Introduction
Welcome to Homestay Santa Monica! This handbook provides information and guidelines to ensure an enjoyable and safe homestay experience for both you and your host family.
By applying and using Homestay Santa Monica as your accommodation service, we ask and expect you to abide by the rules and regulations outlined in this handbook.
How it works
Prior to being provided a homestay and connected with your host family, you must submit an application for homestay candidacy.
The application can be found on our website here.
Upon approval for homestay candidacy, our Homestay Coordinator(s) will contact you with a potential placement in a homestay with a local host family that you have been carefully matched with.
Once you have accepted your homestay placement, you will receive host family contact information and the address of your homestay accommodation. You are more than welcome to contact your host family prior to your arrival!
After confirming your placement, you may arrange your arrival and confirm your arrival time to your homestay with your Homestay Coordinator.
Payment for your first month or week’s stay must be received by Homestay Santa Monica at least 2 weeks prior to your arrival or on the day of accepting your placement if you have applied with Rush Placement.
On the day of your arrival, you will arrive to your homestay at your arranged time and meet your host family in their home. Your host family may inform you of any personal house rules that they may have.
Lastly, relax and enjoy your studies and sunshine in Santa Monica!
In the Homestay
Upon your arrival to your homestay, you will meet your host family who are eager to greet and welcome you into their home.
The host family will prove you with your housing accommodations and inform you of any personal house rules that they may have. It is important to remember that you are a guest in your homestay. Please be respectful and mindful in your homestay.
Your homestay will provide you with the following:
- house key/ entrance code
- household rules (may differ depending on each host family)
- host family contact information
- designated room with bed, linens (sheets, blankets, pillows), desk, chair
- internet access
- shared access to bathroom, laundry facilities (may require additional payment), microwave, supplies to keep your room and bathroom clean
- daily continental, self-serve breakfast
- dinner (if you have selected this meal plan)
- storage space in a kitchen cupboard and refrigerator to store personal food
- information on public transportation
Homestay Santa Monica Rules
As a part of the family and a Homestay Santa Monica student, homestay students are expected to:
- keep yourself, your clothes, your room, your linens, your bathroom, and communal living quarters clean during your stay and upon your departure from your homestay
- keep in contact with your host family regarding different/late arrival times and if you do not need dinner on certain days
- help clean up after yourself
- always lockup and secure the house when entering and exiting
- never smoke in the house. smoke at least 20 feet away from the home unless otherwise specified by your host
- no alcohol or illegal drug usage in the home
- use the designated microwave or toaster to warm up food. do not use the stove or oven unless given explicit approval from your host
- use the internet legally and appropriately
- if you break or damage something, notify your host family and fairly replace or repair it for your host
- be smart and travel with friends – use a taxi or university transportation after dark
- be responsible for your own well-being, seek help or medical attention as needed
- make payment for your homestay when it is due, allow authorization for Homestay Santa Monica to charge you accordingly
- abide by the laws of the State of California and the United States of America
If you do not abide by Homestay Santa Monica Rules and rules as designated by your host family, you may be deemed unsuitable for Homestay. In which case, Homestay Santa Monica will excuse you from homestay candidacy and you will be required to depart your homestay immediately.
Departure
Discuss your move-out plans with your host family and Homestay Coordinator at least 1 month prior to your departure date. Your homestay duration is guaranteed for however long you requested your booking and paid for. The homestay fee applies whether or not you decide to eat or sleep at your homestay every night.
You may extend your stay by submitting a request to your Homestay Coordinator. It is not guaranteed you may continue residing in your current homestay as it is only reserved for your requested duration at the time of your booking. Your Homestay Coordinator may provide you with another homestay accommodation if your current host family is unable to accommodate you.
Upon your departure from your homestay, please ensure that your room and living quarters are clean and return things as they were initially presented to you. If you fail to return keys, you may be held responsible to pay for changing locks to your host family.
Payment
You are required to make the first payment for your homestay at least 2 weeks prior to your arrival. This payment can be made either in full, monthly, or weekly installments. Please note the minimum payment made is by week. If you stay less than 1 week, you will still be required to submit payment for the entire week.
For every payment, Homestay Santa Monica will issue you an invoice with a corresponding due date. You authorize Homestay Santa Monica to automatically charge your credit card if it is not paid by the due date. Late fees of 10% of invoice may incur weekly if they are not paid on time.
There is a Service Fee of 4.5% per transaction.
Student Pricing can be found here.
Cancellation Policy: Your homestay booking during your scheduled stay, we can only provide a partial refund for nights not stayed. This is because your host families have allotted your stay in their home for your scheduled duration. For monthly bookings, no refunds can be made for cancellations of the first month. If, however, on the second month, you decide to cancel your placement, a refund can be issued for nights not stayed. A minimum stay is 1 week and will be charged as such. For weekly bookings, no refunds can be made.
If you leave your Homestay for a vacation or break and plan to return afterwards, payment must still be made for the entire duration to guarantee your continued stay in your Homestay.
If you leave your Homestay for a vacation or break and do not may payment for the duration departed, you must submit a new online application again and you may be placed in a different Homestay.
Student Terms & Conditions
Additional Terms & Conditions include:
You agree to indemnify and hold Homestay Santa Monica, its owners, officers, directors, shareholders, predecessors, successors in interest, employees, agents, hosts, host families, subsidiaries and affiliates harmless from any and all actual or alleged claims, demands, causes of action, liability, loss, expenses (including attorneys’ fees), damage and/or injury (to persons or property, including without limitation to wrongful death), made against Homestay Santa Monica by any third party due to or arising out of or in connection with your use of the Homestay Santa Monica site and service.
You agree to let Homestay Santa Monica store and keep your credit card information and other personal information. You agree to let Homestay Santa Monica charge your credit card when payments are due.
Third party students are expected to abide by all the same Homestay Santa Monica polices.
All information provided on the website, handbooks, Terms & Conditions, and Policies & Procedures are subject to change without notice. Accommodation rates are subject to change without notice. Rates may also vary by season and availability.
By submitting your application, you agree to abide by the Student Handbook, all the terms listed in the Terms & Conditions. You agree to our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, COVID-19 Policies & Procedures, and information listed in our FAQ.