House Sitting Western Australia: 2026 Perth & Regional Guide

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📊 Quick Facts: House Sitting in Western Australia

We visited Western Australia and did not do any sits there. Konrad drove through Perth and down toward Mandurah, which gave us a feel for the city and the scale of the state, but this guide is honest about what comes from direct observation versus what comes from platform research and the wider house sitting community. Where something is our own experience we say so. Where it is research we say that too.

On Perth specifically: the first visit did not land well. It felt remote in a way that was hard to place, not unwelcoming, just distant from everything else. The second visit was a completely different experience. Spacious, genuinely relaxed, a city that does not seem to be in a hurry. That contrast is worth knowing before you arrive with expectations either way.

For the fully personal version of Australian house sitting, our house sitting in NSW guide covers a state we know better from our own travels.

How Many House Sitting Listings Are in WA Right Now?

As of March 2026, here is the actual listing count across the main platforms:

Response times and listing quality across the Australian platforms are broadly consistent. You are not going to find that one platform has dramatically faster homeowners than another. The difference is coverage. Aussie House Sitters and MindaHome AU between them cover parts of WA the global platforms do not reach, particularly regional and rural sits outside Perth.

Which Platform to Use for WA Sits

Aussie House Sitters is where we would start. I  have used it in the past and the volume of local listings is the highest of any single platform for domestic sitters or international sitters already in the country.

MindaHome AU is worth running alongside it. With 130+ WA listings it is close to Aussie House Sitters in volume and covers regional and rural sits well. Two platforms with different homeowner communities means you are genuinely expanding your options rather than seeing the same listings twice.

TrustedHouseSitters is most useful for premium sits in wealthier Perth suburbs and for international sitters arriving from overseas who have an established THS review history to bring with them. We use THS as our primary platform globally and it works well as a supplement rather than a starting point for WA specifically. You can get 25% off a TrustedHouseSitters membership through our discount link.

Happy House Sitters has 33+ WA listings and proportionally less competition than the larger platforms. We have not used it personally but based on what sitters report it is a reasonable option when you are starting out and want sits where you are not immediately up against sitters with long review histories.

Our full house sitting Australia guide covers how the platforms compare across the country.

Why WA Produces Longer Sits Than Most Places

The size of the state shapes everything about the house sitting market here. When homeowners in WA travel, they tend to travel for longer because the distance involved justifies an extended trip. Four to eight week sits are more common in WA than in Sydney or Melbourne, and some rural sits run for months.

For sitters who find short two-night city sits too rushed to settle into, WA is worth targeting for this reason alone. Our long-term house sitting guide covers how to approach extended arrangements and what to agree before the homeowner leaves.

The variety is also genuine. Perth suburbs and the coastal strip around Fremantle are standard residential sits: dogs, cats, medium-sized gardens. Margaret River and the south west produce hobby farm sits with larger properties and animals beyond the usual cats and dogs. The north, Broome, Exmouth, the Kimberley, is remote in a way most European sitters have never experienced. Each part of the state requires different preparation and a different approach to finding listings.

The Distance Warning Most Articles Do Not Mention

WA is not just large on a map. It is large in a way that catches people out when they start planning sits. Driving from Perth to Broome is roughly 2,200 kilometres. Perth to Esperance is around 700 kilometres. Even within the greater south west, sits that look close together can be a full day's drive apart.

If you are flying into Perth internationally and planning to sit somewhere further afield, this needs to go into your planning before you commit to anything. The cost and time of getting from Perth to a remote sit is not trivial, and if a sit falls through at short notice you can be a long way from any easy alternative.

The practical approach is to plan sits geographically. Work out which part of the state you want to be in, identify sits within a realistic driving radius of each other, and treat WA as several distinct regions rather than a single destination. Perth and the south west can work as a connected route. The north requires a separate commitment. Trying to cover both on a single trip without your own vehicle and a realistic timeline is where things come apart.

Getting Around: Transport Is the Central Question

You need a vehicle for almost every sit outside the Perth metro. There is no realistic alternative for reaching a vet, groceries, or basic services once you leave the city. For any sit in Margaret River, the south coast, the Wheatbelt, or anywhere north of Perth, your own transport is not optional.

Within Perth, inner suburbs like Subiaco, Leederville, and Victoria Park are well served by train and bus. Some apartment sits in the inner city do not require a car at all. If you are targeting the Perth metro specifically and do not have access to a vehicle, filter your search to these areas and confirm transport before applying.

