Homestay.com Reviews 5,897

Unreliable,badly manner staff,lacking basic customer service skills,a little Irish company.
Do not take your chance.

No one ever seems to respond to requests. If they haven't got room then why say they're available? And why not message back to inform you that they don't have room? Been waiting 3 days for responses from 3 different people but absolutely nothing back from them

This is in regards to a stay in Burnaby, Canada. The homestay provides a broken bed: there is negligence of the basic necessities of an accomodation yet paid $1600 including the booking fees and cannot be refunded or switched. I cut short my 30+ day stay to 28+ day stay and the host still wonders why in the most terrible manner. She wasn't able to get that 4 day difference pay. Disproportionate responses which are mainly hostile assumptions, assigned malice and horrible language from host. Host continues to harass after stay. Homestay.com provides unbalanced support and while on the call, the Customer Service started off with a rude tone, spoke over me, repeat the same word many times and when I asked her why are you speaking to me this way when all I ask is why, she accused me of shouting.

As long as the funds are not held by a third party (hosting platform etc.) and that customer ends up paying the booking fee, you have to be extra wary. It may be a sign that CS may be disportionate in any handling. For those reviews stating that the guests are left vulnerable - trust them.

Edit: after providing this review, Homestay.com approach Trustpilot to ask for my personal information. Based on my review and experience with Homestay.com's communication, I prefer not to provide my personal information for safety concerns. I do not wish to be harassed.

As a host I recommend Homestay, and their host support is easy to contact and is responding timely, but there are two issues with their website and service:

1. Homestay does not allow to create a separate setting for more than 2 guests, thus "two or more guests" means that the same price has to be applied to 2 or more guests.

2. Homestay does not have an option to accept 100% payment for the host via bank transfer, which leaves hosts in unpleasant situations demanding cash upon arrival from guests, who in turn don't always part with their cash so easily or forget to pay.

Also I must add that Homestay does not bring as many guests as AirBNB does, so they must still work becoming more popular.

I signed up as a host on Homestay.com and quickly realized the platform is unsafe and ethically irresponsible.

Homestay.com prohibits hosts from asking prospective guests for references or reviews from other sites. This means you are expected to welcome complete strangers into your home—even if they have no photo, no profile details, and no history on the site. At the same time, Homestay.com explicitly disclaims any responsibility for safety, liability, or even insurance. In other words: they expect you to take all the risk, while they take none.

This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s dangerous. Hosts are left completely exposed, with no way to properly vet guests and no support if something goes wrong. The possibility of assault or serious harm is very real, and Homestay.com’s policies actively make that risk worse. When I raised concerns, their response was dismissive and combative. Rather than addressing the danger their system creates, they told me that if I wasn’t comfortable being unsafe, I should simply refuse guests or leave the platform. That is not an ethical response—it’s an abdication of responsibility.

I have discontinued my account and strongly urge others to think twice before trusting this company. If you are a host, know that you are being asked to put your safety, your home, and your family at risk with no safety net. If you are a guest, know that the platform does nothing to guarantee that the homes you stay in are safe or responsibly managed.

There are safer, vetted alternatives—like university or school-based homestay programs. Homestay.com does not care about safety, only about protecting itself from liability.

This platform is absolutely amazing! Unlike Airbnb, it’s not just about making money – it’s about real connections and cultural exchange. Here, you can truly interact with your guests and build meaningful relationships, which is something Airbnb doesn’t really offer.

Thanks to Homestay.com, I’ve met so many interesting guests from all over the world. My mother now has more conversations and feels less lonely, and we truly enjoy sharing our culture. It’s a wonderful way to connect with the world and welcome great guests. Highly recommended!

I make an host account but I don't want to start it right away so I keep it uncomplicated till I am ready to host, when I get ready I add photos for my first room, they send me to finish the second which was not ready , I deleted it and ask to start hosting, they stop from replay. I ask again .. no replay, then they deleted my both accounts the guest and the host , so I send to the guest where is my account.
I get replay from a girl telling me about ignoring her emails when my room was not ready and ask to review it and never replay.
It becomes personal and that is really dangerous

I was staying with this family in Ireland so I could start looking for accommodation. However, the family I stayed with were not 100% mentally okay. The woman (host) was eccentric and had problems with controlling her emotions (and letting other people talk) and frequent mood swings for no apparent reason. Even minor disagreements could set her off. After only staying there for a few days and even being offered a room by the host to stay in for my studies, she all of a sudden on a Satuday decided to kick me out, without any explanation. Apparently she felt disrespected by me, but refused to listen to anything I said. The husband threatened with violence if I didn't leave and seeing no other option, I had to leave the house. I even called the guards (as the husband threatend violence), but they couldn't help me as they locked themsleves into the living room refusing to speak with anyone (which is strange, like, why are you hiding from the police?). For the record, I only stayed there for a few nights (out of the month I should have stayed there). The host (owner) might have some mental problems and the husband clearly wasn't helping either.

