Homestay Host Terms & Conditions
The HOMESTAY HOST agrees to the following terms and conditions for the duration of the stay:
HOMESTAY GUEST:
1. By definition, a Homestay Guest is not just a boarder, but should also be regarded as a welcome guest, who, under the best of circumstances, will become a temporarily adopted member of the family. This means that the Homestay Host assumes certain responsibilities (see below) and, in turn, has the privilege of hosting a guest from another country.
2. The Homestay Host must ensure they know the whereabouts or movements of their Guest at all times.
HOSPITALITY:
3. The Homestay Host will provide the Guest with the following basic amenities: a private room, which meets safety, cleanliness, and privacy considerations (an internal door and exterior window are minimum guest room requirements), a bed (mattresses on the floor are not acceptable), desk with adequate lighting for study, bedroom and bathroom linens, storage space for clothing and personal items (i.e. dresser, closet, chest of drawers), mirror, heater and cooling fan. A private bathroom for the guest is preferred but not required. The room must be readied by the time the guest arrives.
4. Guests aged 18 or over will require a key to the house.
5. Only one Guest is to be allocated per room, unless a twin-share arrangement has been approved by Homestay Experience, in which case the room must have two single beds.
6. Provide an English-speaking environment. No two Guests of the same nationality (or Mother Tongue) may stay in the same Homestay at the same time, unless such an arrangement has been approved by Homestay Experience.
7. Provide the Guest with written "House Rules" during the first week of the Guest’s arrival to the Homestay. House Rules may include matters such as smoking policy, house/guest meal times, curfew, etc. The rules are to be worded politely and include privileges as well as rules so the Guest is not offended or intimidated by a long list of do's and don'ts.
8. The Homestay Host shall treat the Guest with respect, kindness, and tolerance, respecting their rights, privacy, and culture, including religious and political beliefs.
9. Include the Guest in family activities. The Homestay Host is welcome to invite their Homestay Guest to religious activities and meetings, but they must also honour the Guest's right to decline this invitation without fear of being treated less kindly as a result.
MEALS:
10. Monday to Friday: provide the Guest with food items to prepare a continental breakfast — cereal, fruit, bread (toast) milk and coffee/tea. A hot balanced meal is to be prepared by the Host and provided to the Guest every evening.
11. Saturday & Sunday: provide the Guest with food items to prepare a continental breakfast, and lunch. A hot balanced meal is to be prepared by the Host and provided to the Guest every evening.
FACILITIES:
12. Allow the Guest full use of the household common rooms, including access to television, telephone and living areas. Families may need to help the Guest understand how to operate household appliances and what times are ap- propriate for their use.
13. Provide laundry facilities (washer, dryer, detergent), cleaning supplies for the Guest to keep their private living spaces clean, including private bathroom, if applicable.
ARRIVAL:
14. If an Airport Reception & Transfer service has been requested by your Guest, they will be collected from the Airport and delivered directly to the Homestay.
15. If the Guest is to be collected from a College or pick-up point, arrangements will be made for the Homestay Host to collect their Guest accordingly. Full details and instructions will be provided to the Homestay Host to facilitate this.
TRANSPORTATION:
16. Provide transportation for the Guest to and from class each day and pick up from scheduled Study Institution activities, if the home is beyond a reasonable walking distance (more than 1 kilometre). If this is not possible or applicable, then the Homestay Host must orientate their Guest with Bus Stop or Train Station locations and directions. This can be via written instruction, Bus or Train timetables and/or physical accompaniment to the Bus Stop/Train Station and/or the Guest’s place of study if the Homestay Host is willing.
DEPARTURE:
17. The Homestay Host is not required to take their Guest to the Airport upon departure, unless otherwise arranged or agreed prior. An Airport Transfer service will be booked for the Guest at their request.
COURSES:
18. The Homestay Host will be advised of the Guest’s course start date, duration and any other relevant details.
HOMESTAY REIMBURSEMENT PAYMENTS:
19. The Guest is generally placed in Homestay in multiples of four weeks. Notable exceptions to this are Study Group bookings, short term or fixed term stays.
20. The first payment is made by Direct Credit to the Homestay Host’s nominated bank account, usually mid way through the first fortnight after the Guest arrives (being one week in arrears and one week in advance.) That is, payments are made on a fortnightly basis.
21. The rate of payment is a weekly amount (7 nights) and pro rated per night for any extra nights stayed. Homestay payments are GST free.
22. As payments vary according to the number of nights, please refer to the dates written in the Homestay Summary Sheet, which shows the exact number of nights covered by each payment.
COMMUNICATION:
23. Schedule a 'weekly meeting' with the Guest in order to keep channels of communication open. The meeting can also provide an opportunity to encourage the guest to learn more about Australian culture, lifestyle, activities and family life.
24. Most problems come from communication and language-related problems, and Homestay Guests are usually new to Australian culture and English language. If the Guest says or does something that makes the Homestay Host angry, it would most probably be due to some misunderstanding. Homestay Hosts are reminded to be patient, and politely discuss problems with their Guest. It may help Homestay Hosts to try and imagine how difficult it would be to live in their Guest's country without violating customs and without saying something that might be misunderstood.
25. The Homestay Coordinator should be notified immediately of any problems between the Guest and the Homestay Host. If necessary, please request mediation by the Coordinator.
OTHER GUESTS:
26. The Homestay Host is to inform the Homestay Coordinator if a Guest from another program is placed in their home.
MEDICAL:
27. NON-URGENT: Should the Guest require non-urgent medical attention the Homestay host should take the Guest to his/her General Practitioner, or their own Doctor if the Guest does not have one. Should the Guest have an ongoing medical condition that Homestay Experience is not aware of, the Homestay Host is to please notify accordingly.
28. URGENT: In the event of a medical emergency, the Homestay Host should seek medical attention immediately and then notify Homestay Experience who will then contact the parents and/or emergency contact and/or College Staff.
LIABILITY DISCLAIMER:
29. Homestay Experience will not be held liable at any time for any loss, incurred costs, charges, expenses or outstanding bills including but not limited to rates, rent, electricity, gas, water, insurance, telephone, internet, fuel, transport, parking, damages to any home or property, or injuries sustained by any person or animal, arising before, during or after any Homestay placement term, program or related activity or excursion, for any reason.
SHIFTING/REMOVAL/RELOCATION OF GUEST:
30. Homestay Experience reserves the right to move a Guest without prior notice if necessary and without financial compensation to the respective Homestay Host. Should this happen to you please do not feel offended as this action is usually for reasons outside the control of Homestay Experience. Homestay Experience assures that every effort is made to the best of staff abilities to counsel the Guest and give consideration to all parties. This situation does not occur very often but if it does Homestay Experience makes every endeavour to place another Guest in your household. In such circumstances a refund may be due to Homestay Experience, in which case, the Homestay Host is asked for their co-operation with this.
NOTICE TO LEAVE:
31. The Host may ask their Guest to leave after the first 4 weeks if the Guest has not followed Homestay Guidelines and/or the Guest has been discourteous or disrespectful toward the Host or Homestay property. The Host is required to give one weeks notice to leave to the Guest if this is the case.
32. If special circumstances prevail, much shorter notice to leave may be required to be given. In such cases, mediation by the Homestay or Program Coordinator may be required. The Homestay Host is obliged to discuss the circumstances with Homestay Experience in the first instance and an agreement must be reached between all parties before any action is taken or notice given. Any shorter notice period commences when mutual agreement has been reached between the parties concerned.