FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Most of our host families live within 45min to 1hr20 mins commute to the city centre, Hosts who offer their rooms do not usually live in the city centre but surrounding the city in the suburbs of Dublin. However Dublin offers an excellent transport service, with plenty of bus, train, and tram.
It is up to the host to ensure that they have adequate home insurance.
For Intern bookings and high school program also any mature guest it it important that they have a key and you show them how to lock up securely.
Please give your host 1 x weeks notice and the same would apply if they wanted to give you notice if circumstances changed.
We ensure that our host family's are in good family areas, with excellent transport services. We have many host family's in the North of Dublin which is a fantastic area, with lots of wonderful amenities and places to visit and very safe. In the heart of Dublin City like any Cities we ask that you take extra care of your personal belongings, mobile phones etc.
Rent a Room Relief may not apply to Host Family Income. It is the Host Family's responsibility to seek professional advice with regard to taxation of Host Family Income.
You should discuss this with your host family on arrival! General house rules would be:
  • Be respectful to everyone in your host family.
  • No guests permitted in your room without consulting your host first.
  • No smoking inside the hosts home.
  • No drinking alcohol or drugs.
  • If you have any issues discuss them with your host first, they will try to address them.
  • After 9 pm keep noise to a minimum.
  • Tidy up after yourself.
  • If you are on a room-only package, discuss with your host when you can use the kitchen and laundry (buy your own detergent).
  • Use please and thank you, our hosts love good manners.
It is your home and your house rules, please explain your house rules to your student on arrival so everyone understands what is expected.
Your room should have fresh bed linen and be clean and comfortable, you should bring your own towel and toiletries. Your host will show you the general area, where to catch bus, tram, train etc, local shops for bus tickets etc. If you have a package including meals, your host will provide you with good standard of meals.
Once you register with us we will send you a welcome letter with all the various rates available, it changes with the type of booking and also with the Agent.
Group bookings ( we place students/leaders together in areas, all over Dublin and Ireland):
  • International school students coming for short stays 4-7 days age 13-19
  • Intern students coming for work experience 1-3 months age 16-25
  • Summer programmes - 3-4 week stays 11-19 age studying and sightseeing
  • Immersion summer students - they spend all their time with the family
  • Academic students who go to Irish secondary schools aged 15 -16
  • That you have a tidy, well-maintained, clean home (think if you were arriving at a B&B what standard would you expect, the biggest complaint from guests and Agencies are unclean and untidy homes).
  • Your home has wifi and you offer a warm welcome to your guest, on arrival show them bus stops/meeting points etc.
  • Room only booking please allow reasonable access to the kitchen & washing machine, or please advise us if you do not allow use.
  • If we place students who are under the age of 18, First we come and do a home visit and then we need to complete the Garda Vetting process.
  • Photos of your room and communal areas please email them asap admin@hfdi.ie