General property standards

Structurally sound and stable unit with clear exterior guttering and drainage
doors and windows in good condition, clean and well decorated
all windows on the ground and basement floors must be secure and keys provided where locks have been fitted. Restrictors on floors above ground level
room sizes adequate (e.g. student study bedroom min 10 x 7 ft)
dustbin (or local authority provided bin) and recycling bins supplied by the local authority
secure – 3x sets of keys per flat + main front door key
thumb release locks must be fitted to bedroom doors
all exit routes within the property (such as hallways and stairs) are free from obstruction and well maintained
adequate ventilation and low energy lighting for night time and enough natural light for daylight hours
fixed heating (ideally gas central heating or economic fixed electric heating)
suitable, safe kitchen (meets HHSRS standards) for the number of occupants/students i.e. one cupboard for each student and adequate food preparation areas
stair safety appropriate to building
appropriate floor coverings, including carpets on all floors in flats above ground-floor level (bathroom and kitchen excluded)
carpets must be cleaned annually
outside areas to be safe and properly fenced with programmed garden maintenance
integrated letter box or exterior box
working broadband internet service to students to enable immediate access to the internet.

The property could be either furnished or unfurnished.

A standard contents list would be:

Free-standing or built-in cooker with separate four-ring hob, clearly visible operating controls and working auto ignition
refrigerator – suitable for the size of the home (one shelf per student)
freezer (one shelf per student, minimum size 4.5 cubic feet)
plumbed-in washing machine
one cupboard for each student and adequate food preparation areas
chopping board (replaced annually)
rubbish bin of adequate size and a recycling box
fire blanket (checked annually by the owner and replaced if used)
vinyl floor, or a similar washable surface, not Flotex or similar coverings.

There must be enough amenities for the number of students in the property.

Amenities required for a property to meet our required standards (Y=meets the standard)

No of persons sharing	one bathroom with WC	one bathroom with WC + separate WC	two bathrooms with WCs	two bathrooms with WCs + separate WC or third bathroom with WC	three bathrooms with WCs
3 to 5	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
6 to 8	-	-	Y	Y	Y
9 to 10	-	-	-	Y	Y
11+	-	-	-	-	Y

Enough comfortable and contemporary seating to enable students to sit together
table and chairs (if not in kitchen)
working television aerial capable of receiving a digital signal
adequate low-energy lighting for night time and enough natural light for daylight hours.
All broadband routers, central heating and hot water controls, fuse boxes, meters and emergency cut off valves must all be located in a communal space and not within a study bedroom to ensure access by all the tenants in the property.

Adequate, safe fixed heating
working phone point allowing internet access or a wireless router
ironing board (with cover – replaced annually)
vacuum cleaner and tools in good working order, serviced annually and suitable for the size of property and regular use
broom, dustpan and brush
mop and bucket (mop head replaced annually)
dustbin (or local authority provided bin) and recycling bins supplied by the local authority
doormats
lockable outbuilding for student use or space for cycle storage (where possible)
a clothes airer or other means of drying washing