Terms and Conditions for Homeowners
The following are the terms and conditions, which apply between The Housesitting Company (The Company) and you, (the Client). They take affect from the time that the Client contacts The Company to perform the service:
1.Definitions
1.1.The following definitions are used in these Terms and Conditions:
“The Company” refers to Strong Endeavours Limited trading as The Housesitting Company.
“The Client” refers to the person(s) who are the owners / tenants / licensees of the House.
“Housesitting Service” is a service that The Company provides the Client to select a Housesitter and when required, includes arranging for the Housesitter to provide pet-minding services.
“Housesitter” refers to the person introduced by The Company whom the Client selects to housesit.
“House” refers to the dwelling for which the Client needs a Housesitter.
“Deposit” refers to the amount to be paid as set out below under “Housesitting Service Fees”.
“Pet(s)” refers to the pet(s) identified on the Booking Form above.
“Pet-minding Services” include all the usual and reasonable requirements for looking after a pet, as detailed on the Booking Form and accepted by the Housesitter.
“Utilities” include land rates, electricity, power, gas, water, telephone, Internet broadband usage, rubbish or garden waste removal, lawn-mowing and cleaning services.
“Vet” refers to the veterinary surgeon or practice nominated by the Client for any required pet health care.
1.2.References to “sending” and “writing” include the use of fax and email transmission.
2. The Company Protocols:
2.1.The Housesitting Company is an introduction service which maintains an up to date database of Housesitters. The Company cannot guarantee suitability of character of candidates, therefore The Company leaves the final selection of candidate to the Client.
2.2.When the Client contacts The Company to request a Housesitter, The Company will provide names, profiles and referees of candidates who may be interested and available to do your housesit. The Company will invite the Client to select candidates that they wish to personally interview.
2.3.Housesitters referred by The Company are independent volunteers and therefore are not employees or agents of The Company.
2.4.The Company does not guarantee that the Client will select a Housesitter from the names it provides or that Housesitters will be suitable and available, but The Company will use its best endeavours to provide names of available Housesitters matching The Client’s requirements.
2.5.By selecting a Housesitter, the Client is deemed to accept The Company’s fees and agrees to these Terms and Conditions.
3.Housesitting Service Fees
3.1.Fees for Housesitting are as follows:
Home only: $13 per day
Dogs: $5 for the first dog, $7 for each additional dog
Cats: $3 for the first cat, $4 for each additional cat
Other domestic pets: $3 per group per day (eg fish, birds, mice)
These rates are for housesits between February 11th - December 9th that are longer than 14 days in duration. Short sits up to 14 days have minimum charge rates and December 10th – February 10 housesits have a 15% surcharge. Prices are subject to change so contact The Company for an accurate quote.
3.2.Special rates may apply at The Company’s discretion where numerous pets are involved and/or where more Pet Minding responsibilities than the norm are required.
3.3.The Company is GST registered and therefore all fees include GST.
3.4.Once the Client decides to meet the Housesitter(s), The Client must pay a deposit of 1/3rd of the total fee in exchange for the contact details of the Housesitter(s). Once the deposit is received and contact details have been sent to The Client, it is The Client’s responsibility to contact the Housesitter(s) and arrange selection interviews.
3.5.If the Client is not satisfied with all of the Housesitters from the names The Company provides, The Company will refund the Deposit by direct credit to the Client’s nominated bank account, less a $30.00 administrative fee.
3.6.The Company will not refund the Deposit if the Client finds a Housesitter privately, uses another agency or cancels the Housesit for any reason.
3.7.Once the Client has interviewed and selected their Housesitter, they are obliged to contact The Company. Payment of the balance of the fee will be required within seven (7) days and no later than the day before the Housesit starts.
3.8.The Company will not refund the fee or give credit where the Client cancels the Housesit or returns earlier than expected.
3.9.The Company accepts payment by VISA and Mastercard through the housesitters.co.nz website and by direct credit to BNZ bank account no. 02-0214-0149302-00. When paying by cheque or direct debit please include Client name and reference number in the reference and code fields. ‘Non Negotiable’ cheques should be made out to “The Housesitting Company" and posted to The Housesitting Company, PO Box 301349, Albany, North Shore City 0752.
