At Xenia Homestay we are keen on expanding our Xenia Family and we welcome people who want to open their homes to overseas students. If you have that spare bedroom and want to put it in use, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. It is simple and quick.
Why become a Homestay Host with Xenia Homestay?
Now that you have come so far, let’s talk about you. For many of you who are reading this page, one of the main reasons why you’re looking at the prospect of becoming a host might be the financial gains of hosting international students who study away from home. Having that regular extra income, which up to a certain point is also tax-free, can prove handy at challenging financial times and we understand that. Which is why we have a flexible approach when it comes to rewarding your services as a homestay host. Our moto is ‘the more you gain, the more we gain’. Another reason might be that you love everything about cultural exchange. Offering your home to people of different backgrounds is both challenging and rewarding, which allows you to learn more about different cultures, as well as teach others about your own culture. If anything, it is good practice on exercising tolerance, respect, and open-mindedness. Some of you might enjoy socialisation and interaction a lot; having someone to talk to daily, and offering a home, your assistance and guidance on day-to-day matters gives you an incredibly gratifying feeling which makes you want to improve on it daily.
To be able to do your best as a Homestay Host and gain the most out of it without struggling, you will be offered full training from the beginning of your journey with us. Our team of experts will guide you step by step so that you are perfectly aware of what hosting international students entails and how to perform your best as one in order to gain the maximum from it. You can be sure that you’ll receive consistent support throughout this journey, a timely, regular extra income for your services as a Host, and the moral satisfaction that derives from offering a home to those away from home. We will guide you through your registration process and will offer our professional advice on how to best utilise your accommodation. By the end of this process, you will be part of our Xenia Family and we will be proudly offering your profile to our school partners and clients.
Here are some of the benefits of becoming a Homestay Host with Xenia:
*for full information on your tax-free income from hosting international students, please visit the Rent a Room Scheme on the GOV.UK website and if you still have questions or need help, you can also contact us by phone, email or message.
How can you become a Homestay Host?
Our registration process is fast, simple, and straightforward. You can choose whether you’d like to complete our quick enquiry form, which is a short form with your contact details, post code, and your message; or our Host Family Application form which is a more extensive list that documents your full details about yourself and your family, your accommodation, and your preferences on hosting international students. Once we receive your application, our recruitment team will contact you for an interview so we can get things started. After the interview, you will be asked to send in a couple of documents and photographs of your accommodation in support of your application. Finally, you will be asked to arrange a home visit with our Home Visitor so our team can meet you in person and guide you through the finalisation of your registration. Once these steps have been completed, and the vetting process is finalised, you will receive a response to your application for becoming a Homestay Host with Xenia.
Our Rates of Pay
Rates vary depending on Meal Plans, extra facilities on offer such as private bathroom, quality of accommodation, location and distance to schools, and the type of stay (single or twin occupancy).
The type of Meal Plans that international students or guests usually request are the following:
Self-Catering (SC)
The Host Family will not provide any meals. The students are granted access to the family kitchen to prepare their own meals (breakfast, dinner, and lunch). They are expected to use the kitchen in the same manner as the family, following safety rules and timelines that accommodate all members of the family.
Bed and Breakfast (B&B)
The Host Family will be providing breakfast only. This is a continental breakfast type: cereal with milk, bread and spread, coffee or tea.
Half Board (HB)
The Host Family will be providing breakfast and evening meal, which is the family dinner meal. *if students have special dietary requirements, you will have been made aware at the time of the booking, and upon accepting the booking, you agree to provide for the special dietary requirements. There are supplement rates for such requirements.
Full Board (FB)
The Host Family will be providing breakfast, dinner and a lunch which is usually a packed lunch. This consists of a sandwich, a piece of fruit, a pack of crisps and a type of drink.
Half Board + Full Board on weekends (HB+FB)
The Host Family will be providing the Half Board meal plan Monday to Friday and Full Board on weekends.
When can you become a Homestay Host?
We recruit all year round. You can send your enquiry any time, and we will gladly walk your through the process. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Become a Host – Application Form
FAQs
How does the booking process work?
Once Xenia Homestay receives the accommodation request from our client, we match the terms of that request with the most suitable and appropriate Homestay Host profile. The Bookings team will contact the host to offer the booking, and then send that profile to the client for approval and confirmation. Once the confirmation has been sent to us, we will inform the Homestay Host and will issue the booking confirmation document.
Is there an arrival time for the student?
After the booking has been confirmed, we request the arrival details of your student from our client school to ensure that you are aware and can prepare yourself to greet the student in person. However, if there are no arrival details shared with us, for various reasons, we always advise our clients to remind the students to contact the Host directly and arrange a mutually convenient time of arrival. In cases when the students do not contact the host prior to their arrival, or in cases of delays, we may not be able to provide an update; the host is advised to follow their daily plans and have easy access to their phones/emails so they can be easily reachable by the students if they attempt to contact you.
