Student Halls Problems: Codes of Practice and How to Complain

Universities that provide halls must belong to a government-approved code or be licensed by the local authority. There are three codes: the Universities UK Student Accommodation Code and the ANUK/Unipol code for halls run by education providers, and a third for privately owned and managed halls. Your university should tell you which code it follows. source

The codes set standards for good management, including repairs and maintenance, fire, gas and electrical safety, security, tenancy or licence management and complaints. source

Report the problem to your accommodation manager first. If that does not fix it, complain under your university's code; your students' union may help. Under the Universities UK code the final stage is the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA). Under the ANUK code you contact the National Code Administrator, with a final referral to the Chair of the Complaints Tribunal. source

Universities UK says individual students' accommodation complaints go through the institution's own informal and formal processes and then to the OIA. source