Why Waltham needs host families
The abbey church, linked by tradition to King Harold, gives Waltham Abbey its name and much of its character. Around it lie Epping Forest, the Royal Gunpowder Mills and the Lee Valley Regional Park, including the white water centre built for the London 2012 Olympics.
Waltham Abbey is a small town without its own language schools, so hosts here usually welcome students who study in London or elsewhere in Essex and Hertfordshire. Being close to the M25 and to stations at Waltham Cross, Cheshunt and Loughton helps students get where they need to go.
Hosting offers a sociable way to use a spare room and to show a visitor the countryside on London's doorstep. Many students arrive expecting nothing but city streets, so a walk in Epping Forest or along the Lea can be a welcome surprise. You stay in charge of your dates and of who comes to stay, and schools contact you directly.
Who you could host in Waltham
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 Waltham 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 Waltham 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 Waltham: common questions
Ready to host in Waltham?
Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Language schools can find you as soon as your profile is live.