Getting Started in Student Housing Management
A two day residential course designed for new and recently appointed staff who are managing the whole range of student residential accommodation. Designed to provide an overview of what housing management is about and concentrates on "hands on" management routines and techniques vital to running successful student accommodation.
Day One: Wednesday 1st April 2009
9.30am–10.00am
Registration and Coffee
10.00am–10.15am
Introduction to the course and Delegates’ introductions
Theme: Overview and Recent Legal Requirements
Led by Martin Blakey, Chief Executive, Unipol
10.15am–11.30am
What’s It All About? Demand and supply, where students live and what students want, what is special about students and their parents.
Martin Blakey, Chief Executive, Unipol
(includes time for discussion and interaction)
11.30am–11.45am
Break (tea and coffee available)
11.45am–12.15pm
Managing Institutional Accommodation: Keeping up to Speed with the Building. What is a Repair, When will it be done? Prioritising repairs, Monitoring Completion and Keeping Tenants Informed.
Rachel Campey, Housing Manager, Unipol Student Homes (includes group work)
12.15pm – 12.45pm
Recent Legislation: The Housing Act 2004, HHSRS, Deposit Protection, Licensing and the Approved Codes.
Martin Blakey, Chief Executive Unipol Student Homes
12.45pm – 1.15pm
Questions and discussion
1.15pm – 2.00pm
Lunch (provided)
Theme: Managing and Inspecting Student Housing
Led By Geneve Smith, Housing Services Manager, Unipol
2.05pm – 2.50pm
Managing Institutional Accommodation: Keeping up to Speed with the Occupants. Inspections and their use, the Importance of Routine, Information and its Delivery.
(includes time for questions)
2.50pm – 4.45pm
Hands on Management: A visit to Two Occupied Students Flats (one in a complex, the other a smaller house) to Undertake a Regular Inspection and Identify any Management Issues (health and safety, tenant use and disrepair).
Delegates will work in small groups to identify different issues and approaches to a number of problems.
4.45pm – 5.00pm
Break (tea and coffee available)
5.00pm – 5.45pm
Group Work and Preparation of the Report Back
(tea and coffee available)
5.45pm - 6.30pm
Report Back from Groups and Identification of Correct Outcomes
6.45pm
Check into hotel
7.30pm
Dinner (provided for residential delegates)
Day Two: Wednesday 2nd April 2009
8.30am – 9.15am
Breakfast (provided for residential delegates)
9.40am – 9.50am
Introduction to Day Two and any Second Day Delegates
Theme: Students as Tenants
Led by Sarah McDonald, Tenancy Support Officer, Unipol
9.50am – 10.50am
Dealing with Problems: I want to leave. How to Deal with Negative Reactions to Housing Provision.
(includes group work)
10.50am - 11.00am
Tea and coffee available at end of group work
10.00am – 11.40am
Dealing with Disputes: Types of Disputes, the Tool Kit, the Uses of Mediation and Disciplinary action.
(includes use of casework)
11.40am –12.10pm
Communicating with Student Residents: Information, Dealing with Incidents and Report Writing.
12.10pm – 12.30pm
Questions and Discussions
12.30pm –1.20pm
Lunch
Theme: Health and Safety
Led by Matthew Simonard, Senior Project Officer, Unipol
1.20am – 1.55pm
Managing Smaller Houses: Why Small Houses are Different: Head Leasing, Managing Other People’s Properties, Getting Repairs Done, Dealing with Other Property Owners.
Martin Blakey, Chief Executive, Unipol Student Homes
1.55pm – 2.35pm
Health and Safety in a Management Context 1: Electrical and Gas Safety.
Matthew Simonard, Project Officer, Unipol
(includes interactive exercise)
2.35pm –2.50pm
Questions and Discussion
2.50pm –3.20pm
Health and Safety in a Management Context 2: Soft Furnishings, Fire Safety and Other Common Health and Safety Issues.
Matthew Simonard, Project Officer, Unipol
3.20pm – 3.50pm
Questions and Discussions
3.50pm - 4.00pm
Concluding remarks
4.05pm
ends