Is HostFamily.uk free for Dover families?

Yes, entirely. There is no charge to register, and no subscription or placement fees for host families.

Can I host from Deal or Sandwich?

Schools search by location, so homes in Deal, Sandwich and the villages around Dover can be found. Whether a placement works depends on where the student is studying.

How does a student from Dover reach Canterbury?

Trains link Dover with Canterbury directly, and there are buses as well, so students can study in the city while living on the coast.

What will students want to see in Dover?

Dover Castle and the walks along the White Cliffs are the highlights, and on clear days students can often spot the French coast across the Channel.

Become a Host Family in Dover

Why Dover needs host families

Dover Castle looks out over the busy ferry port, and the White Cliffs stretch along the coast towards St Margaret's at Cliffe. Few places say 'England' quite so clearly, and students arriving here never forget that view. Walking the clifftop paths is free and gives students some of the best views in Kent.

Being so close to France, Dover is a natural arrival point for students travelling from Europe. Trains run to Canterbury and Folkestone and on to London, so a home here can work for learners studying in towns along the line.

Hosting can bring real warmth into a household. A student who shares your meals and your routines picks up English far faster, and you remain free to decide when your room is available. Hosts usually provide a private bedroom, breakfast and an evening meal, and schools explain anything else they need.

Host family sharing a meal with an international student in Dover

Who you could host in Dover

You choose the ages, lengths of stay and dates that suit your household.

European groups in summer

In the summer holidays, school groups from the Continent visit the Kent coast, and some need host families close to good transport.

Canterbury-based learners

Students on courses in Canterbury sometimes live in Dover and travel in by train, enjoying a quieter coastal home.

Short cultural visits

Short study visits built around history and sightseeing can suit a home near Dover Castle and the White Cliffs.

Where you could host

Schools look for homes within easy reach of their classes. These are some of the areas in and around Dover.

Dover town centre

Maxton

Tower Hamlets

Buckland

River

Temple Ewell

Kearsney

Whitfield

St Margaret's at Cliffe

Deal

Sandwich

How it works

1. Register for free

Create your host profile in a few minutes. There are no fees or subscriptions.

2. Get found by schools

Language schools that place students in and around Dover search for hosts by location, rooms and availability.

3. Welcome your student

A school contacts you directly to arrange a placement. You decide which students you accept.

Earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free

Under the government's Rent a Room scheme, income from hosting students in your Dover home is tax-free up to £7,500 a year.

Applies whether you own or rent (with your landlord's permission)
Claim it with a single tick box on your tax return

General guidance only. Read more on GOV.UK

Hosting in Dover: common questions

Ready to host in Dover?

Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Language schools can find you as soon as your profile is live.

Host families are also needed near Dover