The Codes establishes a set of specific standards with particular relevance to larger developments tenanted by students. The definition of "larger development" is a development where in excess of 15 students live in one building in rooms off a central corridor, in cluster flats, or in self contained flats.

Larger developments have particular needs and procedures relating to their ongoing management and these Codes reflect their specialist status as an important part of the student accommodation supply.

The purpose of the National Codes is to enable property owners, managers and tenants to agree a set of undertakings about how they wish to do business with one another.

The criteria in the Codes have been chosen to reflect a balance of common sense obligations and responsibilities between the managers of larger student accommodation buildings and tenants and set benchmark standards which are achievable by managers without significant expenditure of time and money and without prejudice to their respective legal rights. Compliance with the Codes will ensure that:

• Both managers and tenants enjoy the benefit of good standards of housing management and practice.
• Misunderstandings and disputes are reduced.
• Where problems do occur they are promptly resolved.

In all cases the fact that a supplier has agreed to comply with the Codes will be made explicit on property advertisements and tenant information and the Codes will be actively and positively promoted amongst students searching for housing.

The Codes enjoy the support of the National Union of Students (NUS), The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), TThe Welsh Assembly, The Accreditation Network UK (ANUK), The Association for Student Residential Accommodation (ASRA), Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Officers (CIEH), Conference of University Business Officers (CUBO), UniversitiesUK,  and its secretariat is based at Unipol Student Homes. The business and service reputation of those that maintain compliance will be enhanced in contrast to those that either, choose not to operate within the Codes or, fail to honour their agreement to work within it.

Adoption of either of the Codes by an accommodation provider is voluntary. Making a commitment to abide by the Codes is a serious matter and a failure to meet such a commitment is a breach of faith. The National Code Committee of Management undertakes a number of compliance tests for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the Codes and tenants can complain where they feel a breach has occurred. Information showing that owners are not complying with the Codes is in the public domain and will remain accessible for three years, even if the owners leaves, or is removed, from the appropriate Code.

Find out about the committee of management here.