Many universities use external agencies to run and manage accommodation available to its students. UCS works with private landlords and companies to offer a variety of safe and affordable student accommodation. Only UCS Accredited Accommodation will be recommended to our students, non-accredited accommodation is not permitted to advertise on-campus. There may be other companies with no relation to UCS advertising in the area, please do not assume all student accreditation is to our standard. If in doubt, please check with the Accommodation Office to see if it is one of the properties we recommend.
UCS Accreditation Scheme
The UCS Accreditation Scheme has been devised by UCS and our partners; Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Fire and Rescue and Suffolk Constabulary. The purpose of the Accreditation Scheme is to ensure any accommodation recommended to students by the Accommodation Office meets the required standard of safety and is of a good state of repair. Potential managers and landlords must submit all information held about them on the police database as well as completing annual inspections on all gas boilers, fire alarms and fire equipment in the accommodation. The Accreditation Scheme also ensures the properties will not be overcrowded and provide communal areas, to prevent student loneliness and depression. The Accommodation Office is on hand to offer advice to students and landlords under the Accreditation Scheme and to mediate if any issues arise during the tenancy.
Once a landlord has had his property surveyed to ensure it meets the required criteria, he may then sign the property up to the scheme. Accreditation is awarded to the property, not the landlord, as he may have other accommodation that has not be surveyed. Accredited Accommodation can be found off-campus, within walking distance to the campus and is managed by the landlord or their appointed agent/manager.
To view the full Accreditation Scheme Code of Practice please click the link below: