Governance & Accountability

The ANUK/Unipol National Codes are governed, and held accountable, through a number of different bodies, each of which fulfils a distinct function (for further operational details of each of the bodies listed below, see the Who Runs the Codes page).

The Consortium

This is the primary Governance body for the National Codes, as it has joint ownership of them, and consists of the three partner organisations who developed the Codes: ANUK, the National Union of Students, and Unipol Student Homes.

Only the Consortium has the power to make changes to the Codes, their governance structure and/or operation, which can only occur with the consent of all Consortium members. Any dissent means no change would be made. These arrangements also apply to any changes to duties, responsibilities and membership of the Consortium itself.

Currently, this body meets three times a year.

The Audit Panel

This body is responsible for the operation of the self-assessment and verification system and it consists of:

• An independent Chair, who oversees proceedings

• Two Deputy Chairs

• A representative of the Cambridge Colleges

• A student representative (either from NUS or the Student Advisory Group)

• A representative of Unipol

All of the above are appointed by the Consortium.

The Deputy Chairs can be appointed as additional Audit Panel members or from the existing Consortium appointed members.

The Audit Panel has operational responsibility for deciding on:

• the operation of the self-assessment and verification system as determined by the Consortium, which will be reported to them annually

• the evaluation of returns made within the self-assessment process: both the Organisational Self-Assessment Questionnaire (OSAQ) and any Site Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SSAQ)

• whether to process an application into Code membership (within the framework set by the CoM)

• evaluating reports made to them by the NCA

• the organisation of verification visits, their timetable, reporting and follow-up

• undertaking arrangements for improvement actions according to procedures laid down by the Consortium

• taking appropriate action for those organisations failing to address any issue raised by the Panel within a required timescale

• considering recommendations from the Codes Complaints Investigator in respect of suspensions related to non-compliance within the complaints procedures

• suspension of a building or buildings or member from a Code pending further consideration by the Tribunal (see guidance on suspensions or exclusions from the Codes, here)

• the revocation of suspensions made

• whether to refer a member to a Tribunal hearing for non-compliance together with any recommendation for warnings, suspensions or expulsion from the Codes.

The Audit Panel shall:

• receive a report at each meeting from the NCA on the outcomes from the self-assessment and verification processes

• ensure that verification takes place within 30 days of the NCA’s receipt of both of the completed self-assessment questionnaires

• ensure that each member of a Code will be subject to a verification visit once every three years, or more frequently, if decided

• ensure that a verification report is completed and kept on file for six years for each verification visit undertaken and that the report shall be in the format laid down by the Consortium

• issue minutes recording each meeting and present a report of each meeting to the next appropriate Committee of Management

• issue an annual report of its activity to the Consortium

The Audit Panel shall be provided, by the NCA, with a summary of all complaints made under the Codes for their consideration.

Any significant dispute arising from the self-assessment and verification process, which cannot be resolved through discussion, will be referred to the Tribunal for resolution.

The Audit Panel meets at least five times a year.

The Committee of Management (CoM)

The Committee of Management (CoM) is the operational body for the Codes and has overall operational responsibility for their functioning and, as such, it is the largest of the Governance bodies. Its membership consists of:

·        representatives of members of both Codes who are operating 2,000 or more bed spaces

·        representatives of other members of the Codes operating less than 2,000 bed spaces

·        nominees from sector-wide stakeholder organisations, professional bodies and Government departments

·        nominees from the three founding organisations (ANUK, NUS and Unipol)

Its role is to:

• appoint a Chair and Deputy Chair of the CoM who shall serve a term of three years and who can be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the CoM

• appoint the Tribunal membership, excluding the Chair and two Vice Chairs, which shall serve for three years, and which can be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the CoM

• review the Codes from time to time and make recommendations to the Consortium on changes to them

• approve the operational framework within which the Codes work, deciding on how membership is to take effect and how to publicise the Codes to both owners and tenants

• commission and approve an Annual Report to be presented to the Government (currently the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) on the operation and development of the Codes

• receive an annual report on the financial viability of the Codes

• establish any special task groups to address and consider any issues or concerns it has in managing and developing the Codes.

The Committee of Management meets three times a year.

The Student Advisory Group (SAG)

The Student Advisory Group is an advisory body for the Codes and provides feedback and guidance on student accommodation and Code matters from student representatives Nationally.

Members are required to be either current students or sabbatical officers within a students’ union/association.

This body meets no less than twice a year.

The Complaints Tribunal

Known generally as The Tribunal, this is the body which deals with any alleged breach of the Code which doesn’t get resolved through direct contact with the Accommodation Provider, or through the formal involvement of the Complaints Investigator.

The decision of the Tribunal will be regarded as final and possible outcomes could include issuing a warning letter, suspending a building or buildings for a specified period of time or even expelling the member from the National Codes. 

Usually, referrals to the Tribunal are sent initially to the independent Chair, who may either determine the outcome themselves OR ask for the assistance of the Vice-Chairs and the Consortium and owner representatives. Where the Chair believes the matters relating to the complaint constitute a serious breach, then they can convene a meeting of a Full Tribunal.

The Tribunal comprises:

• the Chair

• two Vice-Chairs – one with experience of operating PBSA and one who is a current student or sabbatical officer

• a representative from each of the three members of the Consortium

• three representatives from the owner community (selected by the CoM)

However, should a Full Tribunal need to be convened, then it would also include the following:

• one person nominated by the relevant local authority's environmental health department (where the complaint originated from)

• one person nominated by the relevant local students' union (where the complaint originated from)

• one person nominated by the relevant education institution (where the complaint originated from excepting that the complaint is not about that body).

The Tribunal members meet at least once a year, but more frequently if required to do so.