What happens if a London homestay isn’t the right fit?

What’s normal in the first two weeks

Almost every homestay placement goes through an adjustment period. You’re in someone else’s home, in a new country, eating food you didn’t choose, following routines you didn’t set. That takes getting used to, even when the placement is a good one.

In the first week or two, it’s completely normal to feel:

• Awkward at mealtimes, unsure what to say or how much to take
• Uncertain about when you can use the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room
• Homesick, especially in the evenings
• Frustrated by small differences — the food isn’t what you’re used to, the house is colder than you expected, the host goes to bed earlier than you do
• Unsure whether something is a real problem or just unfamiliarity

Most of this settles by week three. By then, you know the routine. You know what time dinner is. You know which shelf in the fridge is yours. The awkwardness fades and you start to feel at home. That transition is a normal part of the experience, not a sign that something is wrong.

What if you genuinely don’t get on?

Sometimes the fit isn’t right, and that’s different from the adjustment period above. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Adjustment issues (usually resolve themselves):

• Meals are unfamiliar but edible (you’re just not used to the food yet
• The host is friendly but quiet) you were expecting more conversation
• You’re not sure about the house rules) nobody has explained them clearly
• The commute feels long) but it’s within the range you were told

Genuine concerns (contact us):

• The host is consistently unwelcoming, cold, or dismissive
• Meals are regularly missed, inadequate, or not what was agreed
• The room or home isn’t clean or isn’t what was described
• You feel unsafe or seriously uncomfortable
• The host is not respecting your privacy or personal space

The line between the two isn’t always obvious, and that’s fine. If you’re not sure whether something is a real problem, tell us anyway. We’d rather hear about something that turns out to be minor than miss something that isn’t.

Common misunderstandings (not problems, just differences)

Meal timing and portions: Your host serves dinner at 6:30pm. You’re used to eating at 9pm. The portions look small. You’re not sure if you can ask for more. In most cases, you can — just ask. Hosts aren’t rationing food; they’re serving what they consider a normal amount. If you’re still hungry, say so. If you need to eat later, talk to them about it.

Bathroom schedules: In a shared home, bathroom time can be limited in the morning. If your host has children getting ready for school at the same time you’re preparing for class, there’s a natural bottleneck. Ask your host what time works best. A two-minute conversation prevents weeks of frustration.

Communication styles: Some hosts are chatty and include you in everything. Others are warm but more reserved. They give you space and expect you to ask if you need something. Neither is wrong. If you want more interaction, initiate it. If you prefer more privacy, that’s usually fine too.

House rules you didn’t know about: Shoes off at the door. No food in the bedroom. Laundry on Tuesdays and Fridays only. These rules exist for practical reasons and vary by household. If nobody explained them clearly, ask. Our student guidelines cover the most common expectations.

When to contact us urgently

Some situations shouldn’t wait. Contact London Homestays immediately if:

• You feel unsafe in the home for any reason
• There is a medical emergency
• You are locked out of the home with no way to contact your host
• Something has happened that you don’t feel comfortable discussing with your host directly

We don’t have restricted office hours for genuine emergencies. If something is urgent, contact us and we will deal with it.

What the process looks like

When a student or parent raises a concern, here’s what happens:

1. You tell us what’s going on. Be specific. “I’m not happy” is a starting point, but “dinner has been late three times this week and I’m going to school hungry” gives us something to work with.
2. We talk to the host. Every situation has two sides. We hear yours, then we hear theirs. Often the host doesn’t realise there’s a problem, or they have a different understanding of what was agreed.
3. We work on a resolution. Most of the time, this is a conversation that clears up a misunderstanding. Sometimes it means adjusting the arrangement — different meal times, clearer house rules, a change in routine. We mediate and follow up.
4. If it can’t be resolved, we look at alternatives. In cases where the placement genuinely isn’t working despite everyone’s efforts, we will consider moving you to a different host. This is subject to availability and isn’t instant, but it’s an option we take seriously when needed.

“The team at London Homestays are a pleasure to deal with. They are friendly and professional, always keeping us updated and informed. Ellie especially has been a delight to work with, showing empathy and understanding.”

— Margaret, Woodford Green — host

“My daughter’s college didn’t help us with accommodations for her study abroad to London. We were a little intimidated until we found London Homestays. They couldn’t have been more helpful and communicated with us every step of the way. My daughter chose a homestay that was going to be a long commute. They worked with us and were able to move her. Their attention to detail and professionalism gave me so much peace of mind.”

— Amie, USA (parent)

Why speaking up early matters

The biggest mistake students make is waiting too long. They put up with something for weeks, say nothing, and by the time they contact us they’re frustrated and want to leave immediately. By that point, the situation has hardened and it’s much harder to fix.

If you raise a concern in week one, we can usually resolve it quickly. Often with a single phone call. If you wait until week six, the host has assumed everything was fine, you’ve been silently unhappy, and both sides feel let down.

Speaking up isn’t complaining. It’s how adult living arrangements work. Your host would rather know something is wrong than discover you’ve been unhappy for weeks without saying a word.

A word for students who are hesitant to raise concerns

We know this is harder than it sounds. Some students come from cultures where complaining to an elder or host is deeply uncomfortable. Some worry that speaking up will make things awkward, or that they’ll be seen as difficult. Others just don’t want to cause trouble.

You don’t need to confront your host directly. That’s what we’re here for. Contact London Homestays, tell us what’s happening, and we’ll handle the conversation. We do this regularly. It’s a normal part of our work, not an unusual event. See our student FAQs for more on how we support students during their stay.

Short version

The first two weeks are an adjustment. Low-level discomfort is normal and usually passes. If something is genuinely wrong (meals being missed, feeling unsafe, the room not matching what was described) tell us. We investigate, mediate, and resolve. If the placement can’t be fixed, we look at alternatives.

Don’t wait. Don’t assume it will sort itself out. Don’t stay silent because you think it’s impolite to raise a concern. The earlier we know, the more we can do.

If you’re considering a homestay and want to know more about how they work, start with our guide to what a homestay is and how to choose the right one. Ready to go? Get in touch through our enquiry form.