1. Introduction and definitions

1.1 YHA is a membership organisation and charity registered with the Charity Commission. All Members are considered to be supporters of YHA and its charitable mission.

1.2 When you apply to join YHA as a member and we accept your application, you are entering into a Contract. These are the terms and conditions that apply to the Contract (as defined below).

1.3 Please read these terms carefully before you apply to join YHA as a Member. These terms tell you who we are, how we will provide the Membership to you, how you and we may change or end the Contract, what to do if there is a problem and other important information. If you think that there is a mistake in these terms, please contact us to discuss.

1.4 The following definitions apply to these terms:

“Application” means your application to become a Member and purchase the Membership from us.

"Booking" means a booking to stay at a Hostel or any other facility and includes accommodation, meal purchases and any additional product or service (including those provided by a third party) purchased from us or a YHA Partner in accordance with our standard booking terms found at yha.org.uk/our-policies/booking-terms.

"Contract" has the meaning provided to it in clause 2.2.

"Hostel" means a youth hostel run by us or an independent owner affiliated to us (including YHA Partner Hostels as applicable).

“Member” means a person who holds Membership with us.

“Member Discount” means the percentage discount available to you when making a Booking, as varied from time to time by us.

“Membership” means the services offered by us, and your support of our charitable mission, when you are in a Contract with us.

“Membership Benefits” means the range of benefits offered to a Member who holds a Membership, as published on yha.org.uk/membership/member-benefits.

“Partner” means organisations that work with YHA to provide benefits to YHA Members.

"We, us, our, YHA" means YHA (England and Wales), registered charity and company limited by guarantee trading as YHA whose registered office is at Trevelyan House, Dimple Road, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3YH (registered company number 00282555, registered charity number 306122).

“You, your” means the person referred to in the Application, who applies for Membership.

“YHA Partner” means an individual, partnership,  company  or other entity that is: (i) separate from YHA and (ii) operates autonomously and independently from YHA. References to “Partner” in this context are from a general commercial sense and not in the sense of a partner under the Partnership Act 1890 or other partner in law. Clause 2A.2(a) of our Standard Terms states where the details of the YHA Partner can be found for the applicable Booking.

“YHA Partner Hostel” means a hostel owned or leased by the applicable YHA Partner on the one hand and managed or operated by the applicable YHA Partner. Clause 2A.2(b) of our Standard Terms states where the details of the YHA Partner Hostel can be found for the applicable Booking.

2. Basis of Contract

2.1 To apply for Membership, you must either:

• complete the application form available on our website
• add a membership as part of our online Booking process
• call us on 01629 592700

2.2 If you apply online, we will email you to confirm receipt of your application; a Contract will come into place between you and us on the date and time that we email our confirmation to you. If you apply over the phone, we will immediately confirm your application is accepted whilst you are on the phone, and a Contract will come into place between you and us at the time we provide you with verbal acceptance. 

2.3 Please note, you will not hold Membership with us and accordingly will not be entitled to any Membership Benefits, until such time as we confirm our acceptance of your Application in accordance with clause 2.2 above. Your Membership is valid, and you will be able to take advantage of the Member Benefits, from the date that the Contract between you and us comes into existence.

3. Membership

3.1 Once we have confirmed acceptance of your Application in accordance with the terms of clause 2.2 above, we will, within 7-10 days, issue you with a membership card.

3.2 The Membership Discount is only available for Members when they make their Booking directly with us. If you attempt to make a Booking through a third-party agent or using a third-party website, you will not benefit from the Membership Discount on that Booking.

3.3 To make a Booking using your Member Discount you must be a Member at the time of placing your Booking. If you place a Booking using a Member Discount and you are not a Member, you will be required to pay the published overnight rate as at the time of your Booking.

3.4 Membership is intended for individuals residing within the United Kingdom. If you live outside of the United Kingdom, you may wish to purchase the Hostelling International membership, which is recognised in over 3,700 hostels worldwide, or (where possible) buy membership in your home country before you travel.