After contacting homestay, they responded on Monday (in the weekend they don't respond apparently, even for something as urgent as getting kicked out) and first they didn't want to listen to my story and brushed off my email. Then I had to call them explain to them everything again and only then they took me serious. However, there is nothing they could have done for me anyway. Only good thing is they refunded me (part) of the money, but they are completely useless when it comes to helping you. The costs I had to spend staying in a hotel and booking a flight back after being thrown on the street all of sudden, also didn't seem to matter to them.

Also, and this is the weirdest part, I wasn't allowed to give a review on their site of my experience. They said they had constantly good reviews of her, but at the same time refused to let me write anything negative. Feels like they are protecting their own revenue stream, while ignoring someone's struggle. Therefore, I had to go on trustpilot instead.

I suggest you look to alternatives, such as hostingpower.ie, especially if you are staying longer, as they work with a fat flee. They got way better reviews (also on trustpilot) and seem to provide better service. Just know that if you are renting through homestay, don't expect any type of support during your stay.

Edit: Response to comment Homestay. I did ask if I could leave a review, I was told no on the phone. I even sent an email asking again, but I never got a reply.

Poor customer service. I tried to cancel a booking due to illness. Despite the website policy stating that a refund would be considered in case of exceptional circumstances, the customer agent I talked refused (and blatantly lied regarding the policy). They were also rude and refused to put me in touch with a manager.

So this review got taken down cause I shared my actual experience with a named agent - isn't that ironic!

Guest Have No Protection, DO NOT USE HOMESTAY!

I basically arrived to a house under construction.

The original advert doesn’t state this let alone that there would be cats in the house.

After going through the HS website there is no actual complaints procedure to support guests in any shape or form.

So I contacted “support” to which I got a response from “The agent ” Customer Experience Executive.

The response from this agent were unhelpful and problematic at best.
Which I will share with you for context so you know what to expect if you ever have to deal with them.

Email response 1
Thank you for taking the time to let us know about this issue. We appreciate our community members who let us know when things aren’t right. I’m sorry for any inconvenience this situation may have caused you.

Please confirm if you are still on the property and if you could take some photographs of its current state.

Although we are not a party to the agreement, we are always on hand to offer advice and support.

Looking forward to receiving your reply.

Sincerely,
The agent

After confirming my states and sending pictures this was her response.

Email response 2
We are sorry your homestay experience as booked through Homestay.com is not meeting with expectations. As you know, Homestay.com facilitates the online booking of hosts and guest accommodation, but unfortunately, we are not a party to the booking, nor are we privy to what happens at all between the guest and the host on the ground. The hosts themselves are responsible for all content uploaded to the website and are also responsible for ensuring they are entitled to host and provide adequate facilities.

In situations like this, we would recommend first having an amicable conversation with the host, to express your concerns about the cleanliness and any other issues you’ve encountered. Given that you are staying until the 20th of February, it might be helpful to request a deep cleaning of the room, which could address many of the concerns you’ve raised.
Alternatively, if you feel this won’t resolve the situation to your satisfaction, you could discuss with Juliet the possibility of receiving a refund for the nights not stayed.

We recommend that you try to resolve any differences first through a friendly conversation, Of course, if you wish, we can try to contact the host to mediate, but we would not like to make things worse for you.

Let us know please if you wish us to proceed.

Sincerely,
The agent
Customer Experience Executive

(Do you see how problematic this is)

I said to them this isn’t helpful and problematic - remember we don’t know these people and anything could happen to us.

Then they come back with response

Email response 3
Thank you for your feedback.

I'm sorry you feel that way. The host's profile, as you mention, lacks photographs, I agree with you, however, we have some features that both parties can use before confirming a booking to make a conscious decision.

We would always ask hosts and guests to ensure they engage as much as possible during the request booking process to ensure both parties are comfortable before proceeding with the booking.

You could have requested more photographs to be added to the profile and requested a short Video message to the host showing her place using a mobile phone.
All of this was at your disposal, but unfortunately, you did not request any of that or contact host support before confirming the booking.

Inserted - screen shot of there video button which clearly states introduce yourself- (so what is referenced in this email doesn’t apply as it’s not clear nor stated)

I'm sorry this booking is not going as planned. If you need anything further, simply respond to this mail and the ticket will open back up for us to help you.

All the best,

The agent
Customer Experience Executive

Since my last reply to that email.
I have had no further communication from HS and they have basically left me to it.

Wouldn’t recommend them, stay well clear.

