FAO: Newsdesk/Education correspondents

Embargoed till Tuesday

 

 

Shoddy student halls tidied up by new code of practice.

 

NUS support new scheme to improve management standard in university accommodation

 

Students living in university accommodation are set to benefit from a new National Code of Standards, which will cover the whole sector.

 

The Code, a collaborative effort pushed forward by NUS, ANUK and Unipol, is a voluntary accreditation scheme that is applicable to all larger student developments provided by both the private sector and University providers.

 

It lays down strict management standards for student halls and has a fully accountable complaints procedure, which involves representatives such as NUS and Unipol, as well as the providers themselves. Through this NUS hopes that students will be treated fairly and that problems which occur are dealt with promptly and effectively. The code includes clear guidelines on marketing prior to letting, repairs and maintenance, complaints procedures and late deliveries of buildings.

 

Whilst take up of the code is voluntary, the scheme has already received support from many of the private sector suppliers who house students including the ‘big four’ of Opal Ltd, PrimeLiving Group Plc, Unite Plc and University Partnerships Programme (UPP, formerly known as Jarvis). The largest University provider, the University of Leeds, has also agreed to join. Together this means that over 70,000 students will be covered by the Code.

 

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), Universities UK and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) are among the other organisations represented on the committee which will oversee the code.

 

Vice President Welfare Helen Symons said: “For too long, there has been varying levels of treatment of students by accommodation providers, from University to University and even from hall to hall on some campuses. NUS hopes that this code of standard will tidy up the way that student accommodation is run and that student complaints of shoddy treatment at the hands of the accommodation managers will be a thing of the past.”

 

She added: “It is pleasing that suppliers across the board have signed up to this as we believe that like the tenants, the managers will enjoy the benefits of good standards of housing management and practice. We hope that Universities will follow the example set by private companies and sign up to the Code to ensure consistent standards for students in all halls, no matter who owns them.”

 

Chair of the Accreditation Network, Mr Neil Marsden said "Good management practices are vital in large student developments and this Code ensures that benchmark standards are set and will be adhered to."

 

Martin Blakey, Chief Executive of Unipol Student Homes, a national student housing charity which will be administering the scheme (www.unipol.leeds.ac.uk) said "I am delighted that many large providers of student accommodation, including both the public and private sector, have come together to commit themselves to a set of accountable standards. This can only be good news for students and reflects the professionalism and commitment to higher standards from those who had, and will, join".

 

The Code is launched as parliament continue to debate the Housing Bill, which at the present time offers insufficient legislative protection to students in multiple occupancy housing, which includes halls. NUS is lobbying for the Code to apply to all student halls of residence in a bid to drive up standards across the sector.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

·        For more information, or to speak to Helen Symons, please contact Liz Hutchinson, NUS Press Officer on 0207 561 6504 or liz.hutchinson@nus.org.uk

·        Case studies of students who have had bad experiences of university accommodation are available, please contact Liz Hutchinson.

·        For more details on the clauses of the code and/or to receive a free copy of the Code, please contact agnes.gautier@nus.org.uk or download one from www.unipol.leeds.ac.uk

 

·        The code will be launched on Tuesday 2^nd November at 11.30am-1.30pm at UUK, Woburn House, 20 Tavistock Square Please let Liz Hutchinson know if you wish to attend.

·        Unipol is a student housing charity based in Leeds (Registered Charity Number 1063492). 0113 205 3402 or 07787 198004

·         ANUK stands for Accreditation Network UK (ANUK.org.uk)  It is the national body for all accreditation schemes.