Why Lancashire needs host families
Lancashire's universities include Lancaster University, the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, and each attracts students from overseas. Some of those students choose to live with a family, at least at first, and many want help building confidence in everyday English.
The county is easy to get around. The West Coast Main Line calls at Preston and Lancaster, with direct trains to London and Scotland, and local lines and buses connect towns such as Blackpool, Chorley and Burnley. Manchester and Liverpool are close, so some hosts here welcome students studying in those cities.
Whether you live in a market town in the Ribble Valley or a seaside town on the Fylde coast, hosting gives a student a genuine experience of northern English life. You decide when to host and which students to accept, and it fits around your own family.
Who you could host in Lancashire
You choose the ages, lengths of stay and dates that suit your household.
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 Lancashire 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 Lancashire 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 Lancashire: common questions
Ready to host in Lancashire?
Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Language schools can find you as soon as your profile is live.