Bringing home owners and house sitters together
Sitter available
Retired fit and adaptable couple,
United Kingdom
Testimonials
They have 30 testimonials (view below)
Pet experience
Dog(s), Cat(s), Rodent(s), Pig(s) – Willing to look after any animal, reptile or insect as long as specific instructions are provided and emergency procedures are indicated.
Police check
They don't have a police check
Availability
From: 16 April 2024
Until: 31 December 2030
Occupation
Retired Paramedic
References
They don't have referees/references
About this sitter
I am a 74yo) retired Paramedic. Since retiring in 2014 I have mostly been travelling globally visiting friends and relatives that are scattered across the globe. COVID made foreign assignments impossible. Our assignment in November 2019 in Rotorua, New Zealand ended in early March 2020 and we went touring the three Islands afterwards in a camper van. The Covid crisis evolved whilst we were still travelling and we eventually got locked down in Picton, South Island before we could get back to the North Island. However, we were accommodated at a holiday camp site for two + months in Picton and then In a sleep out at my Niece’s in Cambridge, NZ. North Island. Lisette managed to return around October 2020 whilst I hung on until May 2021. We decided to confine ourselves to the UK for 2022 whilst the COVID fiasco sorts itself out, hoping to find suitable assignments in warmer climes ASAP preferably through the UK winter months.
I enjoy these tasks and I love animals, so it sort of makes sense to me to advertise my services to anyone that would like to have a person such as I to take care of their property and or pets.
I do not have any permanent dwelling of my own in the UK as I decided that to be as stress free as possible I would be better off both psychologically and financially if I rid myself of all possessions and chattels whilst I travel the globe. I have family members in the South of England that are happy to accommodate me for whenever I am in England. Having so far travelled to all continents and extensively in the Indo China countries and in 2017/18 Central and South America, I am happy to go wherever my services are required. I am not rich by any stretch of the imagination but with careful budgeting I am managing to stay within my monthly pension income. Obviously, flight fares are a major expense but as long as accommodation is free I find I can manage adequately. I am happy to do any normal household chores that are required and a limited amount of gardening or maintenance as long as I get specific instructions and or a crib sheet with detailed guidance. I now have a partner/ travel companion/ soul mate, Lisette, who is of Mauritian birth, but has lived and worked in England since 1970. Lisette like myself worked for the NHS for the majority of our working lives. Now both retired and able to be flexible with our time and activities. Lisette has accompanied me on my last dozen assignments in Panama, Cotswolds England, Leatherhead, England, Denia, Costa Brava, Spain, Aegina Island, Greece and Newbury, England, Umbria Italy, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Tortola, BVI and New Zealand. Like me she loves animals and is also fastidious about cleaning house and tidying/ maintaining gardens and grounds.(see testimonials).
Because she has property to care for and maintain, she sometimes will take time out or will join me later on in the assignment, but mostly is with me throughout.To update this, We are currently 17th January, 2023, completing our latest assignment in the Azores and due back in UK on 20 th January 2023. We have two maybe three more assignments to complete to keep us occupied until April/May 2023.
Why they want to house sit
In conjunction with my above account, I am at a place in my life where I have travelled and seen a large part of this World and whilst I still want to continue to explore unchartered avenues I am also happy to spend periods of more stable living that give me the chance to slow down and maybe document some of my travel and occupational experiences. I believe house sitting gives me just such an opportunity whilst still giving me the opportunity to travel.
Their experience
As mentioned in my description, I have looked after house and pets in Cambridge, New Zealand for four weeks in December 2014. Also in 2021 near Wellington, NZ. Also looked after a house and pets in Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa. Also asignments in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Puerto Armuelles, Panama. Umbria Italy, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Rotorua and Auckland, NZ. Lately, Portugal mainland and Azores. I have Travelled extensively throughout Central and South America. Available for medium (1 months) to long term sits . Any questions welcomed and can supply character references as required. I don't have a current police check as I have been travelling for the last eight years, but my career as a paramedic required permanant and frequent checks, so I would be covered up to retirement in June 2014.
What can they bring to the assignment
Honesty, reliability, credibility, capability and a passion to fulfill the needs and requirements of the house owners allowing them to be relaxed and stress free in the knowledge that their home and possessions are being cared for and protected.
