Students (also known as Guests) must complete ALL sections of the Application Form as it will assist Language Links and its partners in choosing the best Host Family / Guest match for homestay. Without fully completing the application, guest needs and preferences may not be met. This includes preferences, special diets, allergies, and personal needs.

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Homestay Placement Fee
One-time fee applies regardless of duration. Homestay duration must be continuous, otherwise, a replacement fee applies.

 

Underage Guests
In Ontario, the age of majority is 18 years old. Bookings for underage guests will be only accepted if booked and paid for the entire length of their studies. There are extra charges for underage guests; underage fees and custodianship letters. It is the guest’s responsibility to inform Language Links if a custodianship letter is needed. If leaving the homestay program, written notice, and proof of new custodian must be provided. Certain conditions apply for underage students (Must be in the homestay every day from 11pm to 6am ET, so 11pm  ET curfew and no trips or overnights anywhere other than with the host. Canadian laws must be followed.)

 

Airport Services
Airport pick-up and drop-off are available for an additional cost. If airport pick-up and drop-off are purchased together it is offered at a combined reduced price. If purchased separately, the discount does not apply. If two or more guests are travelling together, individual rates still apply.

Personal Needs Accommodation
To ensure proper accommodation that best serves our students. guests are advised to inform Language Links of any personal needs n advance on the application form. Please advise of personal needs required due to any physical disability, mental impairment, learning disability, mental disorder, or medical issue. Due to the nature of profile matching for the host and the guest, and the demand for rooms, failure to make requests in advance may result in a move or can even put at risk availability, causing the cancellation of the homestay program.

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Food Allergies and Special Diets
Guests must identify any food allergies and special diet needs in advance on the application in order to be accommodated. Guests can identify food allergies (shellfish, dairy, nuts, wheat, soy, etc.) and other special diet requests (vegetarian, lacto-ovo vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian, partial vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose free, lactose intolerant, Halal, Kosher). For all special diets, other than partial vegetarian and lactose intolerance, additional rates will apply. For lactose intolerant preference, meal planning will respect the preference, however, guests must purchase their own milk alternative if desired. For all special diets, simple meals will be provided based on the special diet requested. Any items that are more complicated or specialty items will need to be purchased by the guest. Due to the nature of profile matching for host and guest, and the demand for rooms, failure to make the request in advance may result in a move to a different home, or even put at risk availability causing the cancellation of the homestay program.

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Medical Insurance

Students must obtain medical insurance that covers any medical expenses that may occur during their stay in Canada.  Language Links is
NOT responsible for student medical or emergency medical expenses. Language Links does not assume any responsibility for any injuries you suffer or death. Guests are to consider getting insurance that covers both health care and emergency medical needs.

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Checking In

Check-In time is between 2pm and 10pm ET.  The guest is not to arrive at the home outside those hours unless arranged ahead of time with Language Links.  The guest is responsible to make arrangements with Language Links Coordinator if their flight arrival time will affect their ability to check-in time.  The guest may be able to access the common areas of the home, but not their bedroom, between the hours of 8am and 2 pm ET, IF arranged ahead of time, and depending on availability. The earliest time permitted is 8 am.
Early check-in may result in an extra night charge. Guest with flights arriving late in the evening may need to plan to stay in a hotel, and check-in the following day to their homestay.

Guests are responsible for advising of cancelled or late flights. If airport pick-up is arranged, the guest is to contact Language Links and the driver. If no pick-up is arranged, guests are to advise the Host directly. If the guest is staying in a hotel or with friends prior to check-in and there is a change in check-in time, guests are to contact Host directly.

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Homestay Services

Include:

▪ Host/Host Family will welcome the guest into their home
▪ Host will spend a minimum of 3 times per week together with the guest for meals or conversation if the guest is willing and available.
▪ Guest will be provided with a furnished bedroom with reasonable access to the home’s amenities such as bathroom(s), laundry
facilities and the meal plan requested.
▪ In many cases the bathroom is shared with the host/host family and/or other students. A private bathroom is available
upon request based on availability and at extra cost. 
▪ Internet access is available. It is not to be used to download movies, online gaming, or music purposes.
▪ Guests are a member of the family and are expected to live by the family’s rules.
▪ Your bedroom is private unless specified on the application to be shared (twin). A shared bedroom is only provided when both guests are known to one another and both apply with the request.

Homestay does NOT include:

▪ Maid service.
▪ Cooking privileges.

▪ Toiletries for personal use (such as but not limited to shampoo, toothpaste, female sanitary napkins, tampons, shaving cream, etc.)

▪ Cleaning supplies (such as detergent or plastic bags) or any items of personal hygiene, such as shampoo, hand soap, or towels.

 

The Host and Host Family

Canada is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Diversity and inclusion are defining characteristics of Canada. There are over 250 cultural origins in the Canadian population, and that number continues to grow. Canadians are proud to live in an open, welcoming society and believe that diversity strengthens the country.  The promotion of diversity in Canada includes the dimensions of race, ethnicity, religion, physical and mental abilities, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, image, and opinions.  

Our host families reflect the Canadian population. Hosts can be individuals, single-parent families, two-parent families, couples with no children, people with pets, young people, or older adults. They have a range of occupations or are retired, and have a variety of cultural and ethnic origins.  They are Canadian residents where English may or may not be their first language; however, the language spoken at home is English. The residence may be a condo, an apartment, a townhome, or a detached home, located anywhere across the city.  Host families are therefore unique. 

