Code of conduct for students under 18 staying in a homestay
Essential guidelines ensuring a safe and respectful homestay experience for younger guests.
At a glance
| Purpose | Simple rules to help your homestay feel safe, respectful and comfortable — and to explain how to get help if you need it. |
| Applies to | Students aged 16–17 staying in homestay accommodation arranged by London Homestays. |
| Age range | Our individual under-18 placements are for ages 16–17 only. We do not place under-16s individually. |
| How to get help | If something doesn’t feel right, tell someone. You can speak to your host, your school/guardian/agent, or contact London Homestays. If your concern is about your host, or you don’t feel comfortable speaking to them, contact London Homestays and/or your school/guardian. |
| How to report | Emergency: call 999. Non-emergency police: 101. Safeguarding concerns: follow the reporting route in our Child Protection Policy (London Homestays can guide you). Out-of-hours emergency support: for active placements only, emergency contact details are provided at booking confirmation and via our office voicemail. |
| Last updated | 22 January 2026 |
| Next review | January 2027 |
1. Why this Code matters
Homestay should feel safe and welcoming. This Code sets out the basics we expect from you during your stay, so everyone in the home knows what’s OK and what isn’t.
In the UK, anyone under 18 is considered a child. If you are 16–17 and staying in a homestay, your host is expected to provide a safe home environment and to support your welfare while you are in their home.
If you are ever worried about your safety, you will not get in trouble for asking for help or raising a concern in good faith.
2. Respect people and the home
You must:
- Treat your host, their family and neighbours with respect and courtesy.
- Follow house rules and routines (for example meals, laundry, bathroom use, quiet hours and shared spaces).
- Use polite language and behave appropriately in the home.
- Keep your bedroom reasonably tidy and leave shared spaces clean after use (especially the bathroom and kitchen).
- Tell your host promptly if you break or damage something.
3. Keep in touch and follow curfews
You must:
- Share your mobile number with your host on arrival and save the host household contact details.
- Follow the curfew arrangements for your placement (as stated in your booking confirmation or as agreed with London Homestays). As a guide, we suggest you are home no later than 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10.30 pm on all other days, unless your placement’s agreed curfew is different.
- Tell your host if you will be late or your plans change (a quick text is usually enough).
- If you cannot contact your host, contact London Homestays.
If you are repeatedly late or do not keep your host updated, your placement may be reviewed.
4. Visitors and staying away overnight
You must not:
- Invite friends to visit without your host’s permission.
- Bring friends to the home when your host is not there.
- Invite anyone to stay overnight in the home.
Overnight stays away from the homestay
You must not stay away overnight unless London Homestays has confirmed in advance that this has been approved through the appropriate channels (for example, your parent/guardian, school or agent as applicable).
5. Alcohol, smoking, vaping, drugs and gambling
Because you are under 18 and for safeguarding reasons, the following are not allowed during your homestay placement (even if alcohol may be legal in some settings).
You must not:
- Drink alcohol during your homestay placement.
- Smoke, vape, or buy tobacco or vaping products.
- Use, carry, buy, share or sell illegal drugs.
- Gamble (including online gambling).
If anyone offers you any of the above, or you feel pressured by others, contact London Homestays straight away. If it is safe and you feel comfortable, you can also tell your host. If the concern is about your host, contact London Homestays and/or your school/guardian.
6. Safety, privacy and online behaviour
You must:
- Keep yourself safe when travelling and follow any safety guidance from your school, host or London Homestays.
- Respect privacy in the home. Do not enter other people’s bedrooms or private areas without permission.
- Be considerate late at night (for example, come in quietly and avoid waking others).
- Not bully, harass, threaten or use hateful language towards anyone.
- Not share photos, videos, addresses or personal information about your host family or other students online without permission.
7. Meals, laundry and kitchen use
You must:
- Be on time for meals, or tell your host in advance if you will be late.
- Follow the laundry arrangements explained by your host.
- Only use the kitchen in the way your host has agreed with you.
- Ask before taking food or using appliances if you are not sure what is allowed.
8. If you are worried about anything
If you feel unsafe, pressured, or worried about your welfare, please speak up. We are here to help and can advise you on the right next step.
Call 999 immediately if:
- You are in immediate danger.
- Someone is seriously injured or unwell and needs urgent medical help.
Contact London Homestays (and/or your school/guardian) if:
- You feel unsafe, threatened, or pressured by someone.
- You have a safeguarding concern about yourself or another student.
- There is a serious issue in the homestay that you cannot resolve safely.
- Your concern is about your host, or you do not feel comfortable speaking to your host.
Out-of-hours emergency support: for active placements only, emergency contact details are provided at booking confirmation and via our office voicemail.
9. Breaches of this Code
This Code is in place to keep everyone safe. Serious or repeated breaches may lead to your placement being reviewed. This could include additional support, contacting your school/agent/parent or guardian as appropriate, moving you to a different placement, or ending the placement. Any fees or refunds are handled in line with your booking terms.