I have had a long and dedicated career as a Paramedic and throughout I have, of necessity, been used to organisation and preparation to deal with any eventuality that might occur. So I think I can add that I have a stable disposition that is experienced in coping in a crises.
Last updated:
16 April 2024
Available to house sit
Africa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Middle East, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North East Asia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South East Asia, South Korea, South Pacific, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam
Availability dates
From: 16 April 2024
Until: 31 December 2030
Do they charge?
They don't charge for house sitting services
Membership
MindMyHouse member since 2016
Personal details
Age: 66-75 years old
Family status:
Couple
Total sits
Total completed house sits: 18
References
You need to be logged in to see this house sitters' references.
About this house sitter
MindMyHouse member since May 2024
Sitemap
MindMyHouse.com – https://www.mindmyhouse.com/owners/sitter_listing/25625
Testimonials
Lisette Levantard — Solo Superstar
I feel very fortunate to have had Lisette look after my beloved cats and home for three weeks from December 2023 to January 2024. From first contact here until handover upon my return I felt at ease knowing that Lisette was in charge of things back home. From our first communication regarding the assignment she was proactive and quickly confirmed travel arrangements so that I was able to confirm my own. She was keen to understand what were the requirements of the assignment, and asked me what I hoped for with regards to the cats' needs (including administering daily medication) and communications whilst I was away. So it was that I left for my travels knowing that I could relax and enjoy my time away with complete peace-of-mind. Indeed, upon returning, the cats were happy and well-cared-for, and my home was in immaculate order, Lisette having organised and tidied various things around the house and garden in my absence. I'm pretty sure that Lisette is some sort of benevolent angel placed on the planet to do good, and I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone considering having her care for their home and companion animals. I will forever be grateful to her for her kindness.
Dylan, United Kingdom, 25 January, 2024
Stellar sitter
It’s my pleasure to recommend Brian to you for any of your house and pet sitting needs. Brian's humor, friendliness, kind spirit and devotion to our animals truly distinguish him. Despite the challenges of our remote location (i.e., lack of public transportation) which can be inconvenient for those without their own vehicle, Brian managed everything flawlessly and without complaint. This was incredibly reassuring, especially since we were literally on the other side of the world. His care for our property brought us immense peace of mind, exceeding our expectations. Brian's responsibilities extended beyond animal care. He diligently watered our plants and grass, and even completed a long-standing project I had casually mentioned to him. This was an unexpected and wonderful surprise for which I am truly grateful. Given Brian's exceptional management of our complex property, I am confident he would excel in caring for any property, meeting and surpassing expectations.
Harmony, United States, 24 January, 2024
Brian baldock and Lisette Levantard
Lisette and Brian, stayed for 4 month(not weeks!) in our house at the lake. Not only took they excellent care of our dog , (Sophia) they also kept our house and garden in tip - top shape ! They even asked us to make some improvements which we gladly accepted. They are a friendly and loveable couple with a good sense of humor and we hope to stay friends with them in the future. They are absolute honest and took care of all the work we asked for(and more!). It was a pleasure to have them here and we would take them directly again as our home- and dog sitters, thank you to both of them. Marlene and Uwe.
Uwe, Mexico, 29 September, 2023
When it come to care for our pets, no-one could have it better
Brian and Lisette were the perfect pals for our two dogs while we went to Sydney for a month. We saw regular WhatsApp pictures of the fun that Dougal and Lenny were having with their step dad and step mum! They were fed and spoiled to just the right amount - lots of happy days but we didn't come back to barrel shaped doggies. :-) Brian and Lisette are the most amazing people. They are kind, considerate, thoughtful and supportive house sitters. We needed all of those skills while we were away. Even though we had not asked for nor expected this, we came back to a house, garden, workshop, shed, garage, rooms and everything else tidier and cleaner than they have ever been. Seriously, they went way further than just house sitting and we really really appreciated it. Brian and Lisette took the doggies for long walks in the area multiple times a day and although the doggies loved that, they have, to that point, set us up to fail when we returned! It's back to one long and one short walk a day now Dougal and Lenny - they need to get used to it again! Just one example of the love and care that they gave the doggies was when Dougal was not well and could not walk upstairs to go to bed, Brian slept with him on the couch downstairs. That is something Heidi and I will never forget. Amazing. All of our communications have been full of friendly humour and the stories of their global exploits with house sitters have entertained us many a time. I could not recommend Brian and Lisette highly enough and it is no wonder that they are in such demand. Prem and Heidi Gyani (Humans) Dougal and Lenny (Doggies)
Prem and Heidi, United Kingdom, 09 May, 2023
Beautiful azores island
I forgot to mention the dossier that Lisete made about my animals with all the necessary details for their well-being. From directions to behaviors, food, etc. It was something I had never thought of but which is very useful, which touched me a lot.
