Purpose
This Code establishes a set of specific standards for larger student developments throughout the UK.
Larger developments have specific management requirements. This Code reflects their specialist status as an important part of the student accommodation supply.
The purpose of the National Code is to:
a) establish a framework of voluntary standards to support how member owners, managers and their occupants can do business with one another effectively and fairly; and
b) act in the best interests of students.
Scope
This Code applies specifically to accommodation providers other than educational establishments. Where accommodation is provided in partnership with an educational establishment, the matter of whether the accommodation is managed and controlled by the educational establishment is determined by the results of a points-based questionnaire exercise – see Annex 1.
Code membership is open to those managing and controlling larger developments for student accommodation. This will be the case where a landlord of residential property or any person discharges management functions in respect of such property. For the purpose of this Code, managing functions includes functions with respect to the provision of services or the repair, maintenance, improvement or insurance of such property.
A Member must ensure they have the ability to fulfil all the obligations contained in this Code. Only one Code Member can manage and control a given building, including any responsibilities within the building.
Benefits of membership
Compliance with the Code will ensure that:
both Members and occupants enjoy the benefit of good standards of housing management and practice;
misunderstandings and disputes are reduced; and
where problems do occur, they are promptly resolved.
The business and service reputation of Members who stay compliant will be enhanced. By contrast, suppliers that either choose not to operate within the Code or fail to honour their agreement to work within it face reputational detriment.
Support for the Code
This Code enjoys the support of:
the National Union of Students (NUS)
the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
the Accreditation Network UK (ANUK)
the Association for Student Residential Accommodation (ASRA)
the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
the College and University Business Officers (CUBO); and
UniversitiesUK (UUK)
The commitment
For accommodation providers, joining the Code and agreeing to comply with its standards are voluntary. By becoming a member you will:
Be making a commitment to comply with the Code’s standards. Your commitment to comply with the Code will be made explicit on all your property advertisements and occupant information. A failure to meet this commitment will constitute a breach of faith.
Actively and positively promote the Code among students searching for housing.
Enable occupants to make complaints where they feel a breach has occurred.
Work with the National Codes Audit Panel to undertake checks of your buildings to ensure they are compliant with the Code
Information showing failure(s) to comply with the Code will be placed in the public domain for three years even if the Member leaves, or is removed from, the Code.
The legislative framework
This Code was approved by the Secretary of State under the Housing Act 2004.
Members of this Code are required to be compliant with relevant legislative and regulatory requirements, in particular: housing, building, planning, disability discrimination, equal opportunities and data protection. Sometimes legislation for England is referenced in the Code.
Where future legislation/regulation made apply to the operators of larger student developments, this Code will be updated accordingly.
The legislation which specifies members of this Code are able to grant common law tenancies, in pursuant to paragraph 8 of schedule 1 of the Housing Act 1988, applies only in England.
Terminology, definitions and information sharing
Some of the terms used in this document may be open to interpretation in common usage but require more precise definition for the purposes of the Code and its application. Appendix 4 clarifies the intended meaning of these terms in the context of this Code in order to ensure consistent adoption of its underlying principles.
The Codes may share information about Members and properties within their management or control with various agencies for legitimate purposes including effective administration of the Code(s) and enforcement of the Code and other housing standards. If information provided to third parties by the Code is statistical and does not identify a specific Member or property, the Code will not notify Members that their data has been used in this way. If information identifies a specific Member or property, the Code will inform the Member that information sharing has taken place. Further information on data protection is available here: www.nationalcode.org/privacy-statement
The Code’s secretariat
The secretariat for the ANUK/Unipol National Code of Standards 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 | [email protected]
nationalcode.org or www.anuk.org.uk Unipol Student Homes is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity No 1063492. Registered in England and Wales No. 03401440. VAT Registration No 6988454