Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Definitions: Guest (is the student), Homestay (is the accommodation/home/house), Host (is the person or people who live in the Homestay)

Navitas English has a partnership with Australian Homestay Network (AHN) and work together to provide our international students homestay arrangements with world-class administration and support services.

All homestays are arranged on a case-by-case basis and all guests are matched with a suitable Host, based on their profile and preferences, located within 60 minutes’ travel by public transport from their education provider.

Guests pay a placement fee and weekly homestay fees to Navitas English. The weekly fee amount depends on when and how long the homestay duration is and what type of homestay you would like. 

Homestay accommodation payment terms 

• Accommodation will only be arranged when the Homestay Preference Form is received, and full payment is made to Navitas English. These must be received by Navitas English at least 4 weeks prior to the first date of stay.
• The Guest will need to pay another placement fee if they would like to change Host unless there are extenuating circumstances which are acknowledged as justifiable by Navitas English and AHN.
• You are required to give a minimum 2 weeks’ notice to Navitas English if you wish to leave your Homestay early. This notice period cannot commence during the first 2 weeks of your Homestay.
• If you wish to take a break from your Homestay during your course, you will be required to pay 50% of your homestay fee per week and for a minimum of a 1-week break.

Pre-arrival Cancellations:

• If the Guest cancels their placement and provides more than 14 days written notice to Navitas English prior to arrival, their weekly fees will be refunded in full. The placement fee is not refundable.
•  If the Guest cancels their placement and provide less than 14 days written notice to Navitas English prior to arrival, they will forfeit payment for two weeks plus the placement fee. Any additional weekly fees paid will be refunded.
  
• Navitas English will provide a full refund (upon receipt of the Australian High Commission / DHA Visa Refusal Notification) for a cancelled placement if a Guest’s visa is denied and they have provided a minimum of three business days’ notice. If the required notice has not been provided, Navitas English will retain the Placement Fee and two weeks’ payment of their weekly fees. Any remaining funds will be refunded.
  

Pre-arrival changes or delays:

• If a Guest is unable to arrive by their intended start date due to a visa delay or course change, the Guest may defer their placement until visa approval is granted, or the course is rescheduled.
• There will be no charge for this change if Navitas Englis is advised in writing of any changes at least three business days prior to arrival. All fees will be transferred to the new placement.
• The Guest may be required to pay another Placement Fee for a new placement, and up to two weeks of homestay weekly fees, if Navitas English is not advised in writing of these changes at least three business days prior to arrival.
• Navitas English requires a minimum of five days’ notice once a Guest’s visa has been approved to ensure a Host can be arranged for the new arrival date.
• If a homestay placement has been confirmed and a Guest is unable to arrive by their intended start date, Navitas English cannot guarantee the same Host will be able to accommodate the Guest for their new dates. A new placement may be arranged once the Guest’s visa is approved, and new arrival details are confirmed.
• All other changes or delays will be subject to the same notice periods and penalties as detailed in the Pre-arrival Cancellations section. The Guest will forfeit the Placement Fee and up to two weeks of homestay fees if adequate notice is not given.

Homestay Guest Conduct

Guests must read and abide by the AHN Homestay Policy which can be accessed here: https://au.homestaynetwork.org/policies/homestay-policy

Guests who fail to comply with the Homestay Policy may have their Homestay terminated in accordance with clause 9.  Navitas English will send the Guest AHN’s house rules when also provided the homestay placement report which contains all the details about the Host.  Some hosts may have different rules and depending on whether the Guest is under of over the age of 18.

Mutual Obligations for both Hosts and Guests

• Treat each other and every other person in the Home in a fair, respectful and polite manner.
• Understand that your customs or beliefs may be different to those of your Host or Guest
• Work together to make the Homestay a success
• Understand and abide by the applicable local laws

Host Obligations

• Make yourself and your Home available to your Guest
• Help your Guest settle in to a comfortable and safe Home
• Provide healthy food for your Guest
• Help your Guest to access or organise important services
• Show your Guest around the community
• Include your Guest in normal activities and help them to learn

Guest Obligations

Comply with any reasonable ‘house rules’ the Host gives you. These may include:

(a) keeping your room tidy;

(b) assisting with minor chores;

(c) using resources such as water and electricity responsibly; 

(d) keeping noise to a minimum; 

(e) attending meal times promptly; and

(f) being polite and considerate at all times.

 Be sensible and safe

 If you are over the age of 18 you must ask your Host before bringing alcohol into the Home or smoking when you’re near the Home. Smoking is never allowed inside the Home

 If you are an International Student under the age of 18 you must: 

a) return to the Home by the curfew set by Navitas English and notified to you by AHN or your Host. Written notification from Navitas English must be provided to AHN if you have been granted special permission to be late or sleep overnight somewhere else. 

b) not smoke or consume any alcohol or illicit substance at any time or place during your Homestay. 

Insurance

AHN requires all its Hosts maintain minimum satisfactory insurance coverage in respect of the Homestay. The Host’s insurance will cover a Guest in many circumstances for loss, damage, or injury incurred inside the home, but this cannot be relied on as the Guest’s sole insurance cover.

The Guest acknowledges that it is the sole responsibility of the Guest to obtain their own personal insurance for all other purposes, including compliance with minimum insurance requirements at law or as a condition of the Guest’s visa, and that the Host’s Homestay insurance does not cover the Guest outside of the Homestay.

Termination

Guests (or the agent of Guardian of a Guest) may terminate a Homestay immediately on notice to Navitas English or AHN at any time if the Host has committed a theft, damaged property, caused an injury, or engaged in violent or threatening behaviour (or any other behaviour that makes the Guest feel unsafe) in connection with the Homestay. In such circumstances, Navitas English and AHN will take all reasonable steps to relocate the Guest to another Homestay, if required.

Guests (or the agent or Guardian of a Guest) may (after the first 2 weeks of the Homestay) request to terminate the Homestay without having to give a reason by providing 2 weeks’ written notice to AHN and their Host.

Guests who are under 18 require approval from their Guardian before giving notice of termination. On receipt of such a termination request, Navitas English and AHN will update its systems to record that the Homestay will be terminated effective from the expiration of the notice period (being no earlier than 4 weeks from the commencement of the Homestay). Weekly Fees are payable up to the date of termination.

A Guest may otherwise notify Navitas English and AHN of any complaint regarding a Host or Homestay at any time, and AHN will use commercially reasonable endeavours to resolve, or assist the Guest to resolve, the complaint.

Navitas English and  AHN may terminate a Homestay (before or after commencement) immediately on notice to a Guest if: the Home ceases to meet the requirements identified by AHN; the Guest has not returned to the homestay by their scheduled return date and cannot be contacted in accordance with the AHN’s Room Holding Policy; or AHN otherwise determines in its sole discretion that it is appropriate to terminate the Homestay immediately in response to a request from a Host or related party.

Guests acknowledge that a Host may terminate a Homestay at any time after the first 4 weeks of the Homestay on 2 weeks’ written notice to AHN.