Why We're Adding Extra Security for Member Accounts

Update (July 2026)
Since this article was first published, House Sitting Australia has continued to strengthen account security.

Members can now sign in using secure authentication methods, and optional Identity Verification powered by Stripe Identity adds another layer of trust by confirming a member's identity using government-issued identification.

While Facebook remains a convenient way to sign in, our goal has always been to ensure every member owns their HSA account independently of any social media platform.

As House Sitting Australia grows, protecting member accounts will remain one of our highest priorities.

When people think about house sitting, they usually think about pets, travel and finding the right match.

Behind every successful house sit, though, is something far more important.

Trust.

Homeowners trust someone they've often only known for a short time with their home, their pets and, in many cases, access to personal information. Sitters trust that the people they're staying with are genuine and that the arrangements they've agreed to will be honoured. None of that works unless members can also trust the platform they're using.

That's why we've been spending so much time thinking about account security.

Security Is More Than Just Logging In

For many years, signing in with Facebook has been the most popular way for members to access House Sitting Australia. It's quick, familiar and convenient, which is why we continue to support it.

Like every website that offers social login, however, we only receive confirmation that Facebook has successfully authenticated the user. We don't control how members secure their Facebook account, and we don't see whether additional protections, such as two-factor authentication, have been enabled.

That prompted an important question during development.

Could we add another layer of protection without making the site harder to use?

Protecting the Actions That Matter Most

Rather than asking members to jump through extra hoops every time they log in, we decided to focus on the moments that really matter.

If someone is about to accept a house sit, change important account details or perform another sensitive action, we can ask for an additional verification if the device or location looks unfamiliar. For most members, this happens quietly in the background and only when it's genuinely needed.

The aim isn't to make using House Sitting Australia more complicated. It's to make it much harder for someone else to access an account if something doesn't look right.

A Simple Check That Makes a Big Difference

Our first step was to introduce email verification for important account actions.

If you're using a device we don't recognise, we'll send a short verification code to your registered email address before allowing certain actions to continue. Once you've confirmed it's really you, you can choose to trust that device for a period of time so you won't be asked again unnecessarily.

We've also introduced login alerts for new devices, giving members early warning if someone accesses their account from somewhere unexpected.

Most people will rarely notice these features.

That's exactly how good security should work.

Security and Identity Work Together

Protecting an account is only one part of building trust.

House Sitting Australia also offers optional Identity Verification through Stripe Identity, allowing members to confirm their identity using government-issued identification. Identity verification doesn't replace good communication or careful selection, but it provides another level of confidence for members who choose to use it.

Combined with secure authentication and ongoing monitoring, it helps create a safer environment for both homeowners and sitters.

A Few Things You Can Do

Good security is always a partnership.

Whichever sign-in method you use, it's worth enabling two-factor authentication where it's available, using a unique password, and keeping your recovery email and phone number up to date. Those simple steps dramatically improve the security of almost every online account you own, not just House Sitting Australia.

It's also worth reviewing your account occasionally to make sure you recognise the devices that have access.

Trust Is Something We Build Together

Technology can never replace common sense, good communication or taking the time to choose the right house sitter.

What it can do is reduce risk and quietly protect the community in the background.

We'll continue improving security as House Sitting Australia evolves, adding stronger authentication methods and better account protection where they genuinely improve the member experience. Our aim is simple: to make House Sitting Australia not only the easiest place to arrange a house sit, but one of the safest as well.

Because when people trust each other with their homes, their pets and their personal information, looking after that trust becomes our responsibility too.