What does a student’s bedroom need?
The student’s bedroom should be well-equipped with the basic pieces of furniture – bed with adequate supply of pillows, blankets/duvets, a bedside table with a lamp, storage facilities such as a wardrobe and/or a chest of drawers and studying facilities such as a desk and a chair. It should be sufficiently spacious and comfortable, well-lit, warm during wintertime, and airy. Please note that bedrooms without a window are not acceptable. Neither are camp beds, futons, or fold-up beds.
Can I offer my own bedroom/ Can I sleep in my front room?
The short answer is no. Being a homestay Host is all about providing a comfortable and safe environment to international students who are expecting to find a family home environment on arrival. Every family member and every student must have their own private bedrooms for sleeping purposes, to avoid any uncomfortable situations and complications during their stay. Giving up your own bedroom is not the right way of hosting students into your home.
How does the payment work?
Your payment for hosting international students as a Homestay Host comes from Xenia Homestay. Payments run on a weekly basis and are completed through bank transfer. In case your student requests to extend their stay, this will be discussed with you and after your agreement, we will extend the booking fees to the completion of the stay as well as your weekly payments. You should not accept direct payments from students, nor should you discuss your fees with them. If a student enquiry about fees-related matters, please refer them to their school and we will handle the case from there.
Do I pay tax on my income as a Homestay Host?
The Rent a Room Scheme outlines that any income up to £7,500 per year, deriving from hosting international students as a Homestay Host, is tax-free. You may visit this website regularly to get the latest updates.
Are students allowed to have (overnight) visitors?
The general rule is that students must always ask for the permission of their host before they invite any friends over, either for a couple of hours or overnight. The final decision comes from you as the host. The safety and security of your home are the priority, and as such any guests must be respectful of your home, rules, and decisions about who enters your home. You can contact us in case your student has such a request, so that we can guide you and support you with any additional advice and guidelines.
Am I allowed to have (overnight) visitors and who should I inform about it?
Once you have accepted a booking and confirmed it, your student receives your profile so they know who to expect to meet on arrival. If you plan on having other guests at the same time as hosting your student, you need to inform Xenia Homestay, providing the name(s) of your guest(s) and their age so that the student knows who they will find when they arrive at your home. This is especially important if you are hosting students under the age of 18. For unplanned visits from friends, family, relatives, etc. you should again make Xenia Homestay aware that someone is going to be visiting your home, and you should also introduce them to the students, so they don’t feel overwhelmed by a stranger in the house. Do not forget that for your students your home is their home for the duration of their stay, and anyone outside this context needs proper introduction.
Who is responsible for compensating for any damages caused by students/ guests?
It is wise to show your students how to use certain appliances in your home and how to operate door keys and locks, toilet flush, warm/cold shower water etc. Having an extra member in your home means that you should expect some normal wear and tear. Please note that Xenia Homestay cannot be held responsible for any loss or damages to your belongings and property. We highly recommend that you check whether your home insurance covers damages caused by paying guests. In case your student causes damages to the property, we advise you to contact us directly and provide a full account of the matter and we will do our best to assist in resolving the matter smoothly and in a timely manner.
Are there curfew times for students of different age groups?
Yes. In general, individuals over the age of 18 are legally considered adults, hence there are no curfew times for them to adhere to. They are entitled to a front door key, for convenience, and are advised to make their way discretely in and out of the house, especially during unsociable hours. It is important for them to communicate with you and inform you whether they’ll be late, or away from home overnight.
Individuals under the age of 18 are considered minors and need to adhere to curfew times which are stated at the back of the confirmation document of each booking. They are not entitled to a front door key because there should always be an adult at home to supervise them – and let them in when they return from school or planned school activities. If an underage student wants to stay out past their curfew, spend the night away from home, you should advise them to ask for the school’s authorisation in advance, and you should contact Xenia Homestay to inform us, so then we can liaise with the school and get their permission beforehand.
What do I do if my student breaks curfew?
Adult students (18+) do not have curfew times. If an underage student (18-) breaks their curfew, you should contact us and report it. We will in turn inform the student’s school and request that they remind the students of their curfew times. For out-of-office hours, we also operate an out-of-office emergency line which you may use for such cases.
Who do I contact in case there is an emergency during out-of-office hours?
We are proud to say that in our team we have an experienced Emergency Line Manager who is always available to answer emergency calls and assist you. Our Emergency Line is available 24/7 and is there to offer support, guidance, advise, and assistance for urgent matters that need immediate attention. We advise you to save that number on your phones and have it handy for such occasions. Please note that arrival time updates, providing your availability dates, and requesting bookings are not considered urgent matters and we strongly advise you not to engage our emergency line for such matters that can be discussed during office hours.