Free accommodation in Italian homes in exchange for pet care and plant watering. How to get started.
Plan your Italy trip →Italian homeowners going on vacation need someone to watch their home, feed their cats/dogs, water plants, and be a presence in the house. In exchange: free accommodation, often in beautiful properties. You apply through platforms, get accepted, and stay for 1-4 weeks (sometimes longer) at zero accommodation cost.
TrustedHousesitters: The largest. Annual membership ~€99-149. Italy has good coverage, especially in Tuscany, Umbria, the lakes, and major cities. Competition for popular destinations is fierce — apply quickly with a complete profile.
HouseCarers: Smaller, cheaper membership (~€50/year). Less competition per listing.
Nomador: European-focused platform. Good Italian listings.
Complete profile with photos. References from previous sits or personal references. A personalized message explaining why you're a good fit (mention their pets by name, show knowledge of the area). Flexibility on dates. Experience with the type of pets they have.
Properties range from city apartments (feed 2 cats, water the balcony) to country villas (manage a dog, 3 cats, a garden, and maybe some chickens). Rural Tuscany and Umbria have the most listings. You'll need a car for countryside sits. City sits are walkable but may come with smaller spaces.