NPAS
National Property Accreditation Scheme
A stamp of quality for student accommodation providers
About National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS)
The National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) is an industry-led program that is owned, governed, developed and administered by the Student Accommodation Association (SAA) to assist national education stakeholders to identify, promote and support quality managed student accommodation businesses which provide accommodation for the exclusive use of students.
The SAA’s intention is to bring education and student accommodation providers together to promote the value of accommodation provided for the exclusive use of students, and to support and enhance their education experience in Australia.
Until recently, education stakeholders have perceived “student accommodation” to be accommodation that happens to be occupied by students when in fact, student accommodation is defined by the SAA as accommodation provided for the exclusive use of students. As an initiative aimed at providing greater clarity to Australian education stakeholders, and prospective students, agents and the community, SAA has introduced the NPAS.
NPAS represents a stamp of quality, enabling students to make an informed choice about their accommodation. For a student accommodation property to be NPAS accredited, it must comply with the minimum standards set by the SAA with respect to amenity, facility, security, customer service and management processes.
The NPAS offers providers of student accommodation the opportunity to align their new offerings with these industry-led minimum standards and SAA anticipates that NPAS will provide students with greater certainty and consistency.
Are you a representative of a student accommodation provider interested in getting your property accredited? Find out about the accreditation process.
Defining Student Accommodation
SAA defines student accommodation as – “Accommodation for the exclusive use of students.”
Benefits OF NPAS
The National Property Accreditation Scheme benefits all participants in Australian education.
For Students
- To provide students with the ability to make an informed accommodation choice.
- A stamp of quality – Trusted brand.
- Providing students with a channel by which to report inconsistencies between expectation and delivery.
For Education Stakeholders
- Provide education stakeholders and government agencies who support students in Australia with the confidence to identify and promote NPAS accredited properties.
- NPAS offers an eligibility prerequisite for inclusion in student material provided by education providers and government agencies.
For Student Accommodation Providers
- Offers new providers of student accommodation the opportunity to align their offering with a set of industry-led minimum standards.
- Be part of a nationally endorsed portfolio of quality student accommodation options promoted in a coordinated, coherent and consistent manner by the Australian education sector.
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CATEGORIES
The National Property Accreditation Scheme aims to identify individual properties that are being operated to a set of industry led minimum standards for the exclusive use of students with a focus on student safety and wellbeing.
Applicants are assessed under one of five accreditation categories:
University Managed
Accommodation specifically designed, built and operated by a university for the exclusive use of its student community.
Commercial Purpose Built Student Accommodation
Residential apartments specifically designed, built and operated by commercial management companies who specialise in maintaining accommodation environments for the exclusive use of students.
Residential College
Accommodation specifically designed and built for the exclusive use of students. Academic success and pastoral care, sporting and cultural opportunities and leadership development are high priorities.
Commercially Managed Housing Portfolio
A student housing portfolio of 50 beds or more, managed by commercial student accommodation property management companies, who specialise in providing and maintaining quality private rental and share accommodation environments for the exclusive use of students.
Student Hostel
Specifically designed, built and operated by commercial management companies who specialise in providing low cost accommodation on short to mid-term arrangements for the exclusive use of students.
Background
The SAA’s intention is to bring education and student accommodation providers together to promote the value of accommodation provided for the exclusive use of students to support and enhance the education experience in Australia.
SAA recognises that until recently, education stakeholders have perceived “student accommodation” to be accommodation that happens to be occupied by students when in fact, student accommodation is defined by the SAA as accommodation provided for the exclusive use of students.
As an initiative aimed at providing greater clarity to Australian education stakeholders, and prospective students, agents and the community, SAA has introduced the NPAS.
NPAS represents a stamp of quality, enabling students to make an informed choice about their accommodation. For a property to be NPAS branded, it must comply with the minimum standards set by the SAA with respect to amenity, facility, security, customer service and management processes.
The NPAS offers providers of student accommodation the opportunity to align their new offerings with these industry-led minimum standards and SAA anticipates that NPAS will provide students with greater certainty and consistency.
It is envisaged over time that education providers and government agencies who support students in Australia will recognise the NPAS stamp of quality to be a prerequisite for promotion to their students communities.
The National Property Accreditation Scheme offers providers of student accommodation the opportunity to align their new offerings with a set of industry led minimum standards.
It is envisaged over time that education providers, and government agencies who support students in Australia will recognise the NPAS stamp of quality to be a prerequisite for promotion to their student communities.
NPAS ACCREDITED PROPERTIES
NPAS ACCREDITATION PROCESS
Eligibility
NPAS Accreditation is restricted to companies and institutions who are Executive Members of the SAA that provide accommodation for the exclusive use of students. NPAS Accreditation is optional and should not be pursued if there is any doubt as to the applicants’ capacity to fully commit to providing accommodation for the exclusive use of students. SAA Executive members reserve the right to decide which properties within their portfolio they put forward for accreditation. There is no requirement for all properties within an Executive member’s portfolio to be NPAS accredited but only the specific properties that have been formally accredited can be branded with the NPAS stamp and promoted as NPAS accredited.
Application
Executive member submits an application for accreditation on a property by property basis to the SAA National Committee. An application fee is payable at the time of submitting the application. The fee is not refundable.
Assessment
The SAA has developed minimum standards that student accommodation must comply with, in order to be NPAS accredited. Broadly, there are four elements to the NPAS assessment framework: business profile, facility and amenity, management model and operational plan. All applications will be assessed by SAA against these standards.
latest updates
Study partners show support for NPAS and SAA
The National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) has caught the interest of study partners around Australia. SAA has been working with study partners in each state and territory to have NPAS recognised and referenced across their digital platforms. We...
Get In Touch
Get In Touch
Address
PO Box 3561
Rundle Mall
Adelaide SA 5000
Follow Us
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SAA NEWSLETTER
to stay up to date with the latