Who London Homestays places, and who we don’t
We accept individual placements for students aged 16 and 17. We do not place students under 16 on individual bookings, younger students come to us only through their language school, as part of an organised group programme with additional supervision provided by the school.
The distinction matters because the safeguarding requirements for under-18s are different from those for adults. Everything described in this guide applies to individual placements of 16 and 17 year olds specifically.
How hosts are checked
Every host who accommodates an under-18 student must have an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. This is a criminal record check run through the UK government’s system. It covers spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, plus any information held by local police that’s considered relevant.
Other adults normally resident in the home are also subject to criminal record checks. If someone new moves into the household, we need to know.
Beyond DBS, every host home is visited in person before any student is placed. We check the room, the home environment, the neighbourhood, and talk through what hosting involves. Hosts who take under-18s also receive safeguarding guidance covering their responsibilities, reporting concerns, and emergency procedures.
For more detail on our safeguarding policies, see our child protection policy.
What a normal weekday looks like
This varies depending on the student’s course and the family’s routine, but a typical weekday for a 16 or 17 year old in homestay looks something like this:
Breakfast with the host family in the morning. Leave for school or language classes, usually between 8 and 9am. Classes or activities during the day. Typically finishing between 3 and 5pm. The student returns to the homestay, has dinner with the family, and spends the evening at home.
Students are generally expected to be out of the home during school hours (roughly 10am–4pm on weekdays) unless they’re unwell. This is normal homestay practice, hosts are not providing full-time childcare.
Suggested curfew for 16–17 year olds: 10:30pm on weeknights, 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. These can be adjusted by agreement between the host, the parents, and us, but they exist as a baseline and most families find them reasonable.
At weekends, students are free to explore London, visit friends, or stay at home. The host isn’t expected to plan activities or provide entertainment, but many do include students in family outings from time to time.
In loco parentis, what it means in practice
Hosts act in loco parentis for under-18 students. In plain English: they take on some of the responsibilities a parent would have while the student is living with them. That means ensuring the student is safe, fed, and has a stable home environment. It means knowing where the student is in the evenings and being available if something goes wrong.
It does not mean the host becomes the student’s parent. They won’t be checking homework, managing friendships, or making decisions about the student’s social life beyond the agreed curfew and house rules. The relationship is closer to a responsible aunt or uncle, present, caring, but not controlling.
Communication during the placement
We stay in contact with both parents and hosts throughout the stay. If there’s a problem (from either side) we want to hear about it while there’s still time to do something about it.
Parents can contact us at any point. We don’t have office hours for safeguarding concerns, if something is urgent, we deal with it.
We also check in with hosts and students during the placement. How often depends on the length of stay and whether anything has come up, but we don’t just place a student and disappear.
“Three years ago we made plans to send our daughter to study in London. As nervous as we were sending our daughter alone overseas, we were just as relieved to communicate with such an organised and trustworthy company. Meeting the host family further cemented our belief that this was the best option for our daughter’s needs, and three years later we could not be more impressed and grateful.”
— Ghass (parent)
What hosts are responsible for
Hosts accommodating under-18s are expected to:
- Provide a clean, safe, private room with appropriate bedding and furniture
- Provide meals as agreed (half board includes breakfast and dinner daily)
- Know the student’s general whereabouts in the evenings
- Enforce the agreed curfew
- Be available and contactable in case of emergency
- Report any concerns about the student’s welfare to London Homestays immediately
- Not leave the student alone in the home overnight
What hosts are NOT responsible for
- Getting the student to and from school (students travel independently)
- Providing daytime supervision or entertainment
- Managing the student’s money or spending
- Replacing a parent’s role in decision-making about the student’s personal life
- Providing a taxi service for social activities
This balance is important. Hosts provide a safe, stable home. They don’t provide 24-hour supervision. If your child needs that level of support, a homestay may not be the right option — a residential programme with on-site staff would be more appropriate.
What happens if something is wrong
If a student is unhappy, uncomfortable, or something doesn’t feel right, they should contact us. So should the parent. So should the host.
We investigate. We speak to both sides. Most problems (misunderstandings about meals, curfew disagreements, personality clashes) can be resolved with a conversation. We’ve done this enough times to know that the first version of a complaint rarely captures the full picture.
In serious cases where the situation genuinely can’t be resolved, we will consider alternatives. That might mean moving the student to a different host. It might mean other steps depending on the circumstances. What it won’t mean is ignoring the problem or telling you to wait it out.
For students who want to know more about how placements work day to day, see our student FAQs and student guidelines.
What parents should ask before booking
Before confirming a placement for your 16 or 17 year old, these are the questions worth asking — us or any provider:
- What criminal record checks are carried out on hosts and other household members?
- Is the home visited in person before students are placed?
- What safeguarding training do hosts receive?
- What happens if my child is unhappy or wants to move?
- Who do I contact in an emergency, and how quickly will you respond?
- Will someone check in with my child during their stay?
- What are the curfew arrangements?
- What happens if the host is away or unavailable?
Any reputable provider should be able to answer all of these clearly and without hesitation. If they can’t, that tells you something.
For more on how we approach safety across all age groups, see our safety page.
Final note
Sending a teenager abroad is a significant decision. Most parents we speak to are nervous — that’s completely normal. What we can tell you is that the vast majority of under-18 placements go well. The student settles in, enjoys their time in London, and goes home with experiences and confidence that wouldn’t have come from a classroom alone.
The key is choosing a provider that takes safeguarding seriously, communicates openly, and doesn’t disappear after the booking is confirmed. We do all three.
If you’d like to discuss a placement for your son or daughter, get in touch through our enquiry form and we’ll walk you through the process. You can also read more about what a homestay involves if you’re still at the research stage.
