Property caretaking while you are away – all over Europe
Your home in good hands, even when you are away
A luxury villa on the Côte d'Azur, a farmhouse in Tuscany, a finca on Mallorca or an ordinary family home: if you spend the winter elsewhere, work abroad, travel for long or have two homes, your house is often left alone for months. Through Job & Stay you can find a live-in caretaker – a person or a couple who live in your home and reliably look after the house, garden, pool and your pets. You list free of charge and applications come straight to you.
- Free until 31 Dec 2026
- Not an agency, no commission
- Every listing checked before it goes live
In short: Job & Stay (jobandstay.com) is a portal for jobs with accommodation. Owners of a villa or home anywhere in Europe who are away for long periods can advertise a live-in caretaker position there free of charge until 31 December 2026: a person or a couple lives in the house and looks after house, garden, pool and pets, in return for accommodation plus a salary or pocket money. Job & Stay checks every listing but is not an agency and does not select anyone – applications go directly to the owner.
An empty house does not stay in good shape for long
If you are away for long, you know the feeling: the longer a house stands empty, the more can go wrong – and you usually notice only when it gets expensive.
Burglary
Closed shutters, an overflowing letterbox, no light in the evening: an empty house is easy to spot.
Squatters
In some countries, Spain for example, it can take a long time before squatters leave a house again. A lived-in house is the best protection.
Damp and mould
Without airing and heating, damp sets in over the winter – in walls, upholstery and cupboards.
Pool and garden
A pool can turn green within weeks, the irrigation fails, the garden runs wild.
Insurance
Insurers often require regular checks when a property is empty for a long time – otherwise cover may suffer. Check your policy.
What many underestimate
Empty in winter means mould
Especially in Spain and around the Mediterranean, many houses are damp and chilly in winter. There is often no heating, only air conditioning, and it stays off while nobody is there. Without airing, moisture settles in walls, mattresses, upholstery and wardrobes, and mould appears quickly. This also affects newly bought flats that stand empty as an investment.
- 01Air the house every day and keep the air moving
- 02Heat or dehumidify when needed, before damage occurs
- 03Spot damp patches early and report them to you with a photo
The solution: a caretaker who lives on site
A live-in caretaker moves into the house or guest apartment, airs the rooms, waters the plants, looks after pool and garden, lets tradespeople in and gets in touch when something comes up. The house is lived in – and looks it.
Every position needs three things: clear tasks, a salary or pocket money, and accommodation. You decide the amount and state it openly in the listing. We do not publish pure exchange offers – a room in return for work without pay.
Typical tasks
- 01Living in the house, airing it, keeping an eye on things
- 02Caring for cats and other pets
- 03Looking after pool and garden, or overseeing the companies who do
- 04Post, deliveries and tradespeople
- 05A short report with photos whenever you like
- 06Getting the house ready before you arrive
House, garden, pool – and your pets
Many animals stay at home while you are away. The caretaker looks after them in familiar surroundings – feeding, water, care, a vet visit if needed. Say in your listing which animals live in the house.
- Cats
- Fish in an aquarium or pond
- Tortoises, snakes and other terrarium animals
- Birds
- Horses, chickens and animals on a finca
- Dogs too, if they stay at home
Three simple steps
Register your property
Fill in the form below: location, period, tasks, pay and accommodation. It takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
We check and publish
We get in touch, check that you and the property really exist, and only then put the listing online – in several languages.
Applications straight to you
Candidates apply via Job & Stay and each application reaches you by email. You reply, get to know each other and decide.
Safety on both sides
Before a listing goes online, we check that the owner and the property really exist and that tasks, pay and accommodation are stated. This protects applicants from dubious offers – and your listing does not sit next to them.
What you should check yourself before handing over the keys:
- Ask to see an ID and check the name
- Call references from previous employers or caretaking jobs
- Meet in person or by video
- Start with a trial period
- Put in writing what applies: tasks, hours, pay, handover
- A handover record with photos and a list of keys
For villas and homes all over Europe
Your property can be anywhere in Europe – by the sea, in the mountains or in the countryside. These are some of the regions we often hear about:
- Côte d'Azur and Provence
- Tuscany and Umbria
- Rome and Lazio
- Lake Como and Lake Garda
- Sardinia and Sicily
- Mallorca and Ibiza
- Costa del Sol
- Costa Blanca
- Canary Islands
- Algarve
- Croatian coast
- Greek islands
- The Alps
Frequently asked questions
Who can look after my house and my cat while I am away for months?
A live-in caretaker: a person or a couple who live in the house or guest apartment and look after house, garden, pool and pets – whether in Nice, Tuscany, Mallorca, on the Costa del Sol or anywhere else in Europe. On Job & Stay you can advertise for one. Applications come straight to you and you choose.
Will the caretaker also look after my pets?
Yes, if you describe it in your listing. Most often it is cats, but also fish in an aquarium or pond, tortoises, snakes, birds, horses or chickens on a finca – and dogs if they stay at home. Your animals stay in their familiar surroundings.
What does it cost?
Until 31 December 2026 the listing is free for owners – no commission and no agency fee. Job & Stay is free for applicants.
Which countries does this cover?
All of Europe. France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Greece or the Alps: simply enter the location in the form.
What do I need to offer?
Three things: clearly described tasks, a salary or pocket money, and decent accommodation – at least a private room or a guest apartment. We do not publish listings that only offer a room in return for unpaid work.
How long can I look for someone?
That is up to you: for one winter, a few months or permanently. State the period in the listing and the right people will apply.
Does Job & Stay select the caretakers?
No. We are not an agency and we make no selection. We check your listing and forward applications directly to you. Interviews, choice and agreement are yours.
How safe is it?
We check every listing before it is published. You check the applicants yourself: ID, references, meeting in person, a trial period and a written agreement. Only hand over the keys once you are sure.
What about my insurance?
Ask your insurer which conditions apply when the property is empty and whether anything changes when someone lives there. Also clarify how other people in the house are insured.
Do I need an employment contract?
That depends on what you agree. If you pay a salary for work in the house, the law of the country where the property is located will often treat it as employment – with a contract and social security. Job & Stay does not give legal advice; please ask a local tax adviser or lawyer.
Register your property
Free until 31 Dec 2026 and without obligation. Nothing goes online automatically: we get in touch with you first.
- Free until 31 Dec 2026
- Not an agency, no commission
- Every listing checked before it goes live
The information on this page is not legal or insurance advice.
Looking for a job with accommodation yourself?
Property caretaking, caretaker couples, hotels, nature: you will find all jobs with accommodation in the job search.
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