City House Sitting – Why We Love Pet Sitting in Places Like Paris, London, and New York

Are City House Sits a Good Option?

When most people first hear about house sitting, they imagine big, often picturing sprawling villas in the Italian countryside, luxury homes with ocean views, or even castles in rural France. While those sits do exist (and we’ve done a few!), they’re the exception — not the norm.

We’ve found that city house sits offer incredible benefits that many people overlook. In fact, we’ve built our entire house sitting lifestyle around them, and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Why We Choose to House Sit in Cities

Our first leap into house sitting was a big one:  a 9-month stretch of full-time sits across U.S. cities, including Salt Lake City, New York City, and Baltimore. We were in our twenties then and curious about how this lifestyle could support our remote work, travel goals, and desire to connect with people and pets. We've spoken with many other younger sitters with similar concerns - how good is the internet connection for working?, how can we get about without a car?, will be lonely?

At the time of writing, we're based in Madrid, Spain, and now sit mainly over school breaks and summers. And still, nearly all of our sits are in cities.

This past summer alone, we spent 10 weeks house sitting in London, Glasgow, Brighton, Berlin, Valencia, and Granada. We’ve come to prefer the rhythm, culture, and conveniences of urban life — and city sits make that all possible.

All of these house sits have been through the house sitting app TrustedHousesitters, who have many city sits around the world.

There are also smaller and regional websites where we've also seen lots of city house sits listed. To see what we mean, take a look at here at the sits available on House Sitters UK for London.

The Benefits of House Sitting in Cities

Younger Sitters Can Thrive in Urban Sits

Another concern we hear from younger people is that they might be overlooked for sits due to their age. We've never found this to be the case, possibly because we've focused on city-based house sits, where home and pet owners tend to be younger, more open-minded, and less focused on age. Important at this point to remember that unlike other house sitting sites, TrustedHousesitters have a minimum age of 21.

We’ve had homeowners tell us directly that our comfort around city living was a big factor in choosing us. One couple in East London said they preferred us over another (older) couple because we seemed better equipped to handle their “grittier” neighborhood without concern.

Another memorable example was a Christmas sit in our old New York neighborhood. The homeowner chose us specifically because they didn’t want to “hand-hold” sitters who might be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with urban life, particularly in New York City!

City Sits Are a Great Fit for Alternative Lifestyles

We’ve also found that city sits are more welcoming of non-traditional or alternative lifestyles. I have brightly dyed hair, and we both have facial piercings. In our early sits, we’d remove piercings before video calls. But over time, we stopped doing that—and it never affected our success.

Many of our urban homeowners have been vegetarian or vegan like us. Over half have been part of the LGBTQ+ community. These are people who appreciate authenticity, value connection, and don’t judge based on surface appearances.

Other Practical Perks of Urban House Sitting

City house sits offer practical advantages that make travel and daily life easier:

• Public transport means no need for a car (or expensive car rental).
• Grocery stores and other essentials are usually a short walk away.
• WiFi is reliable, fast, and included—crucial if you work remotely.
• There's less of a language barrier in international cities. For example, in Paris, you’re far more likely to find English speakers than in rural France -something we’ve appreciated when navigating vet visits or local transport

Best Cities for House Sitting (and Why We Love Them)

House Sitting in New York City

Our NYC sits are some of the most memorable — we love the pace, the people, and the diverse neighborhoods. Even simple routines, like walking a dog through Prospect Park or grabbing a bagel on the way home, become part of the adventure.

House Sitting in London

London is fantastic for longer sits and holiday periods like Christmas and New Year. Pet owners head abroad, and we’ve found opportunities to stay in great neighborhoods — without the high cost of city accommodation.

House Sitting in Paris

Paris is perfect for sitters who love culture, good food, and walkable neighborhoods. Many homeowners in the city travel in August or during holidays, creating opportunities for short or mid-length sits with cats, small dogs, or senior pets.

Other Amazing Cities: Berlin, Sydney, Madrid, Glasgow, Valencia

Some lesser-known or less competitive cities like Glasgow and Valencia are also wonderful. We recommend trying these as a starting point while building your profile and references.

Our Tips for Successful City House Sitting

• Start with smaller cities to build references. Don’t rush into high-demand locations before you’re ready.

• Always ask clear questions: Is there reliable WiFi? Are shops within walking distance? What’s public transport like?

• Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right when speaking with homeowners, it’s OK to say no.

Final Thoughts: Why We’ll Keep Choosing City House Sits

Some people dream of off-grid living with goats and no neighbors. We’re not those people.

We love the energy, accessibility, and cultural richness that cities offer. Through house sitting, we’ve lived like locals in some of the world’s most exciting cities — all while caring for pets and building lasting connections.

While the savings we've made on accomodation have been huge - It’s not just a free place to stay. It’s a lifestyle that continues to shape how we live, work, and travel.

Frequently Asked Questions About City House Sitting