The start of every new year is an exciting time for homestay accommodation providers! Sometimes, the January deadline for applications to a UK college in the autumn can be missed by students. But that doesn’t stop homestay hosts from being always busy preparing their rooms – specially for first time international students studying in the UK. Adding a set of Joker and Harley Quinn pillows, perhaps?
In fact, many universities and colleges continue to accept applications from international students throughout the year, even near to the start of their course. Some students apply for courses which last just six months at a time while those learning English as a Foreign Language may only need a room for around six weeks. Nevertheless, the schedules can get pretty hectic…
Overseas students have a choice of over 140 universities and higher education institutions across the UK to choose from, each offering a wide range of tertiary qualifications recognised worldwide. Nearly 600,000 students of all ages also flock to Britain to study at 479 private sector English learning centres.
However, it’s not surprising that an international student accommodation host is more likely to know about the various local term times for different courses and understands the reasons why they need to be flexible in booking arrangements. It’s one of the reasons why a host provider tends to be different from a halls of residence administrator, the average landlord or estate agent.
Experience English life, customs and culture first hand
Probably the most important reason is because a host provider invites a student into their own home to live with them and their family. Even with a choice of meal plans, a student will sit down to eat with the family for breakfast and the evening dinner.
Homeowners who participate in the rent-a-room scheme for international students are not looking just to supplement their monthly income. It’s also seen as cultural exchange. Young students who may be living away from home for the first time really do have a valuable opportunity to experience English life, customs and culture first hand. Host providers are naturally interested in people and always open to learn more about the different backgrounds of their guests and their ways of doing things. To offer a “homestay” is to provide a room in a welcoming family environment, where everyone may enjoy a culturally rewarding experience.
It’s especially important for younger students, such as those on English Learning courses, to be treated as part of the family. Hosts know that younger students opt for a homestay because they prefer the security and the “home from home” comforts of a family atmosphere.
Another big role of a homestay host is to help student guests improve their English by making the time to speak with them every day. Even an older student would expect to be included in as many aspects of family life as possible, which includes, for example, unrestricted access to the living room.
Great care and attention with the interior design and furnishing
It all starts with preparing the room, of course….The best hosting organisations ensure the accommodation provided by their host families is to British Council approved standards. Did you know, for example, that under the 1986 Housing Act, a bedroom for one adult must be a minimum size of 21.3 sq. m (70 sq. ft)? Another important guideline is the size of a single bed, which should be 1.9 m (6ft 3in) by 0.76 m (2ft 6in).
It’s not been unknown for some hosts to just provide a room to the barest ‘clean and tidy’ minimum of a bed, desk, bedside lamp, wardrobe, drawer and possibly, a table at which to study. The best providers will take great care and attention with the interior design and furnishing, often offered as a more superior accommodation than may be generally available elsewhere at the same price. Even a standard accommodation must include an internet connection if it wants to be taken at all seriously by a student guest.
These days, preparing a homestay room is more than just giving it a lick of paint, a new cork board and Op-Art print fixed to the wall! Hosts should have long removed the “Keep Calm and Carry On ….” pillows but are they now thinking “cool duvet printed in black and white with a big red London bus?”.