In our Homestay communication, just after the host confirmed that I could come one day earlier, and a month and a half after I confirmed the booking, the host said this: "Yes, see you that date, but we can talk before to confirm details". Then I asked nine questions related to all the very details. The host said she could answer all my questions via Whatsup related to my quieries. But not on Homestay. Then we had a long Whatsup phone call communication, where she said she won't give me the house keys during my 6-month long stay, but each time when I leave the house and come in, I'll have to agree with somebody within her house via Whatsup that he/she opens me the house doors when I will be coming back to the house... (?!?!????) ... Hello?? We are talking about the house key, not about the room key. So, the host won't provide me even with the house key (and especially not with the room key)... This is the first time in my life that I hear about such "thing". This is not the only "detail" from the host. There were three more (one of them is that I won't have peace before midnight because the house TV will be open all the time). Such "details" were neither addressed anywhere in her Homestay advertisement nor was I warned about any such "detail" before when I was making a booking. Instead, I was simply invited by her in the beginning to make a booking. Also, I figured this out accidently, only because I asked if I could come one day earlier. Otherwise, I wouldn't find this out. And I found these details out a month and a half after making the booking. ... Then I asked Homestay.com admins what they think about this. Now this is the most relevant part, because this is how Homestay.com admins replied: (Quote) With regard to the house's key: please note that these are private residents and hosts are not obliged to provide a key to their guests, even if it would be advisable. We recommend that you discuss this point before completing the booking. (End of quote) ...??
Homestay admins cancelled that stay before contracting period, which is good, but I have to find the new accommodation using Homestay within one year otherwise my paid credit of 250 EUR will be lost. I kindly invite all the lawyers who are reading this that they carefully read all the necessary Irish (and or international) laws and assess the quoted ambiguity above here if possible. I asked "ASK AI" service and Ask AI said that the quoted claim of Homestay.com admins is false. In Irish consumer law, particularly the Consumer Rights Act 2015, there are several implied terms that apply to contracts for services. Providing access to the accommodation (which includes giving a key) can be considered an essential part of fulfilling the contract. If a host fails to provide a key, it could be argued that they are not fulfilling their obligation to provide access to the paid accommodation. But as Homestay admins read the laws differently I didn't get the refund of my already paid 250 EUR service. Can you please legally comment on this or recommend me what do I do further?

First, please notice, as the other reviewers here say, once you pay Homestay the "booking fee", it is NOT refundable and you have no protection or guarantee with a booking between you and the host.

Note that it is only the "deposit fee" (which some hosts require, but not all) that is returnable if you cancel before you arrive.

Also, some other websites like Air B&B monitor chats, but HomeStay does it to the extreme.

My experience:
I was in contact with a lovely host who took time and care to answer my questions. As a reasoned renter/lodger, it is important to me that the host and I have a clear understanding from the outset.

We agreed a few things and I summarised our agreed terms for clarity. In my chat message to the host, I included the words "Homestay T&Cs" - I was simply trying to clarify that there is no contract with Homestay, and all payment/cancellation arrangements are made between the me and the host. However, Homestay blocked me from messaging the host and I had to call Homestay to explain the above. Only then did they unblock me from messaging the host a day later.
I then noticed that the blocked message (that never actually violated anything) suddenly appeared in our chat. What's more surprising, is that someone from HomeStay (not an automatic bot) messaged into the same chat me and the host were corresponding on -which shows how restrictive Homestay are.

The host and I continued chatting and we confirmed payment terms. When I tried to pay to secure my booking (the booking fee to HomeStay), I couldn't pay. Homestay's website says they accept different cards but after entering my card details 4 times, it kept getting cancelled. I called my bank and my bank notified me in writing and over the phone that there's nothing wrong with my card.

I tried to message the host saying I appreciate his time but will not use Homestay going forward. Not surprisingly, HomeStay blocked my messages to the host again.

there is no legitimate guest. most of them are dummy accounts. Don't waste your money paying this web site homestaybay.com. If you had paid it already, please check the comment of the guests they are all the same like

"Hi, my name is ____ and I am from ____. I am looking homestay for a homestay on _________. Please send me a message of your homestay.

As a host I find Homestay a good and promising service. They accepted my listing on the next day. So far so good.

I had a really positive experience with my host. So much so that I've hosted myself and also enjoyed that hugely. I would say that Homestay is mostly just a broker, connecting hosts and guests. They do not provide accommodation themselves.

