Pet sitting in United Kingdom: 22 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in the UK typically earn £344–£1118 per month. Sitters who lean into overnight boarding and house sitting reach the top of that range, while drop-in and dog-walking-only sitters sit in the lower half. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-15%.

A common pattern: 3–5 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 1–2 drop-in visits in the evenings, and one overnight stay across the weekend. That's roughly 12–15 hours of actual paid time per week and clears £95+ before factoring in repeat clients. Sitters who go full-time stack multiple boarding stays back-to-back.

Dog walking pays £10–£20 per walk on Petme. A 30-minute neighbourhood walk is typically priced near the lower end; longer walks, multi-dog walks, or walks in busy city centres command the upper end. You set your own rate when you build your profile.

Boarding at the sitter's home pays £25–£55 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays £35–£65 per night. Boarding is where most full-time Petme sitters concentrate their income because the per-booking value is the highest.

Petme takes 10-15% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. There's no signup cost, no monthly subscription, and no charge to keep your profile live. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan that covers every booking automatically.

Payouts are released automatically once a booking is marked complete in the Petme app. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. You don't need to invoice the owner or chase payment: the platform handles it end-to-end.

Every booking is covered by the Petme Protection Plan, which includes up to 20,000 in veterinary expenses if something happens to the pet in your care. It's automatic on every reservation: no separate purchase, no claim paperwork upfront. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.

No formal qualifications are required to apply as a Petme sitter. You need to be 18 or older, own a smartphone capable of running the app, complete ID verification, and demonstrate genuine experience around animals during your profile review. Some local rules apply for commercial-scale boarding: see the country-specific question below.

Most new sitters in the UK go live within 24–48 hours of submitting verification. Your first booking typically lands within 1–2 weeks if your profile has at least 4 good photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions, and a competitive rate for your city. Sitters who add availability over a major holiday (Christmas, summer break) often book their first stay within days.

Yes: most Petme sitters in the UK start while working full-time elsewhere. Dog walking fits into lunchtime windows; drop-in visits work around evenings; weekend boarding stacks on top of a Monday-to-Friday office job. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit your schedule.

London is by far the biggest market, followed by Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, and Brighton. Glasgow, Leeds, and Cambridge are mid-size markets where sitter supply hasn't caught up with demand yet, so new sitters book quickly.

Yes, in most of England and Wales you need a Home Boarding Licence from your local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018, once you start boarding regularly. Walking, drop-in visits, and day care below 5 days a year typically don't require it. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate equivalent schemes.

Yes if you earn over £1,000 per tax year (the Trading Allowance threshold). You register as a sole trader with HMRC, then file a Self Assessment return each January. Expenses (gear, mileage, a percentage of home utilities for boarding) are deductible against the income.

Deliveroo and Uber Eats riders in London report £8-13 per hour after costs. Pet sitting on Petme clears £15-25 per hour and you don't need a bike or vehicle. Boarding earnings on a per-night basis are higher still.

London boarding typically sits at £45-65 per night, Manchester at £30-50, Glasgow and Newcastle at £25-45. London commands the premium but supply is tightest there too: a new London sitter with strong photos often books faster than the rates would suggest.

The August bank holiday, October half-term, and the Christmas-to-New-Year stretch are the three peak windows. Easter weekend is smaller but reliable. Demand dips most in February.

For most sitters, yes. Minimum wage in the UK is £12.21 (2025); the typical Petme dog walker clears £15-20 hourly. Boarding sitters can hit £25+ effective hourly. Plus you don't deal with shift rotas, drunk customers, or 4am stocktakes.

Rates are broadly similar in absolute terms (£/€) but the UK has more concentrated city-centre demand. Irish sitters often build longer-term repeat-client relationships because the market is smaller: owners stick with sitters they trust.

Cocker Spaniels, Labradors, French Bulldogs, and Dachshunds dominate UK bookings. Cockers need a lot of exercise; Frenchies overheat in summer; Dachshunds need to be carried up stairs to protect their backs. Greyhounds are a Petme favourite: quiet, lazy, easy to board.

Yes: active sitter WhatsApp groups exist for London, Manchester, Bristol, and Edinburgh. They share advice on tricky breeds, recommend insurance providers, and tip each other off about repeat-client patterns. We'll connect you after approval.

"Sort the boarding licence before you actually need it. The council can take 6-10 weeks and you don't want to turn down Christmas bookings because the certificate hasn't arrived." (Tom H., Manchester)"

Start your application at petme.social/uk/become-a-pet-sitter. The form is quick, and the typical UK applicant is approved within 48 hours.