Home > Blog > Best Countries for House Sitting
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Largest market by far | USA with 6,330+ THS listings |
| Second largest | UK with 3,786+ THS listings |
| Biggest surprise | France, where Nomador has 1,000+ listings and dominates over THS |
| Most listings per capita | New Zealand and Australia punch well above their population size |
| Data source | TrustedHouseSitters and Nomador listing counts as of June 2026 |
| Important note | Numbers change daily and do not include local platforms, which add thousands of additional sits in major markets |
The question people ask most often when they are considering house sitting for the first time is not "how does it work" or "is it worth it." It is "where should I go?" The answer, based on actual listing data from the two largest global platforms, is clearer than most people expect. Two countries account for more than two-thirds of all available house sits worldwide. A handful of others have meaningful volume. And the rest of the world, while it has sits, requires patience and flexibility rather than browsing and choosing.
These numbers are from TrustedHouseSitters and Nomador, the two platforms with the broadest global coverage. They are a snapshot from June 2026 and they change daily as new sits are posted and filled. They also do not include local platforms, which is important because in countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, France, and the USA, regional platforms add hundreds or thousands of additional listings on top of what THS and Nomador show. The actual number of house sits available in any major market is higher than the figures below suggest, sometimes significantly so.
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The Top 10 Countries for House Sitting
| Rank | Country | THS Listings | Nomador Listings | Combined | Local platforms to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | ~6,330 | ~56 | ~6,386 | House Sitters America |
| 2 | UK | ~3,786 | ~19 | ~3,805 | House Sitters UK, Mindahome UK, HouseSitMatch |
| 3 | France | ~76 | ~1,000+ | ~1,076+ | Nomador dominates this market |
| 4 | Australia | ~569 | ~1 | ~570 | Aussie House Sitters (1,200+), Happy House Sitters, Mindahome AU |
| 5 | Canada | ~504 | ~30 | ~534 | House Sitters Canada |
| 6 | New Zealand | ~112 | 0 | ~112 | Kiwi House Sitters |
| 7 | Germany | ~79 | ~50 | ~129 | None significant |
| 8 | Spain | ~46 | ~46 | ~92 | None significant |
| 9 | Belgium | ~15 | ~60 | ~75 | None significant |
| 10 | Netherlands | ~18 | ~6 | ~24 | None significant |
1. United States: The Largest Market in the World
The USA dominates house sitting with over 6,330 active listings on THS alone as of June 2026. Nomador adds another 56. House Sitters America adds more at $49 per year with the advantage of lower competition per listing.
The volume is spread across the entire country but concentrates heavily in California, Florida, New York, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest. Major cities like Los Angeles (117 THS listings), New York, and San Francisco have high listing counts but also high competition. Rural and suburban sits are easier to secure and often involve larger properties with more interesting setups.
The USA is also the only country where THS runs free criminal background checks for sitters, which adds an extra layer of trust for homeowners. For non-US sitters, an ESTA or appropriate visa is required for entry. Our customs and border guide covers the travel documentation questions.
2. United Kingdom: The Birthplace of Modern House Sitting
The UK has roughly 3,786 THS listings, making it the second largest market globally. House sitting is deeply embedded in British culture, more so than in almost any other country, which means both the supply of listings and the competition from sitters are high.
London alone has 960 listings as of June 2026. Outside London, sits are well distributed across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The UK also has the richest ecosystem of local platforms. House Sitters UK at £29 per year (use code HSG15 for a discount) has 33 London listings and broader UK coverage. Mindahome UK at £20 per year adds additional options. HouseSitMatch includes ID checks as standard for all sitter profiles. Browsing all of these alongside THS gives you the fullest picture of what is available. Our UK house sitting platforms guide covers the complete comparison.
3. France: Where Nomador Dominates
France is the one of the few major markets where THS is not the primary platform. THS shows roughly 76 French listings. Nomador shows over 1,000. The combined total makes France one of the top three markets globally, but only if you are on the right platform.