4.Protecting The Client’s house and property
4.1.The Company requires the Client to confirm they have current House and Contents Insurance and that they have notified the insurer of their absence and the engagement of a Housesitter. The Client must add the name(s) of the chosen Housesitter(s) to their insurance policy for the dates that they will be occupying the premises. If the Client does not have House and Contents insurance, or if the policies have expired, The Company will be obliged to decline the Housesitting Service. The Company is not insured for amounts to become liable to pay for loss or damage arising to any premises or contents on the premises occupied by The Housesitting Company and your chosen Housesitter(s) for the purposes of housesitting.
4.2.If the Client’s pet is valuable, or is for example a pedigree breed, The Company recommends that the Client obtains Pet Insurance, and that the Client notifies the insurer regarding their absence and that they have engaged a Housesitter.
4.3.All security arrangements to protect the Client’s house, property and pet(s) are a matter between the Client and the Housesitter.
4.4.The Client acknowledges that the above requirements are very important to The Company as, to the fullest extent allowed by law, The Housesitting Company does not accept liability or responsibility for any direct or indirect damage, accident or injury which results during a Housesit, whether caused or allowed by the Housesitter, the Client’s pet(s), an authorized or unauthorized invitee, or by any other person.
5.The Client’s arrangements with the Housesitter
5.1.The Client must make all arrangements directly with the Housesitter concerning the Client’s requirements for the care of the house and property and payment of utilities. The Company accepts no responsibility or liability in relation to expenses for utilities.
5.2.For the safety and privacy of the Housesitter and the Client’s property, the Client will not permit any other person to stay in the house without obtaining consent from The Company and the Housesitter before commencement of the Housesit. Where the Client consents to a third party, neither The Company nor the Housesitter is responsible or liable for any acts or omissions of that third party.
6.Care of Pets
6.1.The Client must give full instructions of pet care requirements to the Housesitter including the name of the pet’s vet.
6.2.The Client must arrange with the Housesitter for any payments for Vet visits, food, grooming or other contingencies, as to the fullest extent allowed by law, The Company accepts no responsibility or liability in relation to the Client’s pets’ health care or associated costs.
7.Changes
7.1.If the Client wishes to change any booking or book another Housesit, application must be made directly to The Company, and not to the Housesitters introduced to you through The Company.
7.2.No variation to these Terms and Conditions will be accepted unless agreed in writing by The Company.
7.3.Any private use of The Company’s Housesitters will be considered a breach of the contract that exists between The Company and the Housesitter.
8.Cancellation
8.1.The Company may terminate the Housesitting service without any liability by notice in writing if requested to do so by the Housesitter, where:
8.1.1.there is a material change in the nature of the Housesit which could not have been reasonably foreseen by either The Company or the Client; or
8.1.2.the Housesit does not match the Client’s original description and necessitates more time, special requirements, responsibilities, expertise or cost on the part of the Housesitter than has been agreed or is reasonable;
8.2.The Housesit can also be terminated due to the occurrence of any of the following events:
8.2.1.a change to the agreed expiry date of the Housesit.
8.2.2.by reasonable notice in writing of cancellation of the Housesit by the Client or by notice in writing of a change in the agreed commencement or expiry date
8.2.3.notice in writing of a breach of commitment to these Terms and Conditions by The Company or the Client
8.2.4.If the Client does not make a payment by the due date
9.Privacy Act
The Client acknowledges that all personal information that is supplied to The Company is for the purposes of providing the Housesitting Service. The Company will hold all personal information about the Client at the registered office address and on our website servers. The Client has the right to access and correct their personal information upon request. You may view our Privacy Policy here.
The Client must not give out login or password details for the housesitters.co.nz website to anyone except those directly involved in making decisions concerning the choosing of Housesitters.
10.Statutory rights
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits or negates the rights the Client may have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or any other statute.
