Introduction
This Code applies specifically to accommodation that is occupied solely or principally for persons for the purpose of undertaking a full time course of further or higher education at the institution providing the accommodation.
This Code establishes a set of management standards for all residential developments managed and controlled by educational establishments (with the exception of head leased properties) and specifies appropriate controls to ensure that the particular needs of students are delivered effectively and fairly.
This National Code offers educational establishments and students a framework to agree a transparent and useful set of undertakings about how they wish to provide an accommodation service that acts in the best interests of students.
The Universities UK/GuildHE Code of Practice for the management of Student Housing also sets out to offer similar arrangements and higher educational establishments are encouraged to review both Codes and adopt the Code which provides most value.
A third related Code also exists, specifying the requirements for the provision of student housing by non-educational establishment providers https://www.nationalcode.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=4fd2035c-1bed-4838-be1b-a2f7fc7c2796.
The criteria in this ANUK Code have been chosen to reflect a balance of common sense obligations and responsibilities between the managers of student accommodation and occupants and set benchmark management standards which are achievable and realistic. None of the above Codes prejudice any legal rights.
Principles Behind The Code
This Code does not seek to be overly prescriptive in setting requirements for the management of student accommodation but rather to specify the key areas within the provider - occupant relationship which require positive and effective management.
This Code requires each participating establishment to define, document and make readily available:
The standards it sets out to meet against each aspect of this Code’s requirements;
How the achievement of these standards will be measured, or otherwise monitored;
Appropriate records to objectively demonstrate that these standards meet the requirements of occupants and other key stakeholders as well as complying with relevant legislation.
This approach is designed to enable all further and higher education establishments, irrespective of the nature of their portfolio, to adopt this Code as a framework to further improve their service.
Benefits of Membership
Managers and occupants will jointly benefit from the implementation of good standards of housing management and practice.
Misunderstandings and disputes will be reduced.
Where problems do occur they can be resolved promptly and efficiently.
In all cases an educational establishment’s commitment to comply with this Code will be made explicit on letting and marketing materials, and other occupant information, and the Code will be actively and positively promoted amongst students.
This Code is fully supported by the National Union of Students (NUS), Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), The Accreditation Network UK (ANUK), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Officers (CIEH), College and University Business Officers (CUBO), The Association for Student Residential Accommodation (ASRA), Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education (AMOSSHE), and UniversitiesUK. The secretariat of this Code is based at Unipol Student Homes.
Adoption of this Code by an educational establishment is entirely voluntary and the National Codes’ Committee of Management ensures that verification and compliance tests are carried out at an appropriate frequency to determine an establishment’s compliance with the requirements of this Code.
Occupants may also complain directly to the Code’s secretariat where they feel a breach of this Code’s requirements has occurred and be assured that their complaint will be dealt with professionally and objectively.
Determination of Whether a Residential Development is Managed and Controlled by an Educational Establishment
Many student accommodation residential developments are undertaken in partnership between a provider of services and an educational establishment and this Code only applies to those properties that come clearly under the management and control of the educational establishment.
In order to determine whether a building is managed and controlled by an educational establishment, a framework of questions has been developed.
The scoring system and guidelines for answering the questions is included in appendix I to this Code.
Legislative Implications
By agreeing to abide by this Code, educational establishments may be exempt from the licensing requirements of the Housing Act 2004 (“the Act”) (except Part 1) which apply to houses in multiple occupation (“HMOs”). Establishments may be excepted from the licensing requirements by regulations made under paragraph 4 of Schedule 14 to the Act.
More details of the legislative implications of compliance with the Code are included in appendix II to this Code.
This Code assumes an educational establishment’s compliance with all statutory requirements as contained within housing, building, planning, equality and diversity, data protection and other relevant legislation, as well as adoption of good practice principles.
Terms and Definitions
Many terms used within this Code may be open to interpretation and appendix III clarifies the intended meaning of these within the context of this Code to ensure consistent adoption of this Code’s underlying principles.
The secretariat for the ANUK National Code of Standards and the Committee of Management is based at Unipol Student Homes, 155-157 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 3ED and the National Code Administrator can be contacted there.
Telephone 0113 243 0169
Fax 0113 234 3549
www.nationalcodes.org or www.anuk.org.uk
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