If you do not have your own vehicle, it is worth asking homeowners directly whether they are open to lending their car as part of the arrangement. Some are, particularly for remote sits where they know transport is essential. The conversation needs to happen early and the terms need to be clear before anyone commits. Our car lending guide covers what homeowners need to consider and gives you the right framing to raise the subject.

When to Go: WA Sits by Season and Region

Perth and the South West, Margaret River, Albany, Esperance

Autumn, March to May, is the most comfortable window with good listing availability and lower competition than summer. Days are warm without extreme heat and homeowners start planning travel after the school holidays. Winter, June to August, is mild and wet in the south and brings the lowest competition of any season. Summer, December to February, has the highest listing volume driven by families going away for extended holidays, but also the most applicants and UV readings that require genuine preparation if you are coming from Europe.

The North, Broome, Exmouth, the Kimberley

The Dry Season, April to September, is the only practical window for most sitters. Temperatures are manageable, roads are open, and homeowners in remote areas travel during this period. One change in 2026 worth noting: the extended heatwaves across northern Australia have made homeowners in this region increasingly reluctant to leave their animals during the shoulder months at either end of the Dry Season. Sits that would previously have been available from late March or through October are now tightening into the core May to August window as homeowners decide the risk of leaving pets in 40 degree-plus heat is too high. If you are targeting the north, the middle of the Dry Season is where the listings are concentrating. The Wet Season, October to March, brings extreme heat, cyclone risk, and road closures. Some sits are available but they require a level of comfort with isolation and unpredictable conditions that is worth being honest with yourself about.

What Sits in WA Actually Involve

Gardens and water. WA is one of the driest inhabited regions on earth. Daily watering in summer is a genuine responsibility, not an optional extra. In heat above 35 degrees a missed day can cause real damage to gardens. Homeowners tend to be specific about schedules and written instructions before the sit are worth asking for.

Pool maintenance. A large proportion of Perth suburban homes have pools. Checking chemical levels, emptying skimmer boxes, and running pumps are standard duties in many listings. If you have no experience with this, say so before confirming the sit. It is easy to learn but it needs to be communicated rather than discovered on arrival. Our what to ask a homeowner guide covers how to raise practical questions like this before the sit starts.

Wildlife awareness. Snakes are present in suburban areas in summer and more commonly in rural and regional sits. Keeping dogs on leads in unfamiliar bush areas is standard practice. For sits in the north or remote areas, the homeowner is the right source for what applies specifically to their property and surroundings.

Security. In rural and remote sits, being present is often the primary job. An occupied house deters opportunistic issues and signals the property is maintained. Homeowners in remote areas particularly value a sitter who will be consistently present rather than absent for stretches of time.

For a full picture of standard sit responsibilities, our what house sitters usually do guide covers expectations in more detail.

Connectivity for Remote Sits

In Perth and major regional centres the internet is fast and reliable. Outside these areas it varies considerably. Telstra has the strongest mobile coverage network for remote WA. For sits in the Wheatbelt, the Kimberley, and other remote areas, Starlink has become the deciding factor for many sitters when choosing which listings to apply to. Homeowners who include Starlink in their listing title attract significantly more applicants than those who do not mention connectivity at all. If a remote listing is silent on internet, ask directly before applying rather than assuming.

One question specific to hobby farm and rural sits that almost nobody thinks to ask: find out where the bore water pump reset switch is before the homeowner leaves. Bore water is how many rural WA properties access their water supply entirely. If the pump trips and you do not know how to reset it, there is no water until you can reach the homeowner. It is a thirty-second piece of information that can save a genuinely difficult situation mid-sit.

Visas and the Legal Position for International Sitters

International sitters on a standard Australian tourist visa, the ETA or eVisitor, can house sit legally provided no money changes hands. It is a services exchange, not employment. At the border keep the description simple and accurate: you are a tourist, you are funding your own travel, and you are staying in a private home caring for the owners' pets. Our house sitting legal issues guide covers the full legal position including what documentation is worth carrying.

