Homestay Terms & Conditions

Important note: The terms and conditions set below are for individual accommodation (not groups) booked with a homestay or host family and not in a self-contained room in a Student Residence, or a Guardianship booking.

For Guardianship booking terms and conditions, please click here.
For Group homestay booking terms and conditions, please click here.
For Student residence booking terms and conditions, please click here.

We operate VAT under the Tour Operators Margin Scheme and therefore VAT on our services are not claimable.

Accommodation referred to within these terms and conditions is with Home from Home Student Services Ltd (company number 07332845). References in these terms and conditions to “We”, “Us” or “Our” include our representatives and employees. References in these terms and conditions to “You” or “Your” refers to the paying customer.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. You agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts, as do we.

• To book your homestay accommodation, please complete the online booking form. When we receive your booking we will email you to tell you if we can or cannot meet the requirements specified. This will normally happen within 2 working days.
• If you have not received an answer within 3 working days there is a chance that we have not received your booking so please email us at info@londonhomestays.com (Working days exclude Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays)
• All payments are invoiced in UK pound sterling and must be paid in UK pound sterling. All bank charges that are incurred must be paid for by the guest. The receiving banks charges are much higher and if not paid these would have to be charged to your outstanding total. Credit card payments are subject to a surcharge to cover the fees charged by the payment gateway provider.
• All bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee (as stated in our rates). Rooms booked in homestays for extra days, over and above the weekly period, will be pro-rated up to 3 extra nights and a full week will be charged for 4, 5, 6 and 7 extra nights thus charged accordingly.

• Bookings can only be guaranteed after payment has reached our bank account. We reserve the right to cancel any booking for any reason with a full refund. We will also cancel any reservations for which we have not received payment by the due date.
• We can only confirm the period of stay that we have received payment for.

• When booking accommodation, you must inform the homestay host of your estimated arrival time at least 7 days in advance of your arrival in UK. This is to ensure that someone is at home when you arrive. Failure to do so may result in you having to wait for the arrival of the host. We will not be held responsible for hosts not being at home if students fail to advise the host in advance of their arrival time, nor will we pay for any expenses incurred by students as a result.
• Unless special arrangement has been made and agreed with your host prior to arrival, the following check in and out times apply:

Check in is always after 14:00 and before 20:30. Check out is before 10:00 am

Please note that most hosts will be at work during the day time so unless prior arrangement has been agreed all week day arrivals must be after 18:00 and before 20:30.

If you are booking an airport transfer through our agency, please ensure you have provided us your correct flight information (including airport and terminal of arrival, arrival time, carrier and the mobile phone number you will be using upon arrival/departure) at least 1 week prior to the date of the requested airport transfer. We cannot be held responsible if the correct details have not been provided within this timeframe. Please note for cancellations of airport transfer, there will be a £20 admin fee up to 48 hours of the booked airport pick-up time. For cancellations (or no-shows) of less than 48 hours prior to airport transfer, the full amount will be payable.

If a student wishes to extend their stay beyond the booked leaving date, they should contact Home from Home as soon as possible to request an extension by emailing info@londonhomestays.com. Extensions are subject to availability. If an extension is not possible, we will endeavour to find you a similar alternative.

We are pleased to assist visa applications by issuing a letter, which can be submitted to the British Consulate in your country. This letter will confirm that you have booked and paid for accommodation/home tuition with Home from Home Student Services Ltd.

Visa letters are only issued after accommodation/course has been paid for and only for the dates confirmed and paid for. We are unable to issue letters for unconfirmed/unpaid for lengths of stay.

To ensure that you do not incur cancellation charges (detailed below in Cancellation Policy for Homestay, Private Home and Hostel Bookings), you are advised to allow sufficient time between your visa application, your interview date and your arrival date in the UK . This will allow us sufficient notice of your cancellation/change or arrival date and for you to avoid cancellation charges.

If you wish to change or postpone your arrival date as you have been asked by the British Consulate to return for a further interview, we will re-book your accommodation, subject to our cancellation charges (detailed below in Cancellation Policy for Homestay,  Private Home and Hostel Bookings). All changes are subject to a £50 administration fee.

More information is available on our Visa Guidelines page.

Cancellation:

Occurs when a confirmed homestay booking is terminated before the student’s scheduled arrival date. This encompasses any modifications leading to a shorter stay, a change of host, or a complete termination of the booking.

Postponement:

A specific type of cancellation where there is a request to delay the start date of a confirmed booking. Postponements incur the same cancellation terms and fees. For the postponed dates, a new booking is required, subject to current availability and rates.

Accommodation once paid for is subject to the following cancellation charges:

• Cancellation made 30 days or more prior to arrival: Full refund of fees, minus any applicable booking, instalment, or banking fees.
• Cancellation made 29 to 8 days prior to arrival: Refund of fees, minus one week’s accommodation fees and any applicable booking, instalment, or banking fees.
• Cancellation made 7 to 3 days prior to arrival: Refund of fees, minus two weeks’ accommodation fees and any applicable booking, instalment, or banking fees.
• Cancellation made 2 days or less prior to arrival or “no show”: Refund of fees, minus four weeks’ accommodation fees and any applicable booking, instalment, or banking fees. No refund is provided if the booking is for less than four weeks.

