Home Tales

Cookie Policy

Last updated: 13 October 2026

This policy explains what Home Tales stores in your browser and why. It is run by HOME TAILS LIMITED, trading as Home Tales. Read it alongside our Privacy Policy.

1. The short version

  • Home Tales sets two cookies of its own, both strictly necessary: one keeps you signed in, and one remembers a browser you have chosen to trust.
  • We do not use advertising, analytics or tracking cookies, and we do not run ads.
  • We also use your browser's session storage to make the site work. One of our map providers stores a usage identifier, described in section 4.

2. Cookies we set

Each holds an encrypted token that only our servers can read; neither contains your account details. Both are marked so that scripts on the page cannot read them, and are only sent to hometales.co.

  • Sign-in cookie (ht_session): keeps you signed in so you do not have to log in on every page. It lasts 30 days, is renewed while you keep using the site, and is deleted when you sign out.
  • Trusted browser cookie (ht_trusted): set only if you choose to trust this browser after entering a one-time code, so you are not asked for a code every time. It lasts 30 days and stays when you sign out.

On a shared or public computer, sign out when you finish and do not choose to trust the browser.

3. Storage that lasts only for your visit

Kept in your browser's session storage, which is deleted when you close the tab: your search filters, the profiles, listings and pets you are viewing or editing, open conversations and notifications, and on-screen messages. This stops the page losing your place when you refresh or go back.

4. Third-party services

  • Mapbox shows maps and location search. When a map loads, Mapbox records the map load, which is how it counts usage for billing, and stores an anonymous identifier in local storage (beginning mapbox.eventData). We have switched off Mapbox's optional performance data collection.
  • Stripe handles payments and sitter payout accounts on its own pages (stripe.com). Stripe uses its own cookies there, including for fraud prevention. See Stripe's cookie policy for details.
  • Google Fonts serves the site's fonts. It does not set cookies, but your browser sends your IP address to Google to download the fonts.
  • Botpoison runs a short check in your browser when you sign up and when you submit a course test, to spot automated activity. It does not store anything in your browser.

5. Why we do not ask for consent

The law allows storage that is strictly necessary to provide a service you have asked for without asking for consent. The storage in sections 2 and 3 falls into that category. If we ever add analytics or other non-essential cookies, we will ask for your consent first and update this policy.

6. How to control it

  • Signing out deletes the sign-in cookie.
  • Closing the tab clears session storage.
  • You can delete all site data, including cookies, in your browser settings. If you do, you will be signed out and asked for a one-time code next time you log in.

7. Contact us

Questions about this policy? Email [email protected].