What unites all of our host families is their desire and willingness to open up their homes to international students and make them feel comfortable, secure, and a member of the household so guests can have the opportunity to experience life in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Language Links will match guests with Hosts based on availability and service needs. In keeping with the Human Rights Code, Language Links and its partners will not entertain requests for hosts based on their diversity dimensions.

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Meal Plan Options

Full board is 3 meals, including breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner.
Half board is 2 meals, including breakfast and dinner. *Guest is responsible for purchasing their own lunch outside the home

European board is no meals. Guests are responsible for purchasing their own food outside of the home. Students may be permitted to use the kitchen to prepare meals.

Additionally

▪ Snacks are not provided. Snacks are the guest’s responsibility.
▪ Guests are not permitted to cook, unless otherwise indicated by the Host / Host family.
▪ There is no compensation for guests that miss meals.
▪ Meal plan is part of the program as guests are not permitted to cook and only small limited storage is available for snack-only
items.

 

Cleaning

Guests are responsible for keeping the bedroom clean and tidy. Guests are expected to remove plates and utensils from the table after meals and tidy up after themselves in the bathroom and common areas. Guests are not, however, required to do home chores such as babysitting, gardening, house cleaning, etc. The Hosts will clean their homes in their own customary manner.

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Laundry

In most cases, the host will do the guest’s laundry. In other cases, guests will have reasonable access to laundry facilities. Usually, laundry is done once per week. Guests are required to supply their own laundry detergent/fabric softener.

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Outings

If guests choose to accompany the Host on holidays, outings, or trips, guests must pay for travel arrangements, admission tickets,
accommodations, meals, and personal expenses. The host is not responsible for these fees.

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Visitors

Most Hosts will not allow guests to bring friends into the home. Guest to check with the Host for what their rules are regarding visitors. Guests are not permitted to ever bring strangers to the house. Parties are not permitted.

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Smoking

Smoking is NOT permitted anywhere inside the home including balconies, fire escapes, rooftop patios, etc. This includes tobacco, cannabis, and vaping.  Toronto city bylaws require that individuals smoke at least 9 meters away from the entrance of any building in the city. Penalty fines for non-compliance will be applied as enforced by the City of Toronto. For lack of compliance, the Host is within their rights to terminate their agreement and ask the guest to vacate the premises. 

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Use of Drugs and Illegal Substances

The use of drugs or illegal substances is forbidden on the premises; failure to follow this policy will result in immediate expulsion without refund.

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Violence and Harassment

Fighting, bullying, teasing, acts of violence or aggression, and harassment is not tolerated and will result in the expulsion of the guests involved without refund.
 

Damages

All appliances and furniture are to be kept in their original condition. Guests are not allowed to remove, repair, paint, or perform any other
alteration of the home. If a guest causes any damage to the premises, furniture, or appliances, they will be charged the cost of its repair or replacement. This includes the cost of replacing lost keys to the home and changing the locks. Language Links is not responsible for these fees.

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Moving
Guest may request to change homestay family within 5 days of arrival with no extra cost. The cost of transfer / moving is not included. Language Links will evaluate and confirm whether the basis for a move is reasonable. A replacement fee applies for all other cases.
For every change request, Language Links requires up to two weeks to do a homestay change. For emergency changes for health and safety, Language Links will do its best to do a homestay change as soon as possible.

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Language Links may request a guest to change home for a variety of practical reasons (maintenance, logistics, availability, conflict etc.) Language Links will provide notice and make every effort to ensure guest comfort and security. If a guest requests a move to another home, Language Links and its partners will evaluate the situation according to availability and reasonable cause.

 

Checking Out

Check-Out time is by 10 am ET. It is the guest’s responsibility to:

▪ check out by 10 am at the latest

▪ leave bedroom clean and tidy

▪ take all personal belongings

▪ dispose of all garbage

▪ remove all guest food and drink from the cupboards and fridge, leaving nothing behind

▪ email the Language Links Accommodation Coordinator to confirm check-out

Guests can still use the common areas for luggage if they have a late flight, but the bedroom must be empty by 10am ET on the check-out date. Quiet hours between 10pm and 8am ET must be respected.
 

Miscellaneous

▪ The guest of Language Links' homestay program must be a student.
▪ Once any invoice is issued by Language Links, the homestay accommodation is reserved and all cancellation, extension, and change of date penalties will apply.
▪ If the guest moves to another home or service arranged by Language Links, including due to extension, the guidelines and policies remain in effect.
▪ Language Links is not responsible, nor held liable, for visa delays, lost or stolen property, or for personal injury or death.
▪ All prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.
▪ Students / Guests are expected to respect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Human Rights Code.
▪ Language Links reserves the right to refuse any homestay accommodation registration at its discretion.
▪ Special requests are not guaranteed until confirmed.
▪ Individuals must be at least 19 years old to buy and consume alcohol or tobacco or cannabis in Ontario. This rule is strictly
enforced and controlled by the community. Police will be notified if this is not abided by.
▪ Guests are not permitted to bring or store alcohol or cannabis in the homestay, unless of age, and authorized by the Host.

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Cancellation

If a student's/ guest's plans change and they need to leave earlier than originally booked, the guest needs to contact the Language Links Coordinator immediately via email and advise of the decision. Penalties are determined based on the timing of notification.

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* additional $100 administration fee may apply if a refund is necessary. When payment is originally done through an agency, the agency is refunded and responsible to refund the guest.