How safe is it to hire a pet sitter?

Anyone who wants to become a sitter on Pet Lounge sends an application about their experience with animals, where they live and which services they want to offer. We go through every application, verify identity and run a background check through an external partner before a sitter is approved. Only then can they take bookings.

A profile does not appear in search until Pet Lounge has published it. Sitters can pause their own profile, for example while on holiday, and it drops out of search until they are back. Profiles that no longer meet the requirements are removed.

Sitters also sign an agreement with clear requirements for care and communication. Under that agreement, Pet Lounge can suspend or remove a sitter who, for example, neglects an animal, receives serious or repeated complaints, or takes payment outside the platform. Sitters who cancel at short notice can receive a warning or a fee, and repeated late cancellations can lead to suspension.

After a completed booking, the pet owner is invited to review the sitter. Reviews must be truthful and based on genuine experience, and Pet Lounge can remove reviews that break the rules.

• Read several reviews, not just the average rating.
• Look for details about pets like yours, such as breed, age or special needs.
• A new sitter without reviews can be a good choice, but take extra time over the meeting beforehand.

You pay through Pet Lounge, either when you send the request or once the sitter has confirmed the booking, and the money is not paid out to the sitter until the booking has been carried out. If the sitter cancels, we try to find a replacement, and otherwise you get your money back. We explain how the price is calculated in our guide to what a dog or cat sitter costs.

So keep both payment and communication on the platform. Bookings and payments outside Pet Lounge are not allowed under the agreements, and they are not covered by the Protection Fund. A sitter who asks you to pay them directly is a warning sign.

The Protection Fund is not insurance. It is a discretionary fund that Pet Lounge pays into every month, and each case is assessed individually. We always recommend your own pet insurance.

If your dog or cat is injured in an accident during a confirmed and paid booking, the Protection Fund can contribute to vet costs such as an emergency examination, treatment, X-rays and medication resulting from the injury. You pay the first SEK 500, and the fund can reimburse up to SEK 1,500 per incident. The fund covers dogs and cats.

• The fund does not cover illness, chronic or previously known conditions, or breed-specific conditions.
• It does not apply during meetings before the booking or outside the booked dates.
• It does not cover injuries caused by sitter negligence, or a pet that has gone missing.
• The incident must be reported within 48 hours of the booking ending, and documents submitted within 14 days of the incident.

A meeting before the first overnight stay or a longer booking is the best way to get a feel for a sitter, especially if the sitter will stay in your home or your pet will sleep over at the sitter's home. Send a message through Pet Lounge and bring these questions:

• The sitter wants to book or be paid outside the platform.
• Answers to your questions are vague or evasive.
• The sitter does not want to meet before a long booking.
• You feel pressured to decide quickly.
• The sitter shows little interest in your pet's routines or health.

If something feels wrong, choose a different sitter. You can always contact us if you want help or want to tell us about something that worries you.

Safety depends on both sides doing their part. Give the sitter accurate information about your pet's health and behaviour, make sure your pet is vaccinated, treated for parasites and microchipped, and leave contact details for your vet and an emergency contact. Our checklist before the stay covers everything.

Read more about our work on trust and safety and how Pet Lounge works, or find a sitter near you.