Terms & Conditions 

1. Introduction

1.1 These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) set out the basis on which I, Jennifer Carmo, trading as Helpful Rider, provide services to you (“you”, “your”).

1.2 By booking any service with Helpful Rider, you agree to be bound by these Terms, together with any written booking confirmation, service description and policies referred to on my website (including my Payment & Travel Costs and Cancellation Policy stated on this website).

1.3 These Terms apply to all services provided by Helpful Rider, whether booked via my website, email, text message or in person.

2. Services Provided

2.1 Helpful Rider offers occasional, short-term support services, which may include:

• Babysitting and short-term family support

• Elderly companionship and check-in visits (non-medical, non-personal care)

• House sitting and house + pet sitting

• Local errand running

• Personal organising and decluttering support (not cleaning)
  
  

2.2 All services are provided on an occasional, ad-hoc basis. I do not offer:

• Long-term, fixed-hour contracts

• Being your only or primary childcare or care provider

• Guaranteed weekly hours or ongoing availability
  
  

2.3 I reserve the right to decline any booking where I feel the request is outside my skills, capacity, safety boundaries or these Terms.

3. Scope and Limitations – People

3.1 Children
I provide babysitting and childcare support only for children who are:

• Generally healthy and stable, and

• Not in need of complex medical or specialist care
  
  

I do not provide care for:

• Children with complex needs or complex medical conditions requiring specialist care, constant monitoring or medical procedures.
  
  

3.2 Elderly adults and adults at home
My elderly companionship and check-in service is for independent adults who can manage their own personal care.

I do not provide:

• Personal care (washing, showering, toileting, dressing)

• Lifting or moving people who require physical assistance

• Administering medication or managing medical routines

• Emergency or 24/7 response services
  
  

3.3 You are responsible for ensuring that:

• Any person I support is suitable for the type of service I offer; and

• I am informed of any relevant health, behavioural or safety issues before the booking is confirmed.
  
  

4. Scope and Limitations – Pets

4.1 I look after generally friendly, stable dogs, cats and small pets who do not have complex medical or behavioural needs.

4.2 I do not, under any circumstances, look after:

• Dogs or cats with known behavioural issues (such as aggression, history of biting, serious reactivity, guard-dog training or similar); or

• Pets with medical conditions that require medication, injections, close monitoring or complex medical care.
  
  

4.3 If you fail to disclose behavioural or medical issues and I judge a situation to be unsafe or unsuitable, I may terminate the service and you will remain liable for the full fee and any additional costs incurred.

5. House Sitting & Presence in the Home

5.1 When providing house sitting or house + pet sitting, I offer live-in presence, which means:

• I sleep at the property overnight, and

• I spend a reasonable amount of time there during the day (including pet care where applicable).
  
  

5.2 I am not a security guard or 24/7 on-site service. I may leave the property during the day for:

• Walks, exercise, errands, local exploring, or

• Other work/commitments, as long as agreed routines for pets and home tasks are met.
  
  

5.3 You remain responsible for:

• Ensuring the property is safe, insured and fit to stay in; and

• Providing clear instructions for home systems (alarms, locks, bins, etc.).
  
  

6. Booking and Acceptance

6.1 A booking is not confirmed until:

• I have confirmed the details in writing (email/message), and

• Any required deposit has been received by me in cleared funds.
  
  

6.2 I reserve the right to refuse or cancel a booking where:

• I have not received payment by the agreed date; or

• I believe the booking is unsafe, unsuitable or not in line with these Terms.
  
  

6.3 For large bookings (such as house sitting), I may ask you to sign a separate Service Agreement, which will sit alongside these Terms.

7. Fees, Deposits and Payment

7.1 My current rates and charges are set out on my website. I reserve the right to update these at any time; however, once your booking is confirmed in writing, your agreed rate will not change for that booking.

7.2 Local services (babysitting, elderly companionship, errands, personal organising):

• For most new clients, a 50% deposit is payable in advance. The balance is due on the day of service, by bank transfer, before I leave (or within 24 hours at the latest).

• For regular/trusted clients, I may agree to payment in full within 24 hours after the service, and/or still request a deposit for longer or complex bookings.
  
  

7.3 House sitting and house + pet sitting (UK):

• A 50% deposit is required to confirm the booking.

• The remaining 50% is due 7 days before the start of the sit.
  
  

7.4 International house sitting:

• All required travel costs (such as flights) and a 50% deposit must be paid in advance, with the balance due before the sit starts, as agreed in writing for each booking.
  
