TERMS AND CONDITIONS (Family)

1.                 “The host family” will provide “the student” with his/her own fully furnished private bedroom.  The bedroom will be equipped with a bed, bedside lamp, adequate wardrobe, drawer space, a desk, a chair and a heating device in winter.  “The student” will also have access to the common areas of the house

2.                Homestay is an opportunity to share your home with someone from another culture.  It will not be successful if you are approaching it as purely an opportunity to earn money from a spare room.

3.                 For Homestay with Food, “The host family” will provide “the student” with 2 meals on weekdays and 3 meals on weekends.

4.                 “The host family” will provide “the student” with clean linen and towel during the duration of his/her stay.

5.                 “The host family” will provide “the student” with a key to the house and “the host family” will ensure that “the student” knows how to lock up when he/she leaves the house.

6.                 “The host family” will show “the student” how to get to and from their school by public transport and will provide “the student” with a relevant bus/train timetable.

7.                 “The student” will keep his/her own room and the common areas clean and tidy at all times.

8.                 “The student” will pay for his/her own local and overseas telephone calls.

9.                 “The student” will abide by the rules of “the host family” with regards to smoking.

10.             “The student” will not use any illegal drugs in the house.

11.             “The student” will not have guests or parties in the house without consulting with “the host family”.

12.             “The student” will inform “the host family” in adequate time if he/she is not going to be home for meals.

13.             “The student” will inform “the host family” if he/she is going to be late home or if he/she will be staying away for the night.

14.             “The student” will vacate the home on request if any part of the agreement is not honoured.

15.             “The student” will return the key of the house to “the host family” on departure

16.             “The Student” will stay with “the host family” for a period of 4 weeks.  During this time, no refund will be given to “the student” except in exceptional circumstances.
In the event of exceptional circumstances, the student will be moved to a new family at no cost to the student.
If “the student” should find alternative accommodation during this period and “the student” decides to move out, no refund will be given.
Change of host family, on the student’s request, will incur an additional placement fee.

When the 4-week homestay period is finished, the student may leave his/her host family without having to give any notice of his/her intention to leave.  However, “the student” is encouraged to discuss with the family about future plans of accommodation well before the last day.
Should “the student” wish to stay longer, “the student” may do so by mutual agreement with “the host family”.  “The student” will, therefore, pay “the host family” directly an amount of money which is agreed upon by both sides and at a pre-determined length of time.  Should “the student” then decide to leave, the period of notice required will be the same as the pre-determined rent payment period.  For example, if rent is paid weekly, the notice required will be 1 week.  If rent is paid fortnightly, the period of notice will be 2 weeks.  If rent is paid monthly, the period of notice will be 1 month.

 

17.             Refunds

Request for refunds must be made in writing.

The accommodation placement fee is non-refundable.

If notice of cancellation is given more than 2 weeks before the arrival date, 3 weeks of the Homestay Accommodation Fee will be refunded.

If notice of cancellation is given less than 2 weeks before the arrival date, 2 weeks of the Homestay Accommodation Fee will be refunded.

If a visa application is rejected, 4 weeks of Homestay Accommodation Fee will be refunded if Homestay Confirmation has not been made.  Only 2 / 3 weeks of Homestay Accommodation Fee will be refunded if Homestay Confirmation has been made.   Evidence from the relevant Australian Embassy must be provided.

Once “the student” has commenced his/her stay with “the host family”, none of the 4-week Homestay Accommodation Fee will be refunded unless there is a serious problem.   “The student” should report the nature of the problem to the Austay.com.au Accommodation Manager.  The student will be notified whether any of the Homestay Accommodation Fee is refundable.

Average travelling time between the host family and the School is 15 - 45 minutes. Any complaints about travelling time between the host family premises and the School is not regarded as a serious problem.

Note: Student should note that while deferral of studies is usually possible, deferral of homestay once arranged will incur a penalty of 2 weeks of homestay accommodation fee.