In the event of an emergency, we reserve the right to cancel accommodation without prior notice, or to change the accommodation without prior consent. We also reserve the right to change the allocated host family before or during the course if this becomes necessary.

In the unlikely event of a student being dissatisfied with their accommodation, complaints must be made during the stay, at the time either of the problem becoming known, by the student directly, or through their agent, and must adhere to the complaints procedure featured on the following link (click here). We cannot accept any retrospective claim or complaint from a student or their agent.

Cancellation requests must be received during Home from Home office hours, which are from 10.00 – 18.00 (London time) Monday through Friday. Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays (including the days between Christmas and New Year) are excluded.

Refunds are made through the same means by which they are received (this is in line with UK money laundering laws). Fees paid by bank transfer from overseas will be refunded by bank transfer to the bank account in the country from which they were received. Credit card payments will be refunded to the card from which payment was taken and only cash payments can be refunded in cash. We will refund fees only and cannot refund bank charges or the surcharge added to credit card payments. Any bank charges levied by the UK and/or foreign bank when refunding fees will be deducted from the refund by the banks in question and not paid for by Home from Home Student Services. Credit notes are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

If you have a special request for something that is not automatically part of a ‘regular’ homestay booking (e.g. an all vegetarian household, you require a ground floor bedroom, you have an allergy etc), please make the request at the time of booking. We can then pass your request on to the relevant accommodation provider/host to ask if they can meet your requirements. Special requests are not guaranteed to be met – even if we’ve made a note of your request on your invoice. That just means we’ve received the request and have passed it on to the supplier. We will not pay compensation or give any refund for failing to meet a special request unless we’ve confirmed separately in writing to you that the request will be met. When you make a special request, you agree that any personal data you provide including sensitive personal data, has to be passed to the relevant host/accommodation provider to fulfil that request, and you consent to this happening. Please see our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for more information.

Fixed Booking Period: When booking homestay accommodation or home tuition, please take care to select the precise period you intend to stay. Bookings are fixed and are for a non-negotiable, non-refundable period.

No Early Departure Refunds: Should you decide to cut short your stay for any reason, whether personal or unforeseen, homestay accommodation or home tuition charges that have already been paid for are not refundable.

Limited Adjustments and Management Discretion: Adjustments to bookings, including changes to hosts, are not automatically accommodated and are considered on a case-by-case basis. Such adjustments are at the discretion of management, who will take into account various factors before determining the suitability of a change. We make every effort to provide detailed information prior to booking to allow an informed decision.

Importance of Insurance: Unforeseen circumstances can arise, leading to the potential need to cut a trip short. Travel insurance that covers such occurrences is strongly advised and should be considered a vital part of planning your stay. It offers protection against unexpected events that could affect your ability to fulfil the fixed booking period.

By agreeing to these terms, you understand and accept that you are making a commitment for the entire period booked, and any changes, reductions, or early departures will not be subject to refunds or alterations. Adequate planning, including considering appropriate travel insurance, is strongly emphasised.

Role of London Homestays: Home from Home Student Services Ltd (company number 07332845), trading as London Homestays, acts solely as an intermediary connecting guests with hosts for the provision of homestay accommodations. Although London Homestays endeavors to facilitate bookings with hosts who offer high-quality accommodations, it must be clearly understood that the homestays are neither owned nor managed by London Homestays, nor does London Homestays reside in the homes. All accommodations are independently run, operated, and managed by the hosts themselves. While London Homestays takes reasonable steps to ensure a satisfactory experience, guests acknowledge that London Homestays cannot be held responsible for the actions, omissions, or any issues arising from the independent management of the hosts.

Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability: By booking a homestay through Home from Home Student Services Ltd (company number 07332845), trading as London Homestays, guests knowingly and voluntarily assume all risks and uncertainties associated with the stay. These may include, but are not limited to, risks related to the actions, omissions, or negligence of hosts, or any other third parties involved. Although London Homestays takes reasonable measures to facilitate a quality experience, guests expressly agree that Home from Home Student Services Ltd shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive, arising out of or in connection with the booking, the stay, or any interactions with hosts or other third parties. This release of liability encompasses all claims, whether based in contract, tort, statutory duty, or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Indemnification: Guests agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Home from Home Student Services Ltd (company number 07332845), trading as London Homestays, against all losses, expenses, damages, and costs, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or in connection with any breach of these terms or any activity related to their booking (including any negligent or wrongful conduct), save to the extent such losses, expenses, damages, or costs are directly attributable to the negligence or wrongful conduct of Home from Home Student Services Ltd itself. This indemnification shall apply to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and shall survive the termination or expiration of the booking relationship.