  

7.5 All payments are by bank transfer only, using the bank details I provide.

8. Travel Costs

8.1 I travel to bookings by motorcycle and use super unleaded petrol.

8.2 To cover fuel and running costs, I charge £0.35 per mile, calculated on the estimated return journey from my base in [your area] to your address and back.

8.3 An estimate of the travel cost will be confirmed in writing and is payable up front along with your deposit/booking payment.

8.4 For long-distance or international bookings, additional travel arrangements and costs (such as flights, ferries, trains) will be agreed in writing and are payable in advance.

9. Cancellations by You

9.1 My detailed Cancellation Policy (available on my website) forms part of these Terms. In summary:

• For local services, cancelling within 48 hours of the start time may mean up to 100% of the fee is due.

• For house sitting and house + pet sitting (UK), cancelling within 7 days of the start date may mean up to 100% of the booking fee is due.

• For international sits, deposits and non-refundable travel costs cannot be refunded once spent.
  
  

9.2 Deposits are generally non-refundable except where I cancel the booking (see Section 10).

10. Cancellations by Me (Including Weather)

10.1 In rare cases, I may need to cancel a booking (for example, due to illness, emergency, or unsafe conditions).

10.2 Because I travel by motorcycle, I may also need to cancel or reschedule a booking in the event of unsafe weather, including but not limited to:

• Severe storms, very high winds, ice, heavy snow
  
  

• Flooding or other climate-related emergencies affecting safe travel
  
  

10.3 I will:

• Notify you as soon as reasonably possible; and
  
  

• Refund any payments you have made to me for that booking in full (including deposit and balance).
  
  

10.4 I am not responsible for any additional costs you incur due to my cancellation, including but not limited to:

• Alternative childcare, pet care or house sitting

• Travel changes, accommodation costs or lost income
  
  

For larger trips, you may wish to take out your own travel or pet care insurance.

Please, before booking, read my full Cancellation Policy HERE.

11. Your Responsibilities

11.1 You agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete information about the people, pets and property involved
  
  

• Inform me of any health, behavioural or safety issues in advance
  
  

• Ensure the environment is safe, smoke-free and reasonably tidy for me to work or stay in
  
  

• Provide a clean, comfortable place to sleep for house sits (with bedding)
  
  

• Provide basic food items or a food allowance where agreed for longer stays
  
  

• Ensure that your home and contents are appropriately insured
  
  

11.2 For house and pet sits, you are responsible for:

• Providing clear written instructions for pet care, feeding, exercise and vet contact details
  
  

• Confirming that pets are safe to handle and do not have known aggressive behaviour
  
  

• Ensuring all utilities and systems are in good working order and safe to use.
  
  

11.3 If, on arrival, I judge the situation to be unsafe, significantly different to what was described, or in breach of these Terms, I may terminate the booking. In such cases, the booking will be treated as a same-day cancellation by you, and fees may still be payable.

12. Keys, Security and Valuables

12.1 Where I am given keys or access codes, I will take reasonable care to keep them safe and secure.

12.2 You are responsible for ensuring:

• Locks and alarms are in good working order
  
  

• Any security systems are properly explained
  
  

• Valuables are secured or removed before my stay
  
  

12.3 I am not liable for any loss or damage arising from faults in your security systems, pre-existing vulnerabilities, or events beyond my reasonable control (such as burglary).

13. Liability

13.1 Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes my liability for death or personal injury caused by my negligence, or any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law.

13.2 Subject to the above, my total liability to you for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with any booking shall not exceed the total amount you have paid for that booking.

13.3 I am not liable for:

• Any indirect or consequential losses, such as loss of income, travel or accommodation costs,

• Damage or loss caused by pets themselves, or

• Issues arising from pre-existing faults or conditions in your home or property.
  
  

You are advised to maintain appropriate home, contents and pet insurance.

14. Data Protection and Privacy

14.1 I will keep your personal information (contact details, addresses, emergency contacts, etc.) secure and use it only for the purposes of:

• Managing your booking

• Providing services

• Keeping relevant records (for example, for accounting or legal purposes)
  
  

14.2 I will not sell or share your details with third parties, except where required by law or where necessary in an emergency (for example, providing pet details to a vet).

15. Complaints

15.1 If you are unhappy with any aspect of my service, please contact me as soon as possible so we can discuss and try to resolve the issue informally.

15.2 If we cannot resolve a complaint informally, you may put your concerns in writing and send them to helpfulrider.uk@gmail.com and I will respond within a reasonable timeframe, setting out my position.

16. Changes to These Terms

16.1 I may update these Terms from time to time. The version in force at the time of your booking will apply to that booking.

17. Governing Law

17.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

17.2 Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.