Swallows, Assemble! Two Summers, Zero Stress. How Housepawty Keeps Your Nests Happy

If you spend Northern-hemisphere summers in the UK and Southern-hemisphere summers in South Africa (aka a proud “swallow”), we see you - and we’ve built a fuss-free way to keep your homes, plants, and four-legged VIPs thriving while you chase the sun.

How common is the “swallow” life?

Quite! South Africa’s summer inflow from the UK is consistently strong. In January 2025 alone, 45,363 UK tourists landed, making the UK the #1 overseas source market that month (peak “swallow season”). 

The not-so-tiny pain points

• The 90-day shuffle (and extensions): UK citizens can visit SA visa-free for up to 90 days; longer stays usually need an extension (apply ~60 days before expiry) or a different visa category. Many retirees opt for a Retired Person’s Visa (often tied to ZAR 37,000/month income). (GOV.UK)
• Day-count + tax residency jitters: If you’re toggling between jurisdictions, day counting (UK SRT; SA physical-presence rules) can matter for tax residency. (We’re not tax advisers; we’re flagging that the calendar math can be important.) (GOV.UK)
• Homes left lonely: Empty houses = security, insurance, maintenance, and compliance angst (meters, leaks, garden, HOA rules, alarm tests). Add pet care continuity and contractor access to the list.
• Tight long-stay supply in Cape Town: Extended, furnished, pet-friendly rentals can be scarce in peak months - competition with nomads and holiday lets is real. (Allwork.Space)

How Housepawty makes swallows’ lives breezy

Think of us as your home team while you’re off enjoying the other summer. We’ll stitch together a bespoke long-stay plan, even across multiple properties, and keep everything humming.

1) Long-Stay Live-In (30–180+ days)
One trusted sitter (with scheduled relief cover) actually lives in, handling pets, security routines, bins, deliveries, garden, and “hectic happens” moments (bursty geysers, anyone?). Regular photo-check-ins are standard; weekly home reports optional.

2) Pop-In + Walkies Bundle
If you don’t need live-in: set your cadence (e.g., twice-daily pet check, 3x/week house scan), with meter reads, mail pickup, and alarm tests. Doggos get their sniff quota; cats get couch-time and meds on schedule.

3) Arrival/Departure Concierge
We’ll prep the house before you land (cleaners, grocery basics, pool guy), and close down after you leave (laundry, deep clean, fridge sweep, taps/power routines). Utility readings + timestamped handover report, done.

4) Trades & Access Coordination
We’re on site for service calls (electrician, fibre, appliances). We keep a vendor log, serial numbers, and warranty notes, so you don’t play “guess the breaker” over WhatsApp at 3am.

5) Sitter Continuity Plan
For multi-month coverage, we rotate a tiny squad the pets already know, so there’s backup without the “who’s this new human?” drama.

Let’s tailor your “Swallow Plan”

Email info@housepawty.co.za with your dates (both hemispheres), pets’ quirks, and addresses. We’ll canvas the team and propose a bulk, bespoke long-stay package — think multi-month rate, continuity coverage, and a tidy calendar of who’s doing what, when.

Two summers, zero stress. We’ve got the home front. 🐾☀️✈️