maria, Portugal, 22 January, 2023
Beautiful azores island
Brian and Lisete took care of my dogs for a month and a week. All I can say will be little. With some setbacks, the weather, and a cat's health problem, everything worked out for our well-being. They took the cat to the vet and followed all the information given by the vet to the letter. The cat became even more spoiled. We were informed in writing and by pictures. Conclusion, I think that my big cats already preferred them more than us. (lol)…An extremely friendly couple concerned about their well-being. In addition, they had a lot of work to clean and organize the garages that didn't even look the same. We already miss Brian and Lisete. Hope to see you again. I wish you all the best.
maria, Portugal, 20 January, 2023
Simply the best pet and house sitters ever!
Wow, what can we say other than a massive thank you to Brian and Lisette for looking after our two dogs Monty and Maddie and our house extremely well during our nearly 4 week trip. They definitely are house and dog sitters par excellence! This was our first house sitting experience through MindMyHouse and I was a bit nervous and not sure what to expect. My worries were completely unnecessary, Brian and Lisette are such lovely people, with tons of experience. They were especially good with our two dogs. Both are rescues and Monty, the older one, had previously shown signs of stress and anxiety whenever we had gone away. Whether we had housesitters or when we left them with other people, even when it was with friends. It was very obvious to us that Brian and Lisette have a special connection with animals and Monty had clearly bonded with them, in particular with Brian. It was the first time that Monty behaved totally “normal” on our return! That’s a testament to Brian’s and Lisette’s loving care and is a huge credit to them, we can’t thank them enough! Lisette sent me pictures and updates regularly, which reassured me that they were in really good hands. They were equally great and conscientious around the house. They were keen to do some chores for us, they cleared and tidied up a VERY messy shed (thank you!) and the house and our outside spaces were kept clean too, Lisette even cleaned off all the Sahara dust from our external shutters, not a nice job but done to perfection. She had also done all the washing when we came back. But best of all: we arrived home to a delicious home cooked dinner, what a treat! We highly recommend Brian and Lisette and would have them back in a heartbeat. Thanks again!
Marianne, Portugal, 13 November, 2022
Great house sitters
Brian and Lisette were our first house sitters, so we were a bit unsure about the whole process, but they went above and beyond our expectations. Their kind and caring nature toward animals was clear from the start and gave me peace of mind during our time away, knowing that our dogs were being looked after so well. They were brilliant for keeping in touch, sending us pics of the dogs and were really responsive and responsible. They also cared for our plants and garden. And as a plus, the house was spotlessly when we got home. I would have no issues in recommending them and we would love to have them back!
Franciele, Ireland, 28 September, 2022
Sensational
Highly recommend Brian and Lisette as house sitters. They were conscientious with both the house and garden. Wonderful to come home to a sparkling house and tidy garden. Would love to have them house sit again????????????
Carla, United Kingdom, 05 September, 2022
A huge big thank you from us!
This was the first time we had used house sitters so were very fortunate when Brian and Lisette got in touch. They looked after our house and 4 cats and a dog for a month. Communication was always great and they just got on with things with minimal fuss. They were very proactive in finding things to do around the house and garden. It was very hot while we were away and they kept my plants nicely watered throughout. I came back to a very tidy and clean house (and cars!) and very happy animals. I know they like to do different locations for each housesit but we would have them back like a shot if they were willing. Thanks again, Anne and Graham
Anne, United Kingdom, 20 July, 2022
Excellent house and cat sitters!
Brian and Lisette stayed in our house in Cheshire for 7 weeks, while we were away. They looked after George, our lovely ginger tom cat, the house and the pot plants (indoors and outdoors) brilliantly. They went far beyond our expectations by totally clearing up our 3 basement rooms, which had been used as a dumping ground for over 30 years. Lisette is particularly keen to sort everything out. Brian is very handy at DIY jobs, and I was really pleased that he extended the height of the bird table so that we can see it easily from our first floor kitchen windows. They kept us informed at every stage, but did not inundate us with unnecessary photos or information! We would highly recommend them as house and cat sitters.
