My partner and I have traveled all over the world by housesitting. We avoid paying rent and it’s changed our lives.

The author and her partner house- and pet-sitting. Courtesy of Hannah Wilkinson

When my rent increased, I needed a solution. A friend of mine suggested housesitting.

At the time, my partner and I were dating long-distance, and he decided to join me.

Over the last year, we’ve lived all over the world taking care of other people’s homes and pets.

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If you’d told me a year ago that drinking sparkling wine by the pool of a millionaire’s mansion would come courtesy of caring for a cockapoo, I’d have never believed you. Yet, for the past year, my partner and I have sustained a full-time traveling lifestyle through housesitting and have been living rent-free in Australia’s High Country, England’s picturesque Cotswolds, and Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, to name just a few.

Living in a capital city, I struggled to keep up with soaring rents. My landlord’s latest increase was about to swallow 65% of my salary — not including bills. Unable to save and worn down by long commutes and an unfulfilling career, I was at a crossroads.

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Housesitting offered a solution to a few of my problems

When a friend suggested housesitting, My partner and I have traveled it seemed like a creative solution: I’d care for homes and pets in exchange for free accommodation and travel. Eliminating rent would give me the financial freedom to leave my corporate job and pursue my dream of becoming a full-time writer.

It also offered my partner and me — then in a long-distance relationship — the chance to explore potential places to settle before making any life-altering decisions. We joined the global platform Trusted Housesitters, and within a few months, I was boarding a flight to Australia, where our first housesit awaited us in Melbourne.

Housesitting is a value exchange: free accommodation in return for property and pet care. While some platforms and Facebook groups offer paid opportunities, we prefer the flexibility of handpicking housesits that suit our lifestyle — much like Airbnb, but without the cost.

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We created a profile on the housesitting platform, where you can search sits worldwide and filter by home features, length of stay, and pet types. Once you apply, homeowners select their preferred profile (you’ll likely be competing with others). Some owners are more formal, arranging video calls or pre-meetings, while others are remarkably relaxed — one homeowner left keys under the mat and flew to India for two weeks without speaking to us at all.

The author has lived all over while housesitting, including in Ireland. Courtesy of Hannah Wilkinson

It’s given us freedom and allowed us to save money

Cutting out rent, utilities, and other housing costs has helped me save thousands this past year. That money has supported my career transition, allowed me to focus on writing my first novel, and given me the breathing space to recover from a decade of corporate burnout.

Living more simply has also given me space to slow down and appreciate life’s small joys: walking dogs through autumnal forests or collecting eggs from backyard chickens feels far more meaningful than meeting targets or driving a nice car.

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Another unexpected reward has been the sense of community — something I lacked in London, where 1 in 5 people in the UK have never spoken to their neighbors. Housesitting reminded us of the importance of integrating into local life. During a stay in Ireland, we shared dinners with Bernie, the local hairdresser, and enjoyed lock-ins and sing-songs with Barry, the pub landlord, and his regulars.

While housesitting, the author and her partner have gotten to do fun things like ride horses through the High Country of Australia. Courtesy of Hannah Wilkinson

If you’re thinking of trying housesitting, there are a few things to consider

Housesitting isn’t for everyone. You must be flexible, reliable, and comfortable living in someone else’s space. Most homeowners endeavor to clear space for us in their fridges and wardrobes, and although we don’t expect homes to look like hotels, some haven’t always met our cleanliness standards.

It’s worth noting some countries classify housesitting under specific visa types, so you must also check entry regulations before making international arrangements.

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Living out of a suitcase and constantly planning our next move can be tiring. But for us, these challenges have only made us more resilient as individuals and as a couple.

For anyone looking to reduce living expenses or break free from convention, housesitting is an alternative well worth exploring. Approach it with a level head, flexibility, and an open mind, and you might just find the adventure of a lifetime.