Can the Students Travel to and From the Meeting Place Alone?
No, regardless of age, each student demand to be escorted to the meeting point. You can organise/place a cab for them circumstances, however, you do need to let the organiser know the situation (by text). You will be liable/accountable for the cab and informing the driver that he needs to make himself known to the organiser at the coach.
Termination or Modification by Marielle Homestay
If Marielle Homestay cancels because of power and Force Majeure (or ‘act of God’), trade defeats or overfilling by a hotel, hostel, we mind doing our greatest to propose other agreement or arrays of similar content and norms. If this is not suitable to you, we will refund the complete sum obtained for that exact group within 15 days of your orders and no compensation and recompense will be made.
It will likewise mean that each earlier conditions of the agreement will be careful null and void.
Do take note that we have family guidelines that should be firmly obeyed. Otherwise, we will not work with the host family anymore. Through cooperating with us openly, you can get instant responses regarding options and enquiries. Copy rooming lists are mailed
at suitable times.
Students are always escorted and led to and from the meeting points and not ever left on their own. We ensure that the group leaders have our phone numbers and vice versa to guarantee their safety.
FAQs
NATIONALITY
Can I take two students from the same country?
If hosting more than one student at a time in your home, please bear in mind that students who speak the same mother tongue cannot be placed within the same household. The only exception is when two or more students arrive together and request to be placed in the same family. If you are hosting for other agencies or schools, you are obligated to advise us at the time of booking if you have accepted another booking for a student of the same mother tongue. Failure to do so could result our having to relocate our student without compensation
to you.
ARRIVAL TIME
How do I find out my student’s arrival time?
We will inform you of your student's arrival. However, if there are any changes or delays, the representative for your meeting point will contact you directly by phone or email (your contact information is provided after the booking is confirmed). Marielle Homestay LTD will inform you about your student's arrival at the meeting point. As the host family, it is your responsibility to arrange a convenient time to arrive at the meeting point on time to greet and collect your guest. We guarantee that you will have enough time to arrive at the meeting point in order to meet your student or guest.
THE BOOKING
How do I get a booking?
Our staff will normally contact you by telephone or email, to discuss and offer you a booking. Brief details of the student are given in the first instance and once the booking is confirmed, it will be followed up with the appropriate paperwork together with full payment details.
INSURANCE
Who is responsible for any damage?
Marielle Homestay Ltd is not responsible for loss or damage to the property of either yourself or your student guest. You are recommended to check with your home contents insurance provider if your cover extends to paying guests. You may want to consider purchasing public liability insurance.
CANCELLATION OF BOOKING BY A HOST FAMILY
What happens if I cancel a booking?
When you accept a booking from us to host a student, it's important to understand that a series of events are set in motion. While we understand that family emergencies may arise, we expect hosts to avoid cancelling (even with weeks' notice) unless it's absolutely necessary. Cancelling not only causes a lot of administrative work for us, but it also damages our reputation with the client/school, which in turn harms Marielle Homestay LTD's reputation with the agent. Most importantly, sudden changes can cause anxiety for students who have mentally prepared themselves for their new home away from home.
When hosting students, you'll be responsible for providing a daily breakfast (at least continental standard), a packed lunch, and a cooked hot evening meal for a minimum of two and a maximum of four students. The evening meal should be eaten with the host family, as this is part of the student's experience during their visit. Additionally, host families are expected to pick up students from the meeting point every evening and drop them off at the meeting point every morning during their stay. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in claims for compensation against the host family, up to 50% of the payments due at the end of the stay. If taxis are required for transportation, the host family is responsible for covering the cost. These conditions also apply to adults such as teachers and drivers who are allocated to host families. Marielle Homestay is not responsible for covering the cost of taxis for student transportation. We want students to experience a different way of life in Britain, so we don't allow students who speak the same language as the host family to stay with them. Additionally, students visiting with a different homestay company may not stay with the same host family at the same time. Please respect these terms and conditions at all times.
What happens if my booking gets cancelled?
If our client cancels the group, we have booked with you, we will notify you as soon as possible and place you on top priority for a replacement (subject to matching criteria). Should the cancellation occur one week or less prior to the booked arrival date, and if Marielle Homestay LTD is unable to supply a suitable replacement student. Our terms and conditions are designed to protect hosts from the inconvenience of a client cancel at short notice, and the client is normally expected to give reasonable notice before leaving in order to avoid penalty. The exception is when a student leaves as a result of a valid complaint about the accommodation, in which case Marielle Homestay Ltd will resolve the matter with the host.
Do I have to Pay Tax?
It is the host’s responsibility to meet any tax liability incurred as a result of hosting Marielle Homestay Ltd is not responsible. At the time of going to print, the amount that a host is entitled to earn from letting rooms in their home without any tax liability is £4,250.00 per annum. This is liable to change over time and subject to government policy. For up-to-date information, please contact your nearest Tax office for further details.
What do I do in an emergency?