Any travel information given including nearest stations, information on buses/trains, walking times and distances are given in good faith and are approximations based on information provided by Google Maps. Postcodes are provided in the homestay confirmation and it is the responsibility of the student or their agent to check location before arrival. We cannot be liable for any complaint of location/distance/travel zone after arrival. We believe the information provided to you regarding the homestay host at the time of booking is correct and is provided in good faith. However, we are not responsible for any inaccuracies that may result in any change of circumstances of the homestay host or their home environment that have not been relayed to us.

Medical and Travel Insurance: All students and guests are strongly encouraged to obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance prior to arrival in the UK. This should cover medical expenses, cancellation or curtailment of travel, loss of personal belongings, and accidental damage.

Cancellation and Curtailment: Insurance covering the cancellation or curtailment of bookings is advised, as students and guests may be subject to charges as per our Cancellation Policy.

Liability: It is recommended to have liability insurance to cover accidental damages to the property or to third parties. Home from Home Student Services Ltd will not be responsible for such damages, and any associated costs will be the responsibility of the student or guest.

Disclaimer:: The student or guest is solely responsible for ensuring their insurance meets their individual needs and complies with local laws. Failure to obtain suitable insurance is at the student’s or guest’s own risk, and Home from Home Student Services Ltd shall not be liable for any financial loss incurred as a result.

By accepting our terms and conditions, students and guests acknowledge the importance of insurance and agree to obtain appropriate coverage.

• Food allergies: Please note that hosts are not professional chefs and are unlikely to have undertaken any training or have qualifications in the preparation of food. They are preparing meals for themselves and their families and you will be joining them. Their meals may contain products with peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, eggs and wheat. Even if it is not clearly obvious that the food contains any of these ingredients, there may have been cross-contamination somewhere in the production or the preparation of their meals. If you have a food allergy we strongly recommend that you choose a meal plan such as self-catering that enables you to be responsible for what you eat and how your food is prepared. Home from Home Student Services accepts no liability for anyone who has a food allergy but chooses to ignore this advice and stays with a host on a meal plan in which food is provided. Please see more information here.
• All damages and breakages caused by the guest must be paid for by the guest directly.
• Guests must not pay the host directly. Hosts do not accept cash payments, this breaks the terms and conditions set out for the host and may cause confusion at a later date.
• Guests are staying with the host on a host/guest basis and do not have a tenancy. We therefore ask guests not to open bank accounts, apply for credit/credit cards or register their national insurance to the host’s address. Guests staying on a longer stay basis (6 months or longer) may register for a bank account or national insurance number if given written permission by their host.
• Please note that all guests should be either studying or attending an internship and are therefore expected to vacate the homestay between the hours of 10:00 and 16:00 between Monday and Friday to attend their course/internship (good health permitting).
• Reasonable behaviour is expected at all times during your stay with the host in their accommodation. We reserve the right to remove any guest whose conduct is unsatisfactory. Refunds or alternate accommodation/home tuition will be offered at the discretion of Home from Home Student Services.
• The booking is only valid for the person/persons named in the confirmation document. Bookings are not transferable and guests should not invite other people into the host’s accommodation without first being given permission in writing. Overnight guests are strictly prohibited without prior written permission. If you would like to apply to have a guest visit, please do not ask your host directly, instead please email our agency.
• Guests are subject to the host’s house rules and should respect them at all times. Guests should not smoke or bring alcohol into the host’s accommodation without first receiving their permission.

Circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of nature, government actions, pandemics, or other extraordinary circumstances, shall be considered Force Majeure Events.

Effect on Bookings:

• In the event of a Force Majeure Event, Home from Home Student Services Ltd may suspend, modify, or terminate services without additional liability beyond our standard cancellation and refund policies.
• This clause applies to bookings of any duration, including long-term stays.

Guest Acknowledgement:

By accepting these terms, guests explicitly acknowledge and agree that:

• They are responsible for obtaining comprehensive travel and accommodation insurance that covers cancellations, interruptions, or curtailments due to Force Majeure Events for the full duration and cost of their booking.
• Home from Home Student Services Ltd will not be liable for any losses, damages, or expenses that could have been covered by appropriate insurance.
• This is particularly crucial for long-term bookings, where the potential for disruption over an extended period is greater.

Claims and Refunds:

• Any claim related to Force Majeure Events must be primarily directed to the guest’s insurance provider.
• Home from Home Student Services Ltd is not obligated to provide refunds or compensation beyond what is specified in our standard cancellation and refund policies.
• We reserve the right to request proof of insurance at any time during the booking period.

Alternative Arrangements:

Where feasible, we may offer alternative accommodation arrangements. Acceptance of such alternatives is at the guest’s discretion and does not constitute a waiver of the terms herein. This clause shall be interpreted in conjunction with our existing cancellation, refund, and liability policies, with this clause taking precedence in matters relating to Force Majeure Events.