Tech graduate reveals how she lives in London for rent-free

A woman has revealed how she manages to live in London for free, saving £1,350 a month on rent, by house sitting for strangers and looking after their cats. 

Ruby Frances from Wellington, New Zealand, decided to move to London in July 2022 after finishing her web development diploma. 

With London being Europe’s leading tech hub, the young web developer was keen to move and live in the city after graduating.

The extortionate cost of housing, however, has prevented her from renting or buying a property in the city. 

On current trends it will take young people at least 15 years to save up for a mortgage – more than any other UK city. 

Ruby Frances (pictured) in Westminster and outside Big Ben. The tech graduate was keen to live and work in the city after graduating but could not afford the extortionate rental costs

After watching a TikTok video about house sitting, the young professional joined several Facebook groups and was recommended to sign up to Trusted House Sitters – a site which puts keen and reliable house sitters in touch with tenants. 

Since signing up to the website she has looked after five different homes while taking care of the house work and looking after the owners’ plants and pets. 

Ms Frances said: ‘It’s so great I literally get to stay in amazing houses for free and look after their cats.

‘I didn’t realise this was possible until I saw a TikTok about it. I wouldn’t have been be able to afford to live in London and look for a job if I wasn’t house sitting.

She said house sitting gives her ‘so much freedom and allows her to explore and get to know the city (Pictured: Ms Frances in Piccadilly)

‘I have to make sure I am in the house enough to look after the cats and I can’t really have anyone over.

‘But it gives me so much freedom and I’m getting to know London by moving to different places.’

She added: ‘I was just looking on google maps and liked the look of it… I started looking for places to stay and everything was either too expensive or a scam.

Read Related Also: NASA’s hidden graveyard lurking at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean

‘I wanted to move straight away but I thought I might have to secure a job first. But then I saw a TikTok about house sitting and thought it looked great.’

Since signing up to the website the 24-year-old (pictured) has looked after five different homes while taking care of the house work and looking after the owners’ plants and pets.

‘I had to answer lots of questions and confirm my identity,’ she said.

‘I made sure to put down that I was happy to look after cats. It took me a couple of days to secure my first sit.

‘You do have to be very proactive in putting applications in as it’s quite competitive.’

Ruby flew to London at the end of July 2022, and stayed in her first house sit in North London for five days.

‘It was a proper big house so to rent something like that would have been at least £500 for the five nights and I got it for free. The cat slept with me every night it was so cute.’

The youngster recently secured herself a permanent job and home but says she’s thinking of using house sitting again when going on her travels (Pictured: A cat Ruby Frances looked after when she was house sitting)

Ms Frances then moved to her next house for three weeks and had everything she needed provided for her in the home.

‘It was a four story house so it was massive. I woke up in the morning and fed the cat and watered the plants.

‘I can be out in London exploring during the day I just have to make sure I’m there overnight.

‘Most places don’t like you having guests over and it’s meant I’ve had to turn offers down of holidays because I need to be at the house but it wouldn’t be possible for me to live in London without doing this.’

The youngster recently secured herself a permanent job and home but says she’s thinking of using house sitting again when going on her travels.  

‘I’m renting somewhere now as I have a job. But I’d love to use housesitting again when I travel. When I was doing it someone online said ‘I’m squatting – girl boss edition.’

‘I was just living out of a suitcase and going from house to house exploring London.’