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| | Who Pays for What?
Hints & Suggestions
While every situation is different, and decisions
on such matters are for negotiation between owner and sitter, we at
SeniorSitters feel that the
following are reasonable, and fair to both parties:
- Telephone. While the owner continues to pay
for line rental, it is reasonable for the sitter to pay for phone calls.
However, this may be subject to variation, with the owner prepared to pay
all phone charges, or just requiring the sitter to pay for long distance and
international calls. Our tip for sitters who expect to make such calls is to
buy a prepaid calling card that will be much cheaper than rates charged by
Telstra – particularly for overseas calls.
- Gas and Electricity. Here we feel that unless
the sit is for an especially long term, or there is higher than average
consumption, it is not worth the trouble to apportion charges. Much easier
for the owner to pay.
- Water. As garden care is usually one reason
for engaging a Housesitter, it is not fair or reasonable to expect sitters
to pay for water consumption or standing charges.
- Rates, Land Tax, etc. Similarly, unless there
are exceptional circumstances, we do not think sitters should be expected to
shoulder these charges.
- Bonds. As
SeniorSitters
Housesitters are aged over 50, we feel it is reasonable to expect a level of
maturity and responsibility such that the payment of a bond is unnecessary.
Also, we have heard legal opinion to the effect that a bond may even be
counter-productive, implying a financial limit to the sitter’s duty of
care.
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