Terms and Conditions - Students

Homestay Booking Confirmation

Bookings are only guaranteed after full payment, including the administration fee, has reached HFS London’s bank account. HFS London reserves the right to cancel any Homestay booking where payment has not been received by the due date.

Payments and Bank Charges for Homestay

All payments must be made in pounds sterling (GBP) as all our payments are invoiced in UK pound sterling.

All outstanding monies must be paid 7 days after invoice date or before visitor’s arrival, whichever is the sooner. This applies equally with all late Homestay reservations.

All payments must be made to HFS London directly and not the host family. All payments for extensions to Homestays must also be made to HFS London directly and not the host family.

HFS London will not pay for any bank charges. This also applies to any refunds payable to the visitor. Refunds for Homestay will be made in the same method that the payment was received and will be at HFS London’s discretion.

For Bank transfers, please add £10 to your payment to cover all bank charges in the UK. It is important that when making bank transfers to HFS London, you consult your bank with regards to any charges in your country that may be applicable. HFS London will not cover the bank charges from your country for any Homestay booked.

Arrival and Airport Transfers

HFS London must be notified of the arrival time at least two working days before arrival in the UK otherwise HFS London cannot guarantee that there will be a host waiting at home, nor will HFS London be held responsible for any expenses incurred as a result of this.

Regarding airport transfers, HFS London will not accept responsibility where incorrect information regarding the arrival has been provided. HFS London will seek to recover all costs arising where incorrect information has been provided.

Regarding airport transfers, there will be no refund for all "no-show" bookings except where HFS London is clearly at fault for non-collection.

Movement of Visitors from Homestay

HFS London reserves the right to move a visitor from accommodation or refuse to accommodate any visitor should their behaviour be deemed unacceptable.

In all cases of dispute, HFS London reserves the right to have final say on the question of any refund.

Visitor Complaints about Homestay

HFS London will use all reasonable endeavours to seek alternative accommodation for any visitor unsatisfied with their accommodation.

HFS London will not be responsible for the payment of fees for hotel stays or accommodation not booked by us in the event that you choose not to stay in the booked accommodation, for any reason.

Visitors choosing to leave their Homestay early

If you wish to leave early, you must write to HFS London during office hours and serve 6 weeks’ notice. For example, if after the first 2 weeks you decided that you wanted to leave before the agreed leave date in your booking confirmation, then you would need to serve 6 week’s written notice at this point and you would be able to leave after week 8. In this example, HFS London will then refund you for any remaining time on your booking minus the first 8 weeks. For stays of 6 weeks or less, there will be no refund.

Visitors choosing to extend their Homestay

Should a visitor wish to extend their stay, HFS London must be given 2 week’s notice. Extensions are subject to availability. If an extension with the same Homestay is not possible, HFS London will endeavour to find a similar alternative.

All revisions and extensions to a visitor’s stay must come through HFS London directly and not the host.

Homestay Cancellation Procedures

Any cancellation refund will depend on:

  • How far in advance the booking is made/confirmed.
  • How much written notice of cancellation is given.

The percentage amount that will be refunded will be determined by the chart below:

For example, if a Homestay booking is made and confirmed 6 months in advance but the booking is then:

  • Cancelled between 4 to 6 months before arrival, HFS London will refund 75% of the accommodation charge.
  • Cancelled 2-3 months before arrival, HFS London will refund 50% of the accommodation charge.
  • Cancelled 1 to 2 months before arrival, HFS London will refund 25% of the accommodation charge.
  • Cancelled with less than 1 month before arrival, HFS London will offer no refund.

Please note that:

  • The percentages in the chart above are the percentage amounts that will be refunded. If, for example, the chart says a 25% refund is due then 25% of the total accommodation charge will be refunded.
  • The date of booking will always be the date on the Homestay booking confirmation letter, issued after full payment has been received.
  • Written cancellation notice must be given within HFS London’s office hours of Monday to Friday between 9am to 6pm (GMT). Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays (including the days between Christmas and New Year) are excluded.
  • For the purpose of any refund, a month will always be defined as 30 days.
  • In all cases the administration fee is non-refundable.
  • For all "no-shows," there will be no refund. A "no-show" occurs where a student or guest fails to arrive at the Homestay on the confirmed arrival date without previous notification to HFS London or the host family. In this situation, the student or guest will have 48 hours after the original date of arrival to contact HFS London or the host family, by which after this period we will impose the no refund policy.
  • In the case of a Visa refusal a copy of the refusal letter is required to be produced within 7 days of issue. In such cases, the standard cancellation policy above applies, however, HFS London may apply a lesser penalty depending on the reasons given for Visa refusal. Failure to produce the letter on time will mean that the above cancellation policy will automatically apply.
  • If after a booking confirmation has been issued and your Host Family subsequently cancels your booking (either before your arrival or during your stay), HFS London will find a suitable and comparable alternative Host Family for you. You will not be entitled to an automatic refund. If the alternative Host Family can not be found then HFS London will refund you accordingly.
  • In all cases of dispute, HFS London reserves the right to have the final say on the question of any refund.

General

Use of kitchen, phone, washing facilities, and appliances are up to the discretion of the host family. Loss of front door keys, and damage to property belonging to the host family are payable by the visitor. The visitor is expected to conduct themselves in a reasonable manner in terms of using host family’s facilities, noise and inviting guests to the home (especially after 10pm).


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