Terms & Conditions

These terms and conditions govern the pet sitting services provided by Jackie Byrd (hereinafter referred to as “the Sitter”) located at 4 North Rd, Brightlingsea, Essex, CO7 0PL, and the usage of the House & Petcare UK website. By engaging the services of the Sitter or using the website, the client (hereinafter referred to as “the Owner”) agrees to the following terms and conditions:

Services provided

The Sitter agrees to provide pet sitting services as specified in the Pet Information Sheet(s) and Veterinary Release Form. Services may include feeding, walking, playing, cleaning, and administering medication to the pet(s) as per the Owner’s instructions.

Compensation

• The Owner agrees to pay the Sitter the total agreed amount for the services rendered.
• A 25% deposit of the total fee is required to confirm booking dates.
• Additional fees may apply for the purchase of necessary items for the care of the pet(s), transportation, unexpected visits, and emergency expenses for health care. Receipts will be provided for any additional expenses incurred.

Duration of service

• Services will commence on the agreed start date and terminate on the agreed end date.
• The term may be extended if requested by the Owner and accepted by the Sitter.
• Any additional 24 hours (or part thereof) of service will incur an additional fee as agreed.

Cancellation and termination

• Either party may terminate the agreement with a minimum of 14 days’ notice without incurring penalties.
• Cancellations by the Owner with less than 14 days’ notice or during recognized holiday periods will incur a 25% cancellation fee except in cases of severe weather, death in the family, or a medical emergency.
• Cancellations by the Owner less than 48 hours from the start of the booking will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
• If the Sitter needs to cancel within 48 hours of the Owner’s departure due to unforeseen circumstances, a substitute may be appointed with the Owner’s approval.

Pet behaviour

If any pet becomes aggressive or dangerous, the Sitter may arrange for the pet’s Guardian to assume responsibility or place the pet in a kennel at the Owner’s expense if the Guardian is unavailable.

Liability

• The Sitter will perform duties responsibly but is not liable for any loss or damage to the Owner’s property if other persons have access to the property during the service period.
• The Sitter is not liable for any mishaps that may occur with pets who have unsupervised access to the outdoors.
• The Owner is liable for medical expenses and damages resulting from injuries to the Sitter caused by the pet as well as any damage to the Owner’s property caused by the pet.
• The Sitter is released from all liability related to the transportation and medical treatment of the pet(s).

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency, the Sitter will attempt to contact the Owner to confirm their preferred course of action. If the Owner cannot be reached, the Sitter is authorized to transport the pet(s) to the listed veterinarian or an emergency clinic.

Security

• The Sitter will keep all keys, remote control devices, access codes, and personal information confidential and return them to the Owner at the end of the service period or immediately upon request.
• The Owner must disclose all cameras at the property, and an agreement must be reached as to which cameras will be operating at the time of the assignment.

Website usage

• By using the House & Pet Care website, the Owner agrees to comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding online conduct and acceptable content.
• The Owner must not use the website for any unlawful purpose or in any way that could harm, disable, overburden, or impair the website.
• The website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by House & Pet Care. House & Pet Care has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services.

Agreement modifications

Any modifications to these terms and conditions must be in writing and acknowledged electronically by both the Owner and the Sitter.

General provisions

• Any part of these terms and conditions may be provided and acknowledged electronically, becoming valid upon receipt.
• Headings are for reference only and do not affect the interpretation of these terms.
• Terms referring to one gender include all genders, and terms referring to the singular include the plural and vice versa.