10. Further information
For more safeguarding information, see our Safety hub.
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In their words...
“We have been working with London Homestays since 2011. With their support, we have managed to achieve a high level of customer satisfaction. We strongly recommend London Homestays to anyone who’s looking for quality, reliability and exceptional customer service.”
Alex Fernandes, Accommodation & Visa Compliance Manager, Malvern House London
“Having worked with them since 2013, I can state that London Homestays have always taken care to match our students with suitable host families. They have a very friendly yet professional approach to their work. Our students have enjoyed staying at their homestays. Overall, students say that their host families are attentive and welcoming.”
Carl Roberton, Principal, Stafford House School of English
“We at Burlington School have worked with London Homestays since 2014, and I professionally know the team since 2009 when I worked for another company in the education and accommodation industry. Having had the opportunity to work with London Homestays since the company started operations in London, all of the enquiries have been dealt with in a dedicated and timely manner, the team members are customer-oriented and always provide an exceptional accommodation experience to our students. I have no hesitation to recommend London Homestays as excellent accommodation providers and business partners.”
Eliane Tomasi, Accommodation & Welfare Officer, Burlington School
“LSC Stanton has been working with London Homestays since 2011 and we are very pleased with the quality of accommodation and service they give to us. We have a good relationship with the team and they are always on hand to deal with any last-minute requests.”
Nick Bray, Managing Director, London Study Centre.
“Cooperation with London Homestays is always great! We highly appreciate proactive approach and effort to ensure the best possible services for our groups. We always had a great clean accommodation, friendly family and smart local organisers. Students of our groups were satisfied and they enjoyed staying in London very much. We would like to recommend this agency. The whole team is very kind.”
Miroslava Foltýnová, Owner, CK Bus Tours.
“We offer internships in London to European students and looked for a reliable partner to provide accommodation to our candidates. We have been very happy with the services provided by London Homestays, as have our candidates, as they have always received quickly information on families, the possibility to book a room in a short delay and also a good quality of families. I would recommend without any doubt this agency. The team is very professional, efficient and friendly :). We hope to send new trainees soon!”
Stéphanie Frassanito, Program Manager, Work Overseas
“Our school from the Czech Republic has had great experiences with London Homestays. The host families were generally welcoming, kind, and accommodating. The service provided by the coordinator Kate O’Connor and other admin staff is second to none.”
Kate Powers, Vice Principal for English Studies, Sunny Canadian International School
It was an amazing experience, I’ve found a new home where I feel as comfortable as I do in my own home!
Laura, student from France: Homestay booking in Zone 2
“When my children went off to university and got married, my husband and I were empty nesters rattling around. We have an empty bedroom and I quite enjoy keeping it fresh for new students who come to stay with us both short and long term. Invariably, they show us a lot of respect. Coming to London to study or to work as interns is a big adventure for them and I enjoy settling them in and seeing them flourish. Some return or recommend to their friends to come and stay with us. London Homestays are a great organisation to deal with – good at communicating and highly ethical.”
Cathy, Homestay host in Colindale, London
“My first student has just left to return home and I have thoroughly enjoyed hosting her. It has been a lovely experience for me to help her with her English and learn about her Japanese culture.
I was nervous and apprehensive at first but it was so worthwhile and I look forward to continue hosting in the future. It has given me a boost knowing that I can give someone an opportunity that they may not have been able to afford without using London Homestays”
Audrey, Homestay host in Tooting, London
My homestay host Debra transformed my stay into the most amazing experience of my whole life!
Florian, student from Belgium: Homestay booking in Zone 3
My homestay host is a lovely lady, she was very helpful and genuine. London Homestays offer an excellent, fast service and quality accommodation. I would definitely recommend to my friends!
Shelaine, student from Canada: Homestay booking in Zone 2
Daphne was a really nice and welcoming host, I really enjoyed my stay with her and her family. Thank you London Homestays for connecting me with her!
Ben, researcher from USA: Superior homestay booking
My stay with my host family makes my time at UK much more fun and exciting! Life is happening!
Bao, student from China: Homestay booking in Zone 4+
“Really, we are very happy with our room at the residence. James in the residences team has helped us with all aspects of our booking and we would like to say, big thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
Dmitriy and Maria, two students from Russia: Residence booking
“I felt completely at ease and very comfortable with my host! She was really kind…many thanks!”
Doris, student from Italy: Superior homestay in Zone 2
“Shanghai Chelsea International Consulting (SCIC) has worked with Home from Home many times and they have provided a very professional service.”
Chan Sen, Director at Shanghai Chelsea International Consulting
“I highly recommend London Homestays! We have been working with them for a while now, and their professionalism and the quality of their homestays have always been exceptional. One of the homestays we collaborated with was so impressive that we even shared it on our YouTube channel to give our students a glimpse of the warm and welcoming environment they can expect. Thank you, London Homestays, for providing such amazing services. We look forward to continuing our partnership!”
Tuba Akca, Owner at Tubik Academy
