Hosting Guidelines
When you are hosting a student or a visitor, you become an ambassador of our beautiful nation.
Our families are kind, hospitable, and do not need to be reminded of their responsibilities. However, we have set the following guidelines for all host families in order to make the best homestay experience possible.
A host family is required to avoid treating the student or visitor as a tenant by making the student or visitor feel welcome at home. The host family must be tolerant of the student’s foreign customs and habits. Remember to always be understanding, and have patience with the student or visitor.
During the student or visitor stay, the host family is required to show the student or visitor how to get to places of interest such as schools, community centres and attractions and how to use public transportation.
The student must be provided with a nice clean private room with basic furniture such as:
- Comfortable bed (including linen, duvet cover, blanket and two pillows)
- Night table, lamp, and alarm clock/radio
- Work desk with chair and desk lamp with sufficient lighting
- Closet and mirror
Only one student or visitor is allowed per room, unless there is a special request by the homestay applicant for shared accommodation.
The host family must make sure that the student has a quiet environment in order to study and succeed in school, as well as quiet time to sleep and rest.
The host family must speak English with the student or visitor.
Under no circumstances is the host family to accept or request any favours such as house cleaning, shopping, moving or lifting heavy items, gardening, baby sitting, etc…
The host family is not allowed to lend any type of vehicle to the student or visitor.
As you should have insurance for passengers in your car, you should also have sufficient home and liability insurance in place. Host families must have a minimum of one million dollar home liability insurance. Please review your home insurance policy or consult with your insurance provider for details. The homestay agency does not assume any responsibilities for any injuries suffered by the student or visitor while in the host family's care.
If any physical or verbal abuse occurs, the student or visitor will be removed from the home immediately. The incident will be reported to the police.
If the host family has any concerns that they cannot discuss directly with the student or visitor, please contact our homestay coordinator.
Homestay families must never keep the student or visitor waiting outside the home. To avoid such a situation a spare key should be helpful.
Students and visitors are advised to purchase their own long distance pre-paid card or to make collect calls. The agency will not assume any responsibility regarding long distance charges.
The host family should familiarize the students with the use of washer and dryer, so they can do their own laundry.
Host family must explain to the student or visitor how to evacuate the home in case of an emergency. The home must have functioning fire smoke detectors on every floor.
While the student can be invited to attend religious services, the family should not apply any pressure to do so. The family should always be willing to direct the student to his or hers religion's place of worship if required. A host family must always respect the religious and cultural beliefs of the student.
Should a host family like to terminate a homestay occupancy, reservation or provider agreement, the host family must give the agency at least one month notice to make alternate homestay arrangements.
The agency neither guarantees nor promises occupancy to any host family. The homestay placement process is based on supply and demand.
The agency does not allow any discrimination against students or vice versa.
As a user of this website and the homestay agency services, you agreed to our privacy policy and disclaimers stated on our website. You also agree to allow the agency to conduct a criminal police search on you and your spouse when necessary.
Please do not forget to fill-out a host family application.
Source: http://www.vancouverhomestayagency.com/hostfamilyguide.html
Brochure (English)
