Many Britons rely on house sitters when they are away on holiday, claims poll

Among the biggest worries those surveyed had were 'did I lock up properly?', 'is my pet okay?' and 'I hope my plants are alive'

One fifth of those surveyed had left for a holiday only to turn back due to worrying that appliances had been left turned on (Reuters)

Many Britons are relying on “house sitters” to give them peace of mind when they are away on holiday, according to a poll.

A survey of 2,000 UK adults found two thirds depend on friends, family and neighbours to check in on their homes while they are away.

And 35 per cent admit they can’t relax unless they know someone is keeping an eye on their property.

The main reasons many turn to house sitters are to pick up the post, water plants, keep pets fed – and provide regular status updates.

Commissioned by Hive, a leader in smart home technology, the poll also found around three in 10 would be able to enjoy their holiday more if they could check in on their home remotely.

And more than one in three would feel much more at ease if they could rely on a “virtual house sitter”.

Tom Guy, global product director at Hive, said: “Getting away for the summer holiday is something we all look forward to, but as our research shows, we often jet off wondering if everything is well back home.

“Fearing we have forgotten to switch things off, or worried about unexpected events like a leak, leaves many unable to relax, forcing them to rely on others to check in.

“Smart home technology gives another option, creating a virtual house sitter who can watch over your home, update you of anything untoward, and allow you to check in as often as you want from a far – giving you priceless peace of mind.”

It also emerged the thought of leaving their homes unattended for prolonged periods is simply too much to bear for half of those polled.

Among the biggest worries Britons have when they go away are “did I lock up properly?”, “is my pet okay?” and “I hope my plants are alive”.

Other anxieties include “did I put my out of office on?”, “did I shut the windows?” and “did I set the house alarm?”

One fifth have left for a holiday only to turn back due to worries such as leaving appliances switched on or not locking the front door.

And 16 per cent have not been able to shake such fears during their getaway – resorting to calling someone back home to check everything is okay.

But four in 10 feel bad asking somebody to check in on their homes – and many others have doubts over how reliable they will be.

These include fears the front door will be left unlocked, items will be damaged, things will be left on or off – and even that the house sitter will go through their belongings.

Almost one fifth said tech, which alerts them when there are unexpected movements or sounds would help put their minds at ease.

Automated lighting which “mimics” how we use lights on a day-to-day basis would be just the ticket for 21 per cent.

And one in 10 would feel more relaxed if they had tech which lets them know if there is any unusual water flow in their homes.

Tom Guy added: “Smart home technology allows you to check in on your home and control lights, heating and appliances to come on and off at the click of a button, wherever you may be, all through your phone.

“This removes the need to rely on anyone else to look after your property – or worry about your house sitter having a snoop – but even if you do still prefer to have them check in, you can make sure everything is okay in between their visits.”

South West News Service