Do I have to give my student a key to my home?
The Host Family should provide a set of keys to each student aged over 18 to allow the student access to the home as and when needed. It is unlikely that HFS London will be able to register a Host Family who is unwilling to provide their student with a front door key. Students between the ages of 16 and 18 are not expected to have a front door key and Host Families can use their discretion here. Under-16 year olds are not required to have their own front door key.
It is crucial that the Host Family agrees to be present on the day of the student’s departure to organise to collect keys. If this is not possible, it is the Host Family’s responsibility to make arrangements to have keys returned prior to the student’s departure. In their absence some Host Families will ask a neighbour or family friend to be there on the student’s departure.
If the student does leave without returning keys, HFS London will endeavour to make contact with the student through his/her school or agent abroad to have these returned to the Host Family.