Homestay means renting a room from a local household, who host you. You live as a student guest, in exchange for payment. Homestay arrangements can vary.

Homestay is different from private accommodation, as you’re living in someone’s house. Your host may have rules and expectations about behaviour. Part of a homestay experience should include your host providing a cultural exchange, and they should ensure you feel comfortable and safe in their home.

How do I find a trusted homestay?

The Australian Homestay Network (AHN) and Global Experience are the 2 approved homestay providers for the University of Sydney. Find out more about pricing:

• student pricing for AHN
• student pricing for Global Experience.

Beware of homestay scams on the internet and do not stay with a host that hasn’t been recommended through one of the approved Usyd providers. You should read the reviews from other students who have used the homestay provider or stayed with specific hosts.

While some homestay providers will allow you to state your needs and location preferences, homestay options will always depend on what is available. You might choose to stay for a short period when you first arrive and then extend your stay, depending on your experience and other available accommodation options.

Who will I stay with?

Anyone can sign up to become a homestay host. You might stay with an individual adult, a couple, a family or a group of people in shared housing. Hosts must undergo criminal background checks and home inspections.

What are my host’s obligations?

Specific obligations will vary depending on the homestay provider, but generally your host must provide you with:

• a safe, supportive environment
• accommodation that is clean, orderly, and in good repair (it must comply with council building regulations and not be under renovation)
• a properly furnished private bedroom including a bed, bedding, desk, chair, study light, wardrobe and drawer space. Your room should be located within the host’s dwelling.
• bathroom and laundry facilities that may be shared with the host or private
• meals, if included in your package, which can include breakfast, lunch and dinner
• a heater or fan depending on the season
• access to phone and internet
• support for daily activities such as navigating public transport, local shopping, setting up a mobile service and opening a bank account
• contents insurance for students
• professional support from the homestay provider
• a travel time no longer than 60 minutes by public transport (including walking time) to your Usyd campus.

What are my obligations as a homestay guest?

Generally, your responsibilities will include helping with light household chores and keeping your private spaces clean and tidy.

At the start of your visit, your host will provide you with house rules. These might include rules around having guests over, noise, water usage, internet usage, smoking, bringing alcohol into the homestay, and expectations around cleaning.

You should review the house rules before you confirm your homestay, if possible, to make sure you are comfortable with the rules and clarify anything you are not sure about.

What’s not okay

• Any kind of harassment, discrimination or bullying
• House rules that prevent you from practicing cultural or religious activities at home
• Your host trying to force you into employment of any sort
• Your host requiring you to do extensive cleaning of the homestay property beyond your private space and light cleaning/tidying of shared spaces
• Your host entering your private space without permission
• A home environment with excessive noise, disruption or any kind of violence.

What to do if things go wrong

Some issues may be resolved by speaking directly with your homestay host – for example, if you need to negotiate the house rules, such as being able to make some noise early in the morning or later in the evening for study.

For more serious issues, you can contact the homestay provider directly. Reputable providers will have a complaints policy outlining informal and formal complaints processes. If you are planning to make a complaint, you should record as much detailed information about the incidents as possible, including locations, times and the nature of the incidents.

If you are unsure what to do, contact us for help.

In emergencies or if you are in danger, immediately call 000 and ask to speak to the police.

Disclaimer

This information is current as of November 2024 and is intended as a guide to the law as it applies to people who live in or are affected by the law as it applies in NSW. It does not constitute legal advice.

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Written by SUPRA Postgraduate Advocacy Service and SUPRA Legal Service November 2024