SOME ADVICE FOR STUDENTS STAYING WITH HOST FAMILIES

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We wish to make your stay as enjoyable and peaceful as possible. We select our host families very carefully and therefore know that they will show you respect and friendliness. We hope that you will do the same for them.
Here is some advice to help you.

· It is very important to us that you enjoy your stay, therefore if you wish to discuss anything in regards to your stay, or need advice on future accommodation, please feel free to ask.
· If you wish to extend your stay always contact the accommodation department. It may not be always possible for you to stay in the same house/room as your student apartment might be already fully booked, but ask us if there is anything else available. To ensure that the room is available you need to notify us in advance. You will be asked to leave on the day of when it says on the letter. By law we have to give you notice and therefore the letter issued with the dates is an advanced notice.
· N.B. Please remember that 1 week’s accommodation is 7 days and 6 nights for the first week and then it is 7 nights and 7 days if you extend your stay in the same accommodation.
· We suggest you book insurance before travelling abroad. Your school can help you arrange insurance. Should you wish more information about the travel insurance please contact the school. Otherwise please consult your travel agent.
· The UK Stay works very hard to ensure that you are happy with your stay, therefore if you have any complaints please contact our offices immediately.
· If you have an emergency outside of our office working hours, please call +44 (0) 78 6530 4435 or +44 (0) 79 5107 4801 and leave a voicemail, stating your name, the nature of your call and the telephone number we can call you back on. If your call is considered an emergency, we will call you back straight after. If not, we will contact you on the next working day.

· Once you have received your accommodation details please contact your family to arrange an arrival time. The details of the contact person are on the letter. If you cannot contact your host please contact the accommodation department
· Please remember that if we are not aware of your arrival time, you may have to wait for the family to let you in. It is therefore very important that you contact them or us in advance.
· Sometimes someone is moving out on the day of your arrival. Please bare with us until your room is prepared. Under normal circumstances your room should be ready before 9pm that day.
· Please note that if you arrive a day earlier and do not notify us on time – two weeks prior to your arrival, it may be impossible for you to stay in the same house on an early nights, as the room may be still occupied by someone else. If you need help in arranging a room for a night prior to when your accommodation stay starts, please contact the accommodation department who will be happy to help you.
. If you are not sure on how to travel to your accommodation, you may book an Airport transfer where our driver will come and collect you from the airport and then take you directly to your accommodation.
· If you are not sure how to travel to your accommodation please contact the accommodation department with your flight details and the staff will explain to you the easiest and the quickest ways to get there.
· You may also check www.tfl.gov.uk Journey Planner and www.streetmap.co.uk for full details on how to locate and get to your accommodation.

· Your room will be designed to suit your needs as a student.
· Clean bed linen will be provided. Please bring your own towels.
· We hope you will enjoy your accommodation however if there is something more that you need to make your stay is more enjoyable please contact the accommodation department. You might as well speak to your family who will be happy to accommodate your needs within reason.
· If you are not sure how to travel to school, please ask your host family. They will give you full instructions on local travel.
· If you have any other problems, or if you need any information about the local area, please ask your host family. They will be happy to help you.
· You might be asked to pay a small key deposit. This is not a fee and will be refunded at the end of your stay, after you have given the key back to your host family.

             ► Kitchen
· If you have chosen the Self Catering option you will be allowed to cook your own food. If you have booked Bed Only, you will be allowed to make coffee and tea.
· When cooking, you are responsible for cleaning the kitchen and washing all your dishes. Please do not leave them in the sink and wash them immediately after use.
· If you have booked breakfast or dinner meals, please ask your host family what time the meals will be ready, so that you can eat together with the family. If you cannot make it on time, please let the host know, so that maybe they can keep it warm for you! Please inform them if you have any dietary requirements or allergies. Breakfast is continental. 
             ► Your room
· You will be responsible for keeping your room clean and tidy while you occupy it. The furniture, carpets etc. in your room are your responsibility. If something is accidentally damaged or broken, tell your host family.
· When staying in a Twin Room, the person you are sharing the room with is entitled to have the light turned off from 10pm
· Do not drink alcohol, smoke or eat in your room – remember, the next guest may not like the smell of alcohol, food or tobacco. Student apartments are non-smoking. If you are a smoker, please smoke outside by disposing of cigarettes appropriately. If you are found smoking in your room or inside the house, this may cause eviction without refund.
· Only invite guests to the house or your room if you have permission from your host family. You will need to notify your housemates and us in advance before inviting someone into the house. If another student has invited someone into the house without permission you have to notify The UK Stay. Guests are not allowed to stay over night.
· Please keep your room clean and tidy – your host family are not expected to put away your clothes, make your bed, etc. The room will be cleaned, and the bedclothes changed, once a week. If you want to borrow a vacuum cleaner or other cleaning materials, your host family will be happy to lend them to you.
· If you have booked private home accommodation, more than three students might be staying with you at the same property. If you booked a double room, only you and another student will be sharing the room.
· In your bedroom, you should have a full-sized bed, a desk and a chair, a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a bedside or table light and adequate heating and ventilation.
              ► General
· Please remember that host families often have to go to work early in the morning, and may have young children - do not make noise late at night.
· If you are coming home late, please enter quietly and go to your room.
· Do not play loud music or have your T.V. on loudly, especially at night.
· Only invite guests to the house or your room if you have permission from your host family.
· Always consider another person living with you in the apartment as well as the neighbours!
· You may use the washing machine once a week.
· Please note that you are required to switch the lights out when you leave the room, bathroom, kitchen etc.
· Your host family should talk to you in English – remember that this is a very good opportunity to improve your English. Try to have conversations with them to practise your English speaking.
· Your host family should always be polite to you. Please be polite to them and their neighbours – remember, in England politeness is very important.
· You should be allowed to use the shower every day.
· Outgoing calls cannot be made from the host’s telephone. If you need to make an urgent phone call, always ask the host. Incoming calls might be allowed, but not late at night and too often.

· You will need to vacate the host family’s accommodation on the day written on your letter.
· Please be ready to leave before 10am that morning. If your flight is later that day, please have your luggage packed and ask the family if you can store it somewhere safely before your departure. Please remember your room might be booked for someone else and therefore the room has to be prepared for the next guest.