Lucy Wallis looked at the practice of extreme house sitting:

• With almost a million empty homes across the UK, homeowners need to find a way to ensure their properties aren’t vandalized or burglarized while they’re waiting for the properties to be sold.
• Companies have sprung up that match those who need a place to live, with those who need people to live in their properties.
• In exchange for a small rent (as little as £180 – $274 – a month for a 35 bedroom mansion) an individual agrees to live in the property and protect it.
• There are certain restrictions – the house-sitter can’t host any parties, has to have a stable income, and can’t have a criminal record. They must also stay for at least three months.
• It’s not just homes. Uninhabited hospitals, pubs, schools, police stations, observatories, and even a theme park need a sitter.

Read more about why there’s a surge in interest after Christmas, how you can be a house-sitter in the UK, and other creative ways an individual can find a place to live for low rents over here.

Source: BBC