This page provides a summary of the things we ask all hosts to provide. Think of this as the nuts and bolts of hosting. These requirements can differ slightly from project to project, for example, when providing short term hosting or hosting younger children. However, any variations will be made clear from the outset. Students living in homestay households must also agree to certain rules and ensure they are considerate guests.

Students should be provided with the following:

1. Use of communal living areas available to other members of the household. Note this does not include family bedrooms or private bathrooms.
2. Use of either an en-suite or shared bathroom. This should include a shower and space for students to store essential toiletries.
3. A front door key for their personal use.
4. A study bedroom which should typically contain a bed, a desk and adequate furniture to store clothes and other personal belongings.

Additional Points

1. Bedrooms should be well lit and have a minimum usable floor area of 6 square meters (e.g. 2m x 3m).
2. Longer term student will require single occupancy rooms. Shared rooms may be appropriate for short term projects and will be agreed on a case by case basis.
3. We would not expect student bedrooms to have their own lock, nor should students refuse reasonable access to their rooms by hosts.
4. Students should take responsibility for keeping their rooms tidy and be considerate in other areas of the home.
5. It is reasonable for hosts to ask students to undertake light cleaning in their own rooms such as might be expected of an older son or daughter.
6. Hosts should take responsibility for washing the student’s bed clothes. This should usually be done at least once a fortnight. Students can be asked to strip and make their own beds.

Homestay is nearly always a catered role. This is an important part of the homestay experience. Further information about food is available here. Unless stated otherwise, hosts are asked to provide the following:

1. Breakfast 7 days per week.
2. An evening meal 7 days per week.
3. Lunch on Saturday, Sunday and Public holidays.
4. At least one meal per day should be a hot meal.
5. Space in the kitchen to store their own snacks, including some fridge space.

Other things to note

1. Whilst we recognise it may not be possible every day, we strongly encourage hosts to eat with students as a household a number of times per week. This would usually mean eating at a dining table.
2. Some hosts choose to provide lunch during the week, but this is not a formal requirement.
3. If students intend to miss a meal, for example if they are going out with friends for the evening, it is their responsibility to tell hosts with as much notice as possible. Hosts should contact us if this becomes an issue.
4. When students are travelling, hosts are expected to provide meals for students as might be considered reasonable given their arrival and departure times. This will usually mean an evening meal in the day students arrive and breakfast on the day they leave.
5. Hosts should provide a diet that is balanced and varied and where possible involve the students in menu planning.

Information about the care and support of students is discussed in our section on Safeguarding. In addition we ask that:

1. Students and host make an effort to contact hosts in advance of the student’s arrival in the UK, especially for long term hosting
2. When they first arrive, students will not always travel directly to the home. Depending on the project, we may ask hosts to travel a short distance to meet them at a local collection point (e.g. school, college or community hall).
3. In some cases hosts will be asked to assist students on the day of their departure in getting to a local group departure point. There will not be a requirement to travel long distances.
4. Hosts should talk to students about their hopes and expectations for homestay as soon as possible after their arrival. For example, they should agree any ‘house rules’ and work hard to maintain clear and open communication.
5. There is an equivalent responsibility on the part of the student to engage in this discussion.
6. Hosts should provide reasonable assistance to help the student settle in. For example, making them aware of local bus routes, helping them register with a GP (long term students) and generally provide them with the benefit of local knowledge.

1. Provision should be made for washing clothes. It is acceptable for the student to do this, or for the host to do it. We ask that hosts establish an agreed approach with their students as soon as possible after their arrival.