Pet sitting in London: 16 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in London typically earn £619–£1548 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 £163+ before factoring in repeat clients. Sitters who go full-time stack multiple boarding stays back-to-back.

Dog walking pays £18–£28 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 £45–£70 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays £55–£90 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 London 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 London 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.

Camden, Hackney and Shoreditch lead booking volume thanks to dense residential pet ownership and frequent traveller profiles. Clapham is growing as commuter families move out from the city centre. Lighter competition in outer wards means a new London sitter often books faster there than rates suggest.

Yes if you board regularly. London boroughs each issue their own Home Boarding Licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018; apply through your borough council (Hackney, Camden, Islington, Lambeth all run separate schemes). Walking and drop-in visits do not need a licence. Plan 6 to 10 weeks for inspection so you are ready before Christmas bookings open.

London rates run 30 to 50% above Manchester and Bristol in absolute terms, and booking volume per sitter is higher too. Competition is tighter, so strong photos, a written bio and competitive pricing matter more here than in mid-size UK cities.

No. London is the one UK city where car-free sitting is fully viable. Most clients are within a tube ride or a walk. A folding crate helps for occasional cross-borough collections but a car is not required.

Summer (mid-July through August), October half-term, Christmas and Easter are the peak windows. London sitters often charge a 15 to 25% premium during bank holidays. February is the slowest stretch and a good time to refresh your profile.

Apply at petme.social/uk/become-a-pet-sitter. Verification typically returns within 24 to 48 hours. Once your profile is live with 4+ photos and a written bio, your first booking in London usually arrives within 1 to 2 weeks.