In case of any difficulty with a student, which you cannot resolve yourself, please call us in the office on 02037543723 or email us at info@mariellehomestay.com, our mobile number is 07443916464. We want you to enjoy hosting the students and are here to help you if there is a problem. We may be able to assist by speaking directly to the student; possibly in his or her own language. We expect our hosts to be patient with their student guests as sometimes what seems to be a big problem is the result of a cultural difference or misunderstanding of
the language.
How many students can I take?
To be classified as a “homestay” you must host no more than four students at any one time. Should you wish to accommodate more than four students, you would be classified as a “private home”. Should you add an extension to your home or start to let additional rooms, it is imperative that you advise us as soon as possible. It may simply be a matter or re-classifying you in line with the ENGLISH UK/British Council guidelines. We can provide students for hosts of both homestays and
private homes.
What do I do if my details change?
Should the description of your accommodation change in any way whatsoever (such as, if there have been additions/departures to the family, you have acquired a pet or made significant changes to students’ rooms or living areas) it is your responsibility to contact us immediately, so that we can change your details on our database. Failure to do this could result in our placing a student with you who may have matched your original details but may not match your new ones (such as requesting a home without pets when a newly acquired pet is now in residence). This could cause us to have to relocate a student, once placed with you, without notice or compensation.
Which rooms can my student use?
Students must be allowed to utilise all public areas of the house in the same way as any family member. Public areas as well as the bathrooms should be kept very clean. Please ensure that your home is always clean and tidy whilst hosting a student.
Do the students need to use my phone/internet?
A telephone must be available for the student to receive a reasonable number of incoming calls from their family abroad, especially in the case of an emergency. The telephone should be in a common area which is accessible to the student. Hosts may wish to ask the student to advise friends and family not to telephone before or after a certain time each day so as not to disturb the family’s sleep. However, many students come from countries where there is a time difference, so a degree of compromise may be the answer.
Hosts are not expected to allow students to make outgoing calls unless they purchase a telephone card and use it under the host’s supervision. Most students use the internet to speak with their friends and families or purchase a mobile phone shortly after arrival. However, an initial means of communication from parents abroad is greatly appreciated.
Internet in the homestay is becoming increasingly important to students for many reasons, including study purposes and to contact their family members back home. Please ensure that your internet is available for the students to use when they need it. If you have a monthly bandwidth limit, please communicate this to the student upon welcoming them into your home, to avoid any uncomfortable situations
later in the stay.
Is having a student the same as having a lodger?
Younger students expect to be treated as you would treat your own son or daughter, and older students expect to be treated like a family member, and therefore like to be included in as many aspects of family life as possible. This includes free use of the living room and communal areas. Students often like to watch television with their host, even if they have their own TV in the room. Part of being a host is to converse with the student for a reasonable length of time each day so that they can practise their English. Help with homework is often appreciated.
MEALS
Some students are used to eating later than the average British family. Please discuss mealtimes soon after the student’s arrival, as there may be a conflict of schedules, which needs resolving.
Meals are to be taken with the host and family. Students should not be expected to eat alone, except when they arrive home later than the normal arranged mealtime, in which case their food can be kept warm or re-heated. If it is not possible to eat together due to work commitments or if you have to be out one evening, please explain to the student where to find the ingredients for their breakfast or be sure to leave a pre-prepared meal for them if you have to be out at dinner time. It is advisable to check with the student shortly after arrival as to whether they have special dietary needs or cannot eat/do not like certain foods. Any special dietary requests will normally have been advised to you at the time of booking.
What food do I need to provide?
BREAKFAST
Hosts are expected to provide Continental Breakfast (unless booked as Self Catering). Sometimes students arrive in Britain expecting an English (cooked) Breakfast but this is not part of our accommodation offer. However, if you normally cook breakfast for yourself and your family, then it should be offered to the student.
The minimum requirement for breakfast consists of: cereal, toast or bread/rolls with butter, marmalade or jam, fruit juice and tea or coffee with fresh milk.
Some students appreciate a piece of fruit for breakfast. Others expect cold ham, cheese or yoghurt. The provision of these additional items is entirely at your discretion and you are under no obligation to provide them. Some hosts suggest that student’s purchase their own extra (cold) breakfast items and allow them a space in the refrigerator
to store them.
DINNER
Dinner should consist of a substantial cooked meal, consisting of a main course of *meat or fish, with potatoes, pasta or rice and green vegetables or salad. This should be followed by fruit or dessert and/or cheese. Many overseas students appreciate bread with their meal.
*Exception is vegetarian students. Students are not expected to help in the kitchen with meal preparation or washing up/ cleaning the kitchen if the meal has been prepared by the host. Some students may offer, in which case, by all means let them help out. This may provide the student opportunity to interact with their hosts, establish friendships and to practise their English.
Welfare and safety
WELFARE
If you have any worries or concerns about a student staying with you (for example if they are excessively homesick or appear to be behaving irresponsibly in a way that might threaten their personal safety) please contact us immediately. We will then either speak to the student ourselves or discuss your concerns with the student’s school or agent.
SAFETY
Safety is one of our major concerns and all our hosts are required to adhere to the following safety rules which we may checkfrom time to time:
•If you have a gas boiler or any gas appliances, you are required to have a current certificate issued by a GAS-SAFE registered plumber.
