We appreciate it's expensive to hire help locally. We are committed to making our vetted home-sharing agreement affordable for everyone.

We expect Companions to stay either 6, 12, or 18 months with their host. Companions provide 10 hours of active companionship per week, as well as spending at minimum of 4 nights sleeping in the Host home.

Both pay a Weekly Subsidy

We ask both Hosts and Companions to pay a weekly subsidy to Friends at Home. In this fee we include the training of the Companion for 12 hours for free, an insurance top up for free* for both parties, and ongoing regular check-ins and support.

We'll also gently step in if things go off track or, you both need help to end the agreement.

Host pays the vetting fee

If you are a Host, our point of difference is the matching and vetting process we undertake on your behalf. We don't cut any corners and you will be welcoming a Companion that is vetted through our unique vetting and matching process.

Companion Accommodation Bond (refundable)

We require Companions to provide an accommodation bond - paybe at the time of the agreement. It's refundable when the accommodation is left as found at the end of the agreement. We hold this bond on your behalf. This is $1000 AUD or equivelent.

Current Fees as at 1 Jan 2026

(UK Pounds)

Advance Weekly Subsidy (Host & Companion each pays Friend at Home ) 25

Companion pays : Accommodation Bond (refundable) 600*

Host pays: Vetting Fee 600

How does this stack up for the Host from a financial perspective?

6 months is 26 weeks of companionship, at 10 hours = 260 hours of companionship + 26 x 4 = 104 nights of company (as a minimum). Assuming 12 hours overnight = 1246.

This totals at the very least 1,508 hours of companionship.

The cost of this is the £600 vetting fee + £25 per week agency fee.

This totals 26 weeks of agency fee is £650 + £600 = £1,250.

Hourly over 6 months this equates to just 83p per hour, for the safety and security knowing you have a friend at home with support and regular check-ins.

How Does this stack up for the Companion from a financial perspective?

Recent research indicates weekly room rent including bills in a reasonable surburb in London is 235 pounds per week. 16 weeks x 235 = 3,760 pounds.

Saving this money over a year could wipe out a student debt, provide money for advanced study, fund world travel or go towards a deposit on a property back home. All just simply for being a Freind at Home.

Converted into savings in 12 months it's approximately 15,000 pounds, or approximately AUD 30,437 / NZD 35,080*

16 weeks at 25 pounds per week is just 400 pounds, or an equivalent of 1600 pounds per year.

*Midmarket rates as at 25 Nov 2025.