How do you categorise a Host Family’s accommodation?
Many of the educational institutions we work with are based in Central London. A very important factor when our Placements Team match student to Host Family, is the student’s journey to their place of study.
International students buy accommodation packages based on zone (London Tube/Rail map). To determine which zone a Host Family falls into, we are required to look at the nearest tube/rail station to the home - this must be no more than 10 minutes’ walk to the home. Your postcode will allow us to calculate the nearest station and distance thereto. We then calculate 1 mile as equivalent to a 20 minute walk.
HFS London has the below three categories of accommodation.
Standard |
Mainly zones 2, 3 and 4 this is a very good level of Homestay accommodation. It will usually be within good residential areas. This will mainly be in houses and sometimes apartments. |
Superior |
Mainly zones 2, 3 and will be a higher standard of Homestay accommodation, some with the additional benefit of a private bathroom. This will be either in houses or apartments. |
Executive |
Mainly zones 1 & 2 and will be of a very high standard of Homestay accommodation, some with the additional benefit of a private bathroom. This will be either in houses or apartments. |
Each Host Family’s accommodation will be categorised after the Inspection Visit. To determine in which of the above categories we can classify an accommodation, we will look at factors such as area, standard of property, standard of room, availability of private bathroom (if any). We will also factor in aspects such as ‘homeliness’ and how likely it is that an international student would look forward to returning to your home after a day at their place of study.
HFS London offers three categories of Homestay to suit different student budgets. When a student is choosing a Homestay, budget and location requirement are often important factors for them. A student may, for example, contact HFS London requesting a Superior Zone 2 Homestay. If your accommodation is classified in our Superior Zone 2 category, and you and the student are a potentially suitable match, you will be contacted by our Placements Team about the booking.
In general terms the more flexible a Host Family can be regarding categorisation, the more often our Placements Team will be able to contact you thereafter.
HFS London will discuss categorisation and remuneration in detail at the Inspection Visit. We understand that the financial considerations can be very important for Host Families and we will always register you in the highest category possible within the above framework. We will also never ask you to register in a category that does not suit your personal circumstances.
On the rare occasion that a Host Family’s expectations on remuneration do not tally with our classification of the accommodation, we are unlikely to be able to complete the registration.