AHN Canberra Homestay

Pre-arrival Cancellations:
If the Guest cancels their placement and provide more than 10 days written notice prior to arrival, their weekly fees will be refunded in full. The Matching Fee is not refundable.
If the Guest cancels their placement and provide less than 10 days written notice prior to arrival, they will forfeit payment for two weeks plus the Matching Fee. Any additional weekly fees paid will be refunded.
AHN 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 AHN, will retain the Matching 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 AHN 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 Matching Fee for a new placement, and up to two weeks of homestay weekly fees, if AHN is not advised in writing of these changes at least three business days prior to arrival,.
AHN 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, AHN 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 Matching Fee and up to two weeks of homestay fees if adequate notice is not given.

Post-arrival Changes and Cancellations:

Once a homestay placement has commenced, AHN is unable to refund weekly fees for the Guest’s initial period of homestay (usually four weeks). The Matching Fee is also not refundable.
If a Guest is unhappy with their chosen Host family, they should contact AHN to discuss. AHN will liaise with the Guest and Host to try to rectify any concerns and assist through the ‘settling in’ period.
The Guest is required to provide AHN and their homestay Host with a minimum of two weeks’ written notice if they intend to move out of homestay. This notice period cannot commence during the first two weeks in homestay.
If a Guest gives less than two weeks’ notice of their intention to move out they will still be required to pay weekly fees for two weeks following the date on which they have given notice.
If the Guest wishes to change Host families after the first four weeks, and there are not adequate grounds for the change, the Guest may be charged another Matching Fee for AHN to find a new homestay. This applies to each new placement a Guest applies for.
The Guest will still be required to provide the minimum of two weeks’ notice to AHN and the original Host before moving to another homestay.
Weekly fees will need to be paid a minimum of two weeks before the transfer date in order to cover the first payment to the new Host family.
There will be no refund if the Guest chooses to leave without serving out the required notice period.
If AHN is required to transfer a Guest’s homestay placement more than three times and there has been no AHN policy breach by the Host/s, AHN reserves the right to discontinue its services for the Guest.
Transport to a new AHN homestay will be coordinated by AHN if the Guest is under 18. Guests over the age of 18 will be required to organise their own transportation to a new AHN homestay. Both under 18 and over 18 Guests are responsible for paying any transport costs.
If the Host requests to cancel a homestay placement and there has been no AHN policy breach by the Guest, the Host must give two weeks’ notice so AHN can arrange a new homestay placement for the Guest. If the Host requires the Guest to move immediately, AHN will make every effort to find another available Host and the homestay placement will be transferred as soon as possible. If no other Hosts are available, the Guest will receive a refund or credit of the remaining nights.
If the Host requests to cancel a homestay placement due to the Guest breaching AHN policy or not complying with the Host’s house rules, the Guest will be required to move immediately. If, after AHN counselling, the Guest can be placed with a new Host family, the Guest may be charged an additional Matching Fee prior to a new placement being confirmed.
If a homestay placement needs to be cancelled due to an AHN policy breach by the Host, the Guest will receive a refund or credit for the unused weekly fees. AHN will make every effort to arrange placement with a new Host family if the Guest requests it.