For many students, the most memorable part of a language course is not the classroom but the home they return to each evening. A homestay means living with a local host in their own home, usually with breakfast and an evening meal included. It is one of the best ways to practise English every day and to see how people in the UK really live.
It also means fitting into someone else’s household, so it helps to know what to expect before you arrive.
What ‘host family’ means in the UK
A host family in the UK can look very different from one home to the next. Your hosts might be a couple with young children, a retired person living alone, a single parent, or a couple whose own children have left home. What they share is that they welcome a student as part of the household, eating together and sharing the main living areas, rather than simply renting out a room.
Houses can be smaller than you might expect, and many homestays are in residential areas some way from the city centre. Most hosts have ordinary working lives, so they will not be at home all day. That is normal, and part of the experience.
The standards behind a good homestay
The British Council publishes detailed homestay criteria under its Accreditation UK scheme. The current criteria include that:
- accommodation is checked for safety and suitability before any student is placed, and revisited at least every two years;
- a homestay has no more than four students or other paying guests at any one time;
- English is the language of communication in the home;
- students receive the meals agreed, offering a balanced diet, with reasonable dietary needs taken into account;
- where students are under 18, hosts and all adults normally living in the home have current criminal record or suitability checks;
- students receive written confirmation of their accommodation, including the approximate time and cost of the journey to school.
When you compare schools, ask how they recruit and check their hosts, and what they do with student feedback. A clear, confident answer is a good sign.
Daily life and house rules
Every household has its own rhythm. On your first evening, ask your hosts about:
- meal times, and what to do if you will be late or eating out (a quick message is expected);
- using the kitchen, washing machine and bathroom, including busy times in the morning;
- keys, and the time younger students are expected home;
- Wi-Fi, heating and whether friends can visit.
Meals may be simpler than at home. Breakfast is often cereal and toast, and if lunch is included it is usually a packed lunch such as a sandwich. If you have dietary needs, such as halal food, vegetarian meals or an allergy, state them clearly when booking and confirm them again before you travel. Ask the school whether a particular request carries an extra cost.
Making the most of it
A homestay only helps your English if you take part. Eat with your hosts, join conversations even when they feel slow, and ask about their day. Offer to help clear the table. A small gift from home on arrival is a kind gesture, but it is not expected.
Some things may feel different at first. Hosts may seem reserved, and British politeness can sound indirect: ‘you might want to…’ often means ‘please do’. If something is wrong, such as a cold room, a problem with food or feeling unwelcome, tell the school’s welfare or accommodation team early. Changing a placement is usually much easier to arrange in the first week than in the sixth. Our guide to settling in and culture shock has more advice for the first weeks.
Homestay or residence?
Homestay is not the only option. A residence gives more independence and a ready-made social life with other students, but less contact with local people and everyday English. Younger or first-time students often benefit from the structure of a family home, while confident adults may prefer a residence. For summer courses the choice works a little differently; see our article on residential or homestay accommodation for summer courses.
How YES can help
Before suggesting accommodation, we talk with each student about their age, routines and needs, and we help you put the right questions to schools about their homestay arrangements. Learn more about our language school service or write to us.
Questions families ask
Will my child be the only student in the homestay?
Not necessarily. Under Accreditation UK criteria a homestay can have up to four students or paying guests at a time, so ask the school about its policy, including whether students who share a first language are placed together.
Can we ask for a host family without pets, or one that provides halal food?
Yes, you can state preferences and dietary needs when booking. Schools try to match them, but confirm in writing what has been agreed.
What happens if the homestay does not work out?
Tell the school’s accommodation or welfare team as early as possible. They can talk to the hosts and, if needed, arrange a move.