•You must establish escape routes in case of fire for all occupants from your house. If you are a “private home” and can accommodate more than 6 guests a fire certificate is required (unless they are sleeping on the ground or first floor of your home).
•Your electrical wiring must be up-to-date and in good order.
•You must have a smoke alarm.
•You should be aware of the health and safety regulations about cooking and keeping food.
Which laws affect me as a host?
LAWS WHICH AFFECT YOU AS HOSTS
This information sheet should be read in conjunction with Marielle Homestay Ltd’s “Guidelines for Hosts” information leaflet and the contract, which you signed when you first became a Marielle Homestay Ltd host. It is intended as a general guide only. For further information on specific legal matters and your rights, please contact the appropriate official body.
CONTRACT BETWEEN HOST & MARIELLE HOMESTAY LTD
When a member of Marielle Homestay Ltd staff books accommodation with you either verbally (over the telephone) or in writing, you are entering into a legally binding contract. For details of your legal obligations as well as those of Marielle Homestay Ltd, please refer to the contract, as well as Marielle Homestay Host Guidelines.
THE DATA PROTECTION ACT
Marielle Homestay Ltd holds information on each registered host which includes the hosts name, address, telephone number, transportation, details of the host and other family members, description of accommodation and history of placements made with that host on its database.
Marielle Homestay Ltd will not disclose this information to any third parties other than to the potential student, school or agent, when either we or our client English language schools are inspected as part of their accreditation process.
RACE RELATIONS
We do not discriminate based on race, religion or nationality when recruiting potential hosts (providing they have an acceptable level of spoken English) and we ask hosts to be as open minded as possible when offered international students. We always ask students to respect host’s cultures and religion and we ask the same from our host families. If you have any questions or are unsure of any aspects of your student’s culture/religion or want advice on the above, please feel free to contact us.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY
Under the Social Security Administration Act of 1992, local DSS inspectors have right of access to any records of payments to hosts, as part of their investigation into Social Security fraud. Marielle Homestay Ltd does not routinely provide the DHSS with such information. However, should we ever be required by a DHSS inspector to make these records available to them, we would be legally bound to reveal them.
INCOME TAX
You are currently (at the time of writing) entitled to earn £4,250 per year from hosting students without incurring any tax liability. You would only pay tax on any amount you earned above that figure. This amount is separate from any other income you may earn.
If you earn more than £4,250 per year, you may choose:
i) To pay the tax on the amount by which your gross rent exceeds £4,250 without separate tax relief or allowable expenses OR
ii) To calculate your profit from letting (gross rents fewer actual expenses) and paying tax on that profit in the normal way.
For further information, please refer to the Inland Revenue leaflet IR87 Rooms to Let or contact your local tax office for the most
up-to-date information.
FIRE PRECAUTIONS, HEALTH & SAFETY
If there are more than six guests in the house, they must sleep on the ground or first floor. Where six or more students are accommodated, the provider must comply with the Fire Precautions Act, the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Housing Act 1985. The Housing Acts of 1989 and 1985 state that, at the discretion of the local council, a home may be designated a “House of Multiple Occupancy” (HMO).
Marielle Homestay Ltd requires all its hosts to have smoke alarm(s) fitted.
Electrical wiring should be checked before hosting students.
GAS SAFETY
Every year there are several incidents reported nationally which involve gas appliances. These include asphyxiation, carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and explosions. You are required to take the following precautions:
All gas appliances must be checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The law also states that:
•All boilers and central heating systems should be installed and serviced regularly under contract with “competent persons” only (i.e. Gas Safe member contractors).
•No appliance should be used if it is known or suspected of being unsafe.
•The room where the gas appliance is located must have adequate ventilation – air inlets should not be blocked to prevent draughts, and flues and chimneys should not be obstructed.
THE CHILDREN ACT 1989
If you are hosting “Juniors” (i.e. students under 18 years of age), you will be required to sign a declaration attesting to your suitability to foster children privately. This form, which is supplied to you by Marielle Homestay Ltd must be completed by all members of the household who are over 16 years of age. This form registers your agreement to the local authority arranging for police records to be checked for previous convictions, subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and exemption orders. Section 70(a) of the Children Act 1989 provides that a person who makes any statement in this notice which he knows to be false or misleading, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5. As an accommodation agency we are required to ensure that extra care is taken when placing juniors. Marielle Homestay Ltd may request that its host families conduct a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check. If this is requested full support and advice will be given on how/where this can be requested.
MAIL & LUGGAGE
A host may not hold or destroy mail addressed to a student. We advise you to keep a note of a student’s forwarding address. Please either forward their mail or return it to the post office marked “gone away”. A host may hold luggage or other property belonging to a student against a disputed debt providing authorisation is obtained by Marielle Homestay Ltd management.
If property is left behind or abandoned by a student it may be held by the host or, preferably by the school/organisation. After a reasonable period, the student or their parents will be contacted and asked for instructions as to the disposal of the goods or payment in advance for the cost of postage or carriage.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@mariellehomestay.co.uk if you require any further information on any of the above.
For further information on any of the above, please contact our office.