Gill, United Kingdom, 16 June, 2022
Fantastic Housesitter
Thank you so much Brian and Lisette for looking after our dogs so well. It was a joy to get back from a three week stay in the US to find two very happy dogs and an extremely clean and tidy house….come back any time!
Camilla, United Kingdom, 21 April, 2022
Thank you
Thank you to you and Lisette for taking care of our menagerie and looking after our house. We would love to have you back again for another sit some day.
Kerstin, United Kingdom, 09 March, 2022
Halton Village housesit.
Brian housesit for us for 28 days in Dec/Jan. He was friendly, competent & professional. He cared for our cat & two geese, & all were very well looked after. Everything was clean & tidy on our return. Brian went over & above our expectations clearing leaves in our back garden, organising our upstairs “junk room”, also our shed. He communicated with us when necessary, & sent WhatsApp of our cat & geese. We would highly recommend him to any house owner looking for a housesitter.
Mairead, United Kingdom, 26 January, 2022
Very nice and reliable house sitters
Brian and Lisette looked after our dog for two weeks and the communication was always great. They are extremely proactive with house projects and did several cleaning and tidying up around the house that we were not expecting, but that we really appreciated. The garage and all the clothes! OMG!!! We are speechless. The clothes were never so well looked after before. And tidying up the garage was a project we wanted to do for quite some time, but never got to do it. So we were extremely pleased. Thank you so much!
Vivian, United Kingdom, 14 December, 2021
Dorset House Hit
We went away from just under 3 weeks and felt some anxiety leaving our dogs. Brian and Lisette were PERFECT. They were relaxed but attentive to our requirements and they loved and cherished our dogs like we would. I set out to find sitters for them and found 'step parents'! Brian and Lisette cared for the house and garden and even tidied up our rum shack and replanted by window boxes. They were so good I would ask them when they're available and plan a holiday around it!
Rachel, United Kingdom, 02 November, 2021
Great sitters
Brian and Lisette looked after our home and three cats in Sept/Oct 2021 and are highly recommended by us.When we returned, we could see that cats had been very happy with them and the house was cleaner than when we'd left it!Much weeding had also been done in the garden,which was a lovely surprise.We wish Brian and Lisette luck for the future and would welcome them back at any time!
Annie, United Kingdom, 14 October, 2021
Wonderful house sitters
We have just returned from a 2 week holiday, and came back to a well cared for house, and extremely happy dogs, chickens and sheep. I don't think our dogs had missed us at all but were reassuringly happy to see us back! Brian and Lisette had busied themselves around our house and garden and had even undertaken little projects around the place - painting wooden doors and frames, tidying larders and box rooms etc. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Judith, United Kingdom, 13 September, 2021
Excellent House Sitters
Brian and Lisette looked after our home and pets while we were away for 2.5 weeks. They came highly recommended from previous posts. Their communication was excellent both before and during their sit for us. They asked many questions to get a full understanding of our/our pets' needs and made sure to follow our instructions perfectly. They also checked in regularly to give us updates, which were much appreciated. They handled the hiccups that often come with pet ownership without a problem and were unfazed by errant chickens and elusive cats. They looked after our home and garden beautifully, taking on several tasks that we never expected them to tackle but which have saved us much time and effort. They were both very easy to get on with and were so very friendly and kind. We are so appreciative of their time and efforts and would not hesitate to recommend them for future house sitting arrangements or to have them back.
Yvonne, United Kingdom, 25 August, 2021
Lovely people
Brian and Lisette go beyond what you could hope for in a sitter.They took great care of my animals but also worked on my garden and tidied up cupboards etc for me and i came home to a very clean house. Would love to have them again.
Carol, United Kingdom, 20 July, 2021
Kapiti Coast home and cat sitter
Brian was fantastic. He responded to a last minute Ad and was here the next day with time to get to know us. He fixed and cleaned our microwave, mowed lawns, tidied the garden and house and looked after our elderly cat.We only asked him to look after the cat. The rest was an unexpected and welcome bonus. Brian has a lot of cool stories to tell and is friendly and forthcoming with enthusiasm. We recommend Brian highly as a sitter.
