Information for Homestay Providers
In order to meet the needs of all our students, we offer a range of accommodation options. Homestays remain a popular option with international students as a way in which to engage conversational English outside of taught lessons and to experience their time in New Zealand from a ‘kiwi’ perspective.
ABC College of English welcomes any form of family who is responsible and able to provide a caring home environment to our students. There is no typical host family and all offer something different and unique. Some families are single individuals, some are couples with young children or teenagers, whereas some families are couples with no children currently living at home.
What you need to know
- Always respect the religious observances of the student
- If you are hosting more than one student at a time, you may only host students of the same gender
- If the situation of the family or the conditions of the home change from the time of the initial inspection, e.g. having a new family member/pets/moving address please inform us immediately
- In case of sickness/injury/accident, you must take the student to the doctor’s/hospital. The student may have health insurance so please assist them to use it. If it is a serious illness or accident, please contact us immediately
- The maximum number of students you can host at a time is 4
- Please notify ABC in the event of an accident involving the student
- Please advise ABC in advance if you are going to have visitors (over the age of 18) to stay while you are accommodating a student. Police clearance is required if your guest (s) is going to stay 5 or more consecutive nights
- Please note all payments will be made through the college directly. Please do not collect any payment from the student. If you have any questions regarding the payment, please give us a call and our accounts team will be able to assist you
Most of the time, it is the first time for the student to leave their home and stay in a different
city/country by themselves. Therefore, a warm and welcome environment is vital. Please remember to always treat the student as a member of your own family. Prior to the student’s arrival, please make sure the bedroom is in a neat condition and ready for the student to use.
Please note the student’s bedroom must be a private bedroom. Not a shared room unless it is requested by us. Below checklist will help you to run a final check to ensure you got everything ready.
✔A private, warm, and comfortable bedroom
✔ The room has adequate ventilation, heating, and good lighting
✔ Please make sure the bedroom has below essentials:
⭐A bed (not a convertible or inflatable bed)
⭐Towels and Bedding
⭐Storage space
⭐A lamp
⭐A study-desk
⭐A chair
⭐Convenient access to bathroom facilities and unimpeded access to the outside of the house in
the event of a fire or similar emergency.
The reasonable use of electricity, water and internet are also included in your weekly rate. Please also ensure that laundry facilities are available for the student’s use.
Personal items such as toiletries and shampoo are student’s responsibility.
Apart from a comfortable bedroom, you can be required to provide ‘half board’. Please get in touch for more details or other options.
In preparing meals for your student (s), please always discuss their dietary preferences and especially if they are allergic to any food.
1. Breakfast is often a “help yourself” meal with cereal or toast and a cup of a hot drink. Please
show your homestay student which food or ingredients are used for breakfast meals. They can simply prepare their own breakfast, eat, and then tidy up once they finish.
2. Lunch on weekends and public holiday is either a “help yourself” meal or prepared by you.
Please discuss with your student what he/she like to have for lunch meals.
3. Dinner is the main meal of the day and usually home-cooked meals are required.
The payment for providing housing and care of a student is paid weekly in arrears and directly by the college to a nominated bank account and covers all basic living costs associated with your student.
We pay an extra surcharge during winter recognising the higher costs at this time.
