

Security is another key concern. With rural crime steadily increasing, vigilance has never been more important. For owners of rural properties, finding a house sitter with the experience and ability to care for pets, livestock, and home can be a challenge. Whether you’re planning a long-overdue holiday or a quick break, these tips will help you ensure your smallholding is left in safe, capable hands.

Look for relevant experience

Caring for a smallholding is not the same as watering a few houseplants or walking a family dog in a suburban home, especially if livestock are involved. You’ll need someone with hands-on experience managing properties like yours. Consider asking:

• Have you cared for livestock before? This might include chickens, goats, or sheep.
• Are you familiar with rural properties? Features such as AGA cookers, septic tanks, or unusual heating systems may need specific instructions for sitters unfamiliar with them.

An experienced sitter will know what to do in emergencies, from a power outage to a fox in the chicken coop.

Prioritise pet care skills

Your animals deserve attentive, knowledgeable care. Look for a sitter who understands the specific needs of smallholding pets, from feed schedules and medication to handling behaviours like reactivity or flightiness.

Key questions to ask:

• Do you have experience with farm animals and their routines?
• Can you administer medication or spot signs of illness?
• Are you able to handle potential challenges, such as identifying and removing ticks?

A good sitter will maintain consistent routines, reducing stress for your animals in your absence. They’ll also know when an issue is an issue and be able to respond appropriately. For a comprehensive guide to crafting clear, detailed care instructions that ensure your pets are happy and healthy while you’re away, read How to Keep Your Pets Happy While You’re Away​.

Assess Security Awareness

Rural properties are often targets for opportunistic theft, making security a top priority. Ensure your sitter understands the importance of vigilance, from closing gates and locking doors to conducting routine property checks—even at night.

What to discuss:

• Are you familiar with security systems such as alarms or cameras?
• How would you respond to potential threats, such as trespassers or suspicious activity?

Choose someone who values discretion and takes proactive steps to ensure your property is secure.

Establish Clear Communication

Trust and clarity are essential. Arrange a call before hiring to discuss your expectations.

Topics to cover:

• Provide a detailed briefing of the challenges the sitter might face.
• Confirm how and when they’ll update you while you’re away—whether through daily texts or weekly check-ins.

For more advice on preparing for a seamless house sit, including how to create a comprehensive list of emergency contacts, see Preparing Your Home and Pets for a Stress-Free Experience.

Create a Welcoming Environment

A comfortable sitter is a happy sitter, and this benefits your smallholding. Prepare your home with essentials such as a clear guide to your property, keys, and instructions for the oven and hob, dish washer, washing machine, and TV. If possible, provide OS maps of local walks. For sitters not familiar with the area, a list of local attractions, recommend farm shops, and nearest convenience stores is a big help.

Finding the right housesitter for your smallholding requires planning and careful consideration, but the peace of mind it brings is worth the effort. By prioritising experience, communication, and security, you can ensure your home, animals, and property are well cared for.

At A-Breed-Apart, we offer bespoke housesitting services tailored to rural homes like yours. Let us help you take that well-deserved break while keeping your smallholding running smoothly.