HOW TO HIRE · PETS

How to hire a reptile sitter in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No licence applies; heat, light and humidity matter most. Here is what to ask.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a reptile sitter in five steps

  1. Find species experienceSnakes, lizards and tortoises need different care.
  2. Write the routineFeeding days, live food, water, misting, heat and light times.
  3. Show the equipmentThermostats, thermometers, timers and what to do if one fails.
  4. Name your vetAn exotics vet who sees reptiles.
  5. Agree updatesTemperatures noted each visit.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No licence or register applies to reptile sitters who care for your reptile in your own home, in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Defra's licensing guidance for England says businesses that look after dogs in the owner's home, such as sitters and walkers, need no licence; the boarding laws cover giving animals accommodation, which a home visit does not.

The checks that matter are insurance, references, a meet-and-greet and your written instructions. gov.uk →

Boarding reptiles is not licensed

The boarding laws cover cats and dogs only — England's 2018 Regulations and the 1963 Act in Wales and Scotland — so a reptile sitter, at your home or theirs, needs no licence. Experience is what to check.

Ask what species they have kept, and for how long. legislation.gov.uk →

Animal welfare law

While your reptile is in their care, the reptile sitter is legally responsible for it: the Animal Welfare Act 2006 counts a temporary carer as responsible (section 3) and makes it an offence not to meet an animal's needs (section 9) in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have matching duties in their own Acts.

Ask what they do if your reptile stops eating or seems unwell. legislation.gov.uk →

Insurance

No law requires insurance for a reptile sitter. The usual cover is public liability plus care, custody and control of the animals; ask whether vet bills for your reptile are covered while it is with them.

Ask for the insurer's name and the policy dates.

VAT

Caring for reptiles is standard-rated, so 20% VAT applies to each visit, live-food feeding and misting. A business whose taxable turnover passes the £90,000 registration threshold must charge it and show it as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask for the VAT number, and see the visit price per vivarium and the 20% VAT on separate lines. gov.uk →

“Have you kept or cared for my species of reptile?”

A good answer: Specific experience.

“Will the reptile sitter check temperatures and humidity each visit?”

A good answer: Yes, and note them.

“What will you do if a heat lamp or thermostat fails?”

A good answer: A clear plan and spare bulbs.

“Are you comfortable with live food?”

A good answer: Yes, if your reptile needs it.

“How would you spot a problem?”

A good answer: Not eating, stuck shed, lethargy.

“Are you insured as a reptile sitter?”

A good answer: Yes, with keys covered.

“Who covers if you are ill?”

A good answer: A named backup.

Getting the quote right

  • Who actually attends the vivariums — the sitter who knows the species, or cover staff, employed or subcontracted
  • Price per visit
  • Live food and misting
  • Number of vivariums
  • Holiday rates and cancellation
  • The VAT number, with VAT on the reptile visits as a separate line

Walk away if

  • No experience with your species
  • No plan for equipment failure
  • Handling a reptile you asked them not to
  • No insurance
LOW
£10
TYPICAL
£12
HIGH
£20

What a reptile sitter costs: £10–£20 per visit

Reptile care is priced per visit, by species, live-food feeding, misting and the number of vivariums. Reptile Care price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Reptile sitters near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. MeetThe sitter sees the set-up and routine.
  2. HandoverKeys, food, spares and vet details.
  3. VisitsHeat, light and humidity checked; water and food as scheduled.
  4. Spot cleanWaste removed, water bowls cleaned.
  5. ReturnNotes and keys handed back.

Vivarium
The reptile's enclosure.
Basking spot
The warm area under the heat lamp.
Thermostat
The control that keeps heat steady.
UVB
The ultraviolet light many reptiles need.
Shed
Skin shedding; a stuck shed can signal a problem.
Exotics vet
A vet who treats reptiles.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check temperaturesAgainst your normal readings.
Read the notesFeeding, sheds, anything unusual.
Get keys backAll copies.
Rate the bookingOnly customers who booked can rate on Locufy. Below four stars, the sitter is asked to put things right before the rating shows.

STEP 1Tell the reptile sitter, in writingSay what went wrong and what you want. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the service must be provided with reasonable care and skill.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyScore the reptile sitter under four stars and you are asked whether the sitter should see it first; we follow it through, then your review goes up.
STEP 3Consumer helpline and Trading StandardsNo regulator oversees a reptile sitter, so the route for a dispute is the consumer helpline, which can pass a complaint to Trading Standards: Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, and Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Take it to small claimsWhere money is owed back for the reptile sitter, you can claim without a solicitor: up to £10,000 in England and Wales, up to £5,000 under Scotland's simple procedure, and up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a reptile sitter: questions people ask

No. No licence applies to reptile sitting in any UK nation; the boarding laws cover cats and dogs only.

None is compulsory; public liability, animal care and key cover are normal.

Yes, while in charge; welfare law includes a suitable environment and diet.

Expect £10–£20 per visit, around £12 on average. Our reptile care price guide has the detail, and your postcode above brings up reptile sitters close to you.

Depends on species; heat and light should be checked daily.

Tell the sitter in writing. What the law does require is reasonable care and skill, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in pets

How to hire: Small Animal CareHow to hire: Bird CareHow to hire: Aquarium MaintenanceHow to hire: Pet SittingHow to hire: House Sitting with PetsHow to hire: Mobile VetHow to hire: Cat SittingHow to hire: Pet TaxiAll 701 hiring guides →

Reptile sitters near you

Reptile sitters in LondonReptile sitters in ManchesterReptile sitters in BirminghamReptile sitters in GlasgowReptile sitters in BelfastAll reptile sitters on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. gov.uk (Defra) — dog day care licensing guidance
  2. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 3 — responsibility for animals
  3. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 9 — duty to ensure welfare
  4. Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, section 24
  5. Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, section 9
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  7. Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, schedule 1
  8. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  9. mygov.scot — make a court claim for money
  10. nidirect — small claims process
  11. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  12. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register