Our experience with this website was ABSOLUTE SHOCK HORROR. We booked a room for a month in Lewisham (10 mins away from Surrey Quays). As soon as we arrived, things went downhill fast. The host, who was abroad, was spamming us with calls non-stop, demanding immediate full payment and even yelled to us over the phone. She then texted to say that her son would come over to "MAKE SURE YOU ARE OUT OF MY HOUSE". We paid up as we were genuinely scared of what she could be capable of doing to us, only to find the room infested with massive BED BUGS. When we complained, the landlady suggested moving to another room, but it was just as bad – FILTHY AND SMELLING OF ROT. The room was filled with TRASH AND DIRT. We couldn't bear to stay another night and left the next day immediately. We reached out to Homestay describing the situation in detail with evidence attached of the horrific conditions of the house as well as the host's aggressive and disrespectful behaviour, but they were completely indifferent. They did not comment on what happened, their attempt at resolving the issue amounted to nothing more than a refund. This essentially means that this type of behaviour is not being stopped and more victims will follow. We deserve financial compensation for the DAMAGE the bed bugs have caused to our personal belongings and having no choice but to spend the night in a ROOM FULL OF GARBAGE. I am completely baffled about their reaction to all of this to say the least... HOMESTAY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR SAFETY AND DOES NOT DISCIPLINE THEIR HOSTS - STAY AWAY OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.

PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. I recently booked a stay with this company. the host was beyond rude. she invited friends my 2nd night and played movies so loud. I was unable to sleep after a busy day. It was 11 pm and they were still yelling. I checked out 2 days early because I could not believe, the host was so disrespectful. I called the Home stay phone number to find out it reverts you to the online site. So, there is NO one to speak to. I sent the complaint online, just to get that it's all my fault because I left early and did not tell anyone. The host lie that she made no noise and even called my phone and yelled at me as to why I was complaining. I was never given my refund for nights not stayed and Home Stay stopped communicating with me. DON'T BOOK ANY STAYS ON THIS SITE. You are not able to leave a review of the host also.

The website allows the host to write offensive reviews. In my case the host publicly judging my and my partner's standards of order and cleanliness when, fortunately, there are no absolute standards of cleanliness but each people and culture has its own and it is really offensive to express oneself like that, as if the host's standards were worth more than ours. In addition, but it is difficult to prove, the host's comment is clearly racially based, even though it does not appear explicitly in the review. The site considered it appropriate not to take a position. I strongly advise against using Homestay, other platforms are more transparent and less tolerant of discriminations!

Dear Homestay, first of all, you write “Maybe you should instead consider that when you rent a room in someone's house”. I can tell you with certainty that the one where I slept is not the house where the host lives, but simply a house rented out to tourists, just like any b&b. When you see the house, it is very clear that this is not and cannot be the host's main residence. When I travel and pay handsomely for a room, I do not do the cleaning at the end of the stay but there is someone who is paid to do it when I leave. Like anywhere else. Then you write “some types of behaviours are not liked by the owner”. Dear ladies and gentlemen, how do I know what types of behaviours are not liked by the owner?I need a crystal ball to know that! Do you provide one for guests? When renting to international guests, homeowners should be open, tolerant, flexible people who do not judge based on their standards but who know and respect the individual's cultural differences of guests without judging them wrong. Furthermore, I also disliked some of the landlady's behaviour e.g. her intrusiveness, inappropriateness and racism. There are two of us who disliked each other's behaviour but Homestay clearly protects the hosts regardless and it is very sad. Considering the number of negative reviews you get about your website, maybe you should change something!

the lady I stayed with in London was a complete mental case. she was so obsessed about the money, she didn't want to rent the place except to get a quick cash, and she would go into the room to do inspections when I'm not there and complains about packet of biscuits because it was open but In the box and if something was not where she wanted it to be. it was a traumatising experience to live with someone who constantly blows over nothing. and not respect you and think its ok to kick you out which she did, when I came back from my late shift over imaginary insults. I would much rather pay more on other services than living with people like this. she had the audacity to play really loud club music till 6AM and then when I complained in the review she would say she was honouring her late father!! oh yeah, that's how you honour your father by drinking, smoking, and playing loud bad quality music and dancing by yourself while annoying everyone within hearing range. I swear the walls vibrated, I had to put my big Bose headphones with noise cancellation and put loud white noise just so I wouldn't lose my mind. I told her to lower it 2 AM she replied gotta hear my music then threatened me later on WhatsApp "done ever speak to me like that again" completely unstable and the website doesn't care. she says I'm the worst out of 14 but then the website allowed her to write a new review and change it to 20. she told me about one tenant who led to a rodent infestation, one who damaged the wall so she had to repaint it, and one who left while they agreed he would pay for the next month, and I'm the worst because I wrote a bad review about her. completely unstable. she would stay in and annoy you with nonsense while you are at uni/work and you go back to inane complaints over nothing, and she would ramble on and on because you are polite and then goes on to flipping on. she's awful but I guess in her head she's nice, what a nutter.