Nomador is a French company and its strength in France is unmatched. If you are planning to house sit in France, a Nomador membership is not optional, it is the primary platform for this market. THS works as a supplement but not as a primary source. Our house sitting France guide covers the platform breakdown and regional differences.
4. Australia: More Than the THS Numbers Suggest
THS shows roughly 569 Australian listings. This significantly understates the actual market because Australia has the strongest regional platform of any country: Aussie House Sitters, which typically has over 1,200 active listings at any time. Add Happy House Sitters and Mindahome Australia, and the total Australian market is easily double what THS alone shows.
My own house sitting journey started in Australia with a solo Christmas sit in Sydney through Aussie House Sitters almost ten years ago. The Australian market is mature, well-established, and attracts sitters from around the world. Our house sitting Australia guide covers which platform wins for which region.
For sitters planning Australia specifically, Aussie House Sitters should be the primary platform, with THS as a strong secondary option.
5. Canada: Strong and Growing
Canada has roughly 504 THS listings and 30 on Nomador. House Sitters Canada adds additional local coverage, particularly for sits outside the major cities.
The Canadian market is strong relative to its population and growing. Sits concentrate in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta, with Vancouver and Toronto being the most competitive urban markets. Rural Canadian sits, particularly in BC and the Maritime provinces, are among the most scenic house sitting opportunities anywhere.
6. New Zealand: Small but Exceptional
New Zealand has roughly 112 THS listings and nothing on Nomador. Kiwi House Sitters adds local coverage. For a country of five million people, 112 THS listings represents a remarkably active house sitting culture.
The sits tend toward rural properties with gardens, often with stunning landscapes as a backdrop. Competition is lower than in the UK or Australia because fewer international sitters think to look here. For sitters who want a combination of natural beauty and low competition, New Zealand is worth monitoring closely.
7. Germany: Split Between Platforms
Germany has roughly 79 THS listings and 50 on Nomador. The market is split between the two platforms with neither dominating, which means checking both is necessary to see the full picture.
German house sits often involve well-maintained homes with precise welcome guides and detailed instructions. The culture around house sitting in Germany is thorough and organised, which can be refreshing for sitters who have experienced less structured sits elsewhere. Caro and I started house sitting in Bochum and the precision of the German approach set a high standard for every sit that followed.
8. Spain: Growing Slowly
Spain has roughly 46 THS listings and 46 on Nomador. The market is small but evenly split between the two platforms. Sits concentrate along the Mediterranean coast and in the Balearic and Canary Islands, where the large expat community creates most of the demand.
For sitters who speak some Spanish, inland and rural sits are available with significantly less competition than the coastal and island listings. The cost of living in Spain is low enough that even the travel costs between sits are manageable.
The Rest of the World
Beyond the top 10, house sitting opportunities exist but in much smaller numbers. These markets require patience, flexibility on dates and locations, and a willingness to check listings regularly rather than browsing and choosing.
| Country | THS Listings | Nomador Listings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | ~29 | ~35 | Small but high-quality sits |
| Portugal | ~23 | ~3 | We are currently sitting here |
| Mexico | ~27 | ~5 | Growing expat market |
| UAE | ~33 | ~1 | Surprisingly active |
| South Africa | ~22 | 0 | Small but established |
| Costa Rica | ~10 | ~2 | Niche but scenic |
| Italy | ~6 | ~10 | Surprisingly low for such a popular destination |
| Thailand | ~9 | 0 | Southeast Asian base for nomads |
| Belgium | ~15 | ~60 | Nomador stronger here |
| Austria | ~6 | ~6 | Very small market |
| Greece | ~3 | ~5 | Very small despite tourism popularity |
| Singapore | ~4 | ~2 | Minimal |
Italy and Greece stand out as surprisingly small markets given how popular they are as tourist destinations. The explanation is similar in both cases: strong family networks mean homeowners are more likely to have family look after pets than to use a platform, and the short-term rental market absorbs many properties that might otherwise be listed for house sitting.
How to Use This Data
This ranking tells you where to look first, but the numbers alone do not tell the full story. Here is what actually matters when choosing where to house sit.
Match the platform to the country. THS dominates everywhere except France (where Nomador wins) and Australia (where Aussie House Sitters wins). In the UK and Canada, local platforms add meaningful coverage on top of THS. For any other country, THS is likely your primary source. Our best platforms guide covers which platform wins where.
High listing counts mean high competition. The USA has 6,330 listings but it also has the most sitters competing for them. A market with 100 listings and low competition can be easier to break into than a market with 6,000 listings and intense competition. New Zealand, for example, has far fewer sits than the UK but is significantly easier to get confirmed in as a newer sitter.
Set up alerts rather than browsing. In smaller markets like Portugal, Switzerland, or Italy, new sits appear infrequently. Browsing once a week will miss them. Setting up search alerts on the Standard or Premium THS membership means you see new listings the moment they go live, which matters enormously when the entire country has 23 active sits.
Local platforms often have lower competition. A sit on Aussie House Sitters or House Sitters Canada may attract five applications where the same sit on THS would attract fifty. If you are building your first reviews, local platforms can be the easier path. Our building trust as a new sitter guide covers this approach.
Conclusion
The house sitting market is heavily concentrated. The USA and UK together account for more than 10,000 THS listings, which is the majority of the global market on that platform. Add France (via Nomador), Australia (via Aussie House Sitters and THS), and Canada, and those five countries cover the vast majority of all available house sits worldwide.
For sitters starting out, the biggest markets offer the most choice but also the most competition. For experienced sitters looking for something different, the smaller markets in continental Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia offer genuine opportunities with far less competition, provided you are patient and flexible.
The numbers in this article are a snapshot from June 2026. They will be different next month. What will not change is the relative ranking: the USA and UK will remain dominant, France will remain a Nomador market, Australia will remain an Aussie House Sitters market, and the rest of the world will remain worth checking but not worth relying on as a sole source of sits.
Start with TrustedHouseSitters using the 25% discount, add the relevant local platform for your target country, and set up alerts for the markets you care about most.
Caro and I have completed 20 house sits across 12 countries, driven 19,000km across Europe in our 1998 VW T4, and saved over $26,500 in accommodation costs over three years of house sitting. If you have questions about house sitting in a specific country, send us a message on Instagram, we read every DM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the most house sitting opportunities?
The United States with over 6,330 active listings on TrustedHouseSitters as of June 2026, plus additional listings on House Sitters America. The UK is second with roughly 3,786 THS listings. Together these two countries account for the majority of the global market on THS.
Is TrustedHouseSitters the best platform for every country?
No. In France, Nomador has over 1,000 listings compared to THS's 76, making it the dominant platform. In Australia, Aussie House Sitters typically has over 1,200 listings and is the primary platform. In the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, local platforms add significant coverage alongside THS. For most other countries, THS has the largest number of listings.
Why does Italy have so few house sitting listings?
Italy has roughly 6 THS listings and 10 on Nomador, which is surprisingly low given its popularity as a tourist destination. Strong family networks mean Italian homeowners are more likely to have family look after pets, and the short-term rental market absorbs many properties that might otherwise be listed for house sitting.
Which countries are easiest for new sitters to get started in?
New Zealand, rural Canada, and continental European countries with smaller markets tend to have lower competition per listing. A new sitter applying in New Zealand is competing against far fewer applicants than one applying in London or Los Angeles. Local platforms in Australia, Canada, and the UK also have lower competition than THS.
Do the listing numbers in this article include all platforms?
No. These numbers are from TrustedHouseSitters and Nomador only, the two platforms with the broadest global coverage. Local platforms like Aussie House Sitters, House Sitters UK, House Sitters Canada, and Kiwi House Sitters add hundreds or thousands of additional listings in their respective markets. The actual number of available sits in any major country is higher than these figures suggest.
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