Andy, New Zealand, 23 March, 2021
What a wonderful house sitter
Brian and Lisette looked after our house and dogs while we enjoyed our holiday overseas. We couldn't have been happier. Our house was incredibly tidy and organized, our garden looked beautiful and our dogs were really well looked after. Our communication from day 1 was great. We can only highly recommend Brian and Lisette and hope they can come back some day.
Sabine, New Zealand, 13 January, 2020
Trustful and nice house keeper
Brian stayed on our place for 1 week to take care of our dogs (13 and 15 years old) and was amazing. The dogs were very well treated, the house is sparkling clean and he and Lisette (her partner) have also done our laundry (thank you). One of the dogs was ill and had to take medicine during the whole time and Brian could handle this with lot of care. The dogs need special attention on feeding, since they eat only natural home made meals, and he was very patient with them since sometimes the oldest one takes 20 minutes to eat and he said that the dogs were fine. Brian kept in touch the whole time and was really easy going and flexible. I would definitely ask them again if I need and I would recommend them to anyone that needs a short or long term house keeping.
Leonardo, United Kingdom, 02 October, 2019
Very nice and helpful couple
Perfect house sitters very nice and helpful. They took wanderfully care of my Mom, the pets and garden. They built a nice shef for wood in the garden and did several little works in the house. Thank yoi again!! ??
Manuela, Italy, 11 November, 2018
In addition to my previous testimonial, I'd like to mention that Brian house sat with Lisette (not currently listed with website). Lisette's cleaning and organisation skills are unrivalled. On our return, our home had been thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom, clothes washed and ironed, bed lined changed, children's bedrooms tidied etc,etc. I too like the house to be clean and tidy but Lisette easily trumped me. Thank you so much. It made returning back from holiday so much easier.
Clare, United Kingdom, 06 September, 2018
First class house sitter
Using a house sitter was a first for us; the experience surpassed all our expectations . Our home and pets were tenderly and lovingly taken care of; our home was immaculately clean (bed linen fresh, windows cleaned, clothing washed, ironed and aired, and much more) and the garden and outside had been titivated too. Before departing for our holiday, Brian requested a list of jobs that he could undertake which he duly did with great attention to detail. Brian and Lisette are both practical and have buckets of common sense and we would not hesitate to recommend them.
Clare, United Kingdom, 31 August, 2018
Messagros Aegina
Brian and Lisette were the perfect sitters, but more than that , they became really good friends. It was a pleasure to have them . They were both creative , willing , helpful and reliable in everything they did. All three of us will miss them and they know they are welcome back at anytime. More than highly recommended. Patricia, Lida and Scoobie xxxx
Patricia, Greece, 20 May, 2018
Superb Sitters
Brian & Lisette were fabulous sitters for our gang - there was obvious mutual admiration between all of them. They dealt with a couple of emergencies with common sense and a practical approach. They kept us informed at all times by text, e-mail and phone of the animals' well-being. Our home was tidy, organised and spotless when we returned and the garden had a lovely make over thanks to Lisette. They arrived a day early as requested to familiarise themselves with our routine and for us all to get to know each other. They are a charming couple and we only hope that they come back to stay as friends in the not too distant future. FAB-U-LOUS!
GInnie, Spain, 30 September, 2017
Perfect House Sitter
Our dogs seem a little subdued since Brian left today, I think they bonded well. He joined us a couple of days before we left to settle into the daily routine with dogs, cat and chickens. He is a lovely guy with great tales of his travels and former career. We returned to a clean tidy house and happy pets, what more could you wish for, we'll be bagging Brian to return to us again for future house sits, perhaps I shouldn't be leaving a rave review and keep him a well kept secret for ourselves! He'll be warmly welcomed here even if he's just passing through. Sam x
Sam, United Kingdom, 02 August, 2017
Reliable and dog friendly house-sitter
Brian and his partner Lisette were wonderful house-sitters. Brian was very natural and caring with my little dog Poppy. The apartment was left clean and tidy and they even left some lovely flowers in my planter outside. I would not hesitate to invite them back. Many thanks ! Judy
Judy, United Kingdom, 15 July, 2017