4. Discount

4.1 As a Member, you are entitled to a discount of 10% off the cost of accommodation and any pre-booked meals that you add at the time of placing your Booking.

4.2 If you book a whole hostel on an exclusive hire basis our exclusive hire terms found at yha.org.uk/our-policies/exclusive-hire-terms-conditions will apply to that Booking and you are entitled to a discount of 10% off the cost of that exclusive hire booking.

4.3 The Member Discount cannot be applied in conjunction with any other promotional offer, but it can be applied in conjunction with the young person’s discount referred to in clause 4.5 below.

4.4 The Member Discount is subject to review and amendment by us from time to time. Where we propose to amend the Member Discount and the discount rates offered, we will make reasonable attempts to notify you of the amendment. It is your obligation to check what the Member Discount is before placing a Booking with us. We publish the current Member Discount at yha.org.uk/membership/member-benefits.

4.5 If you include anyone under the age of 26 in your party as part of a Booking, you will be entitled to an additional 5% discount on the Booking.

4.6 Any discounts added to pre-booked meals apply only to breakfasts, packed lunches and the supper club menus where available.

4.7 The Member Discount applies to the whole Booking if the Booking is made in your name, and the Booking is for less than 16 people.

5. Partner Benefits

5.1 The Member Benefits that are provided by our Partners can be changed or withdrawn at any time without prior notice.

6. Membership Price

6.1 The price of the Membership is published on yha.org.uk/membership. Annual Memberships are for the calendar year, calculated from the commencement date of the Contract and ending 12 calendar months thereafter.

6.2 If you choose to pay via direct debit, the payment for the Membership will be deducted from your bank account on the date that we tell you when confirming your Membership.

6.3 We reserve the right to review and amend membership pricing and will make reasonable attempts to notify you of any changes prior to renewal.

7. Cancellation and renewal

7.1 Provided that you have not used any of the Membership Benefits, you may cancel your Membership by contacting us within 14 days from the date on which your Membership commenced. After this date, your Membership shall continue for the remaining 12-month period.

7.2 If you paid for your Membership by direct debit, your Membership will automatically renew annually. We will send a renewal notice to you, informing you that a fee is due for the renewal and advise you of the date on which we will deduct that fee from your bank account. If you do not want your Membership to renew, you must notify us of this by following the process set out in the renewal notice.

7.3 If you paid an upfront fee (e.g. by way of cheque or card) for your Membership, your Membership will not automatically renew after the initial 12-month period. Prior to the Membership term expiring, we will provide you with details on how to renew and what the fee is for doing so. If you wish to renew your Membership, you must follow the process set out in the renewal notice.

7.4 We reserve the right to cancel a Membership where the behaviour of a Member is deemed not to meet the standards expected of Members or guests of YHA.

8. Voting rights

8.1 All Members have the right to vote online on motions (except motions brought under urgency), the election of trustees, and the election of the Chair and Association Members of the Nominations Panel.

8.2 Under company law, voting on resolutions at a general meeting of YHA is restricted to Company Members, either in person or by proxy vote. Therefore, Members do need to become Company Members in order to vote on resolutions.

8.3 We communicate with Members about voting by email, so please ensure you are signed up for to receive our emails. You can check this, as well as sign up for Company Membership, in your online account under “My profile”.

8.4 We may use a trusted third-party specialist partner to undertake our voting communications and processing.

9. Supporter communications

9.1 As part of your Contract we will take reasonable measures to communicate with you by email or post relating to:

• Changes to YHA Membership terms and conditions
• Membership renewal notices and payment information
• YHA Governance, including general meetings and voting

9.2 If you give us permission to send you information by email or post, we may also send you additional information on YHA's latest news, special offers, campaigns and appeals, including the great work we do as a charity for young people.

9.3 We may use a trusted third-party specialist partner to undertake our communications with you.

10. General

10.1 We may transfer our rights and obligations under the Contract to another organisation. You are not entitled to do this, unless you obtain our prior written consent.

10.2 The Contract is between you and us. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms.

10.3 The Contract is governed by English law and you can bring legal proceedings in respect of the Contract in the English courts.