Who governs/oversees the provision of Homestay in the UK?
At HFS London we follow the British Council Homestay guidelines and Codes of Practice that educational institutions are required to adhere to as part of on-going accreditation with the British Council and English UK.
The British Council makes a clear distinction between ‘Homestay’ and ‘Private Home’ accommodation:
“Homestay - The hosts treat the student as a full member of the household, eating together and sharing the common living areas; no more than four students will be accommodated in homestay accommodation at any one time (homes accommodating more than four adult students should be described as private home accommodation).”
“Private home accommodation - Accommodation in a private home for adults; more than four adult students may be accommodated in the home; there may be less direct contact with the host(s); and students may be self-catering. (Private home accommodation is not suitable for under-16s.)”
To ensure a comfortable living environment throughout their stay the British Council requires that the below be made available to the student in any Homestay and Private Home accommodation:
- a proper state of cleanliness and repair
- adequate heating and lighting
- a sufficiently spacious bedroom with natural light, equipped with an adequately sized bed and adequate hanging and drawer space for clothes
- appropriate privacy from members of the opposite sex
- a table for private study (where appropriate)
- sufficient washing facilities and access to a bathroom, with baths or showers available daily
- a change of towels and bed linen each week and an adequate supply of duvets or blankets
- a laundry service (especially in the case of under-16s) or clearly explained laundry arrangements.
The British Council and English UK also produce a Code of Practice for Host Families providing Homestay to international students:
- To encourage the student to speak English as much as possible in your home
- To encourage the student to feel at home and to treat him/her as a member of the family rather than a paying guest
- Not to host another student of the same native language at the same time unless by special arrangement with the students and the schools/centres
- To provide a clean and comfortable student room, meeting the requirements laid down by the British Council
- To provide a home environment in which it is possible for the student to carry on his/her English Studies properly
- To provide the student with a balanced and appropriate diet (if applicable)
- To show due concern for the welfare, safety and security of the student during his/her stay
- To give the student reasonable and regular access to bathroom and laundry facilities
- To maintain a close liaison with the Homestay accommodation agent and so be in a position to help resolve any problems that the student may encounter during his/her stay
- To respect the student’s different cultural background and to be sensitive to the needs of the student