Top Locations Worth Targeting in WA

Perth and Fremantle are the most accessible entry points with the highest listing volume in the state. Perth takes a visit or two to settle into. On first impression it can feel remote and disconnected. On a return visit that changes. Fremantle is walkable, café-heavy, and has a mix of older cottages and newer apartments. One 2026 factor worth knowing: Perth is currently the hottest property market in Australia, with values rising sharply through early 2026. The knock-on effect for house sitting is increased competition from locals using sits to bridge gaps between leases. Perth sits are not just attracting international sitters anymore. If you are applying for inner-city Perth listings, your profile needs to be stronger than it would for most European cities of equivalent size.

Margaret River is among the most sought-after sit locations in Australia according to the sitters we have spoken to. Wine region, surf coast, larger properties, hobby farms. Competition is higher here than most of WA and a strong profile with relevant property or animal experience is worth having before you apply.

Albany and Esperance on the south coast have striking coastal scenery and are less competitive than Margaret River. Worth targeting in autumn when the south is at its best.

The Wheatbelt and inland WA is for sitters who want genuine isolation. Farm sits, large properties, skies with no light pollution. A completely different experience from anything available in Europe.

Broome and the north requires the most logistical preparation but offers sits unlike anything else on the platforms. Plan several months ahead for the best Dry Season listings.

What to Pack That Is Specific to WA

The UV index in Perth in summer regularly reaches 11 or above. High-factor sunscreen and a hat are functional items, not optional precautions. For anything north of Perth or inland, a fly net is worth packing. The flies in parts of inland WA and the north are relentless in a way that is hard to describe without experiencing. A reusable water bottle of at least a litre is basic preparation. Hydration matters more than most European travellers expect before their first Australian summer. Our what to pack for a house sit guide covers the general list and the WA-specific items above are worth adding on top of it.

Konrad and Caro 🐾🚐

DM us @housesittersguide if you have questions, we answer everyone.

FAQ

• How many house sitting listings are there in Western Australia right now?

  As of March 2026: Aussie House Sitters has 150+, MindaHome AU has 130+, TrustedHouseSitters has 60+, and Happy House Sitters has 33+. Running Aussie House Sitters and MindaHome AU together gives you the widest local coverage. THS is worth adding for premium Perth listings and if you have an existing international review history to bring with you.

• Do I need a car to house sit in Western Australia?

  Outside the Perth metro, yes without exception. WA is enormous and the distances between services are not comparable to anything in Europe. Even within the south west, sits that look close together on a map can be a full day's drive apart. Within Perth, inner suburbs like Subiaco and Leederville are well served by public transport. For everything else, your own vehicle or a clear agreement with the homeowner about using theirs is essential before you commit to the sit.

• Which platform is best for WA house sitting?

  Aussie House Sitters for volume and local community. MindaHome AU as a close second with strong regional coverage. TrustedHouseSitters for premium Perth listings and international sitters with existing review histories. Running all three costs less per year than two nights in a Perth hotel and the listing overlap is low enough that you are genuinely broadening your options rather than seeing duplicates.

• What should I ask about before accepting a WA sit?

  Distance is the question most sitters forget. How far is the nearest supermarket? How far is the nearest vet? How far is the nearest town? In some WA sits the answers are thirty minutes. In others they are two hours. You need to know before you arrive, not after. Our what to ask a homeowner guide covers the full list of practical questions worth raising before any sit.

• Can international sitters house sit in WA on a tourist visa?

  Yes. House sitting on an Australian tourist visa is legal provided no money changes hands. At the border describe it accurately: you are a tourist, funding your own travel, staying in a private home caring for the owners' pets. Our house sitting legal issues guide covers the full legal position.

• What is the best season to house sit in Perth?

  Autumn, March to May, is the most practical window. Comfortable temperatures, good listing availability, and lower competition than the summer school holiday period. Winter is the quietest season for competition if you are flexible on timing. Summer has the most listings but also the most applicants, and the UV and heat require genuine preparation if you are arriving from Europe.

• What is the internet like for remote WA sits?

  Variable once you leave Perth and major regional centres. Telstra has the best mobile coverage for remote WA. Many remote properties now run Starlink as their primary connection, making remote work viable even in isolated locations. Always ask the homeowner specifically during your video call. Ask what they use day to day rather than just what equipment they have installed.

• How long should I plan to stay in WA to make the trip worthwhile?

  If you are flying in internationally, a single short sit is hard to justify given the cost and time of getting there. WA rewards a longer stay where you can chain two or three sits across the south west or plan a route through a region. The distance from everywhere else makes a longer commitment more efficient. Our long-term house sitting guide covers how to plan extended stays across a region.

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