Torquay, Devon

    Become a Host Family in Torquay

    Torquay is the heart of the English Riviera and a long-established destination for English language students. Families in Torquay and around Tor Bay can register free to host them.

    Register free as a host family

    Photo: David Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Why Torquay needs host families

    Palm trees along the seafront, a busy harbour and a string of coves give Torquay a character all of its own. The town is also known as the birthplace of Agatha Christie, and the wider bay takes in Paignton and the fishing port of Brixham.

    Students have been coming to Torquay to learn English for many years, and staying with a family is central to the experience. A homestay gives them daily conversation, home cooking and someone to ask about the local buses and the best beach.

    Many Torbay households have hosted for years, fitting students in around their own summers and family commitments. Whether you can offer a few weeks in August or a room through the winter, your listing tells schools exactly what you have.

    Host family sharing a meal with an international student in Torquay

    Who you could host in Torquay

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

    Riviera summer groups
    Summer is peak time, when junior groups arrive for a few weeks of lessons, beach trips and excursions across Devon.
    Adults on longer courses
    Adult learners study here outside the summer too, on general English or exam courses lasting from a few weeks to several months.
    Exam preparation
    Students working towards English exams often stay for a fixed course of several weeks and benefit from plenty of conversation at home.
    Where you could host
    Schools look for homes within easy reach of their classes. These are some of the areas in and around Torquay.
    Babbacombe
    St Marychurch
    Wellswood
    Chelston
    Cockington
    Shiphay
    Ellacombe
    Barton
    Preston
    Paignton
    Brixham

    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 Torquay 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 Torquay 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 Torquay: common questions

    Ready to host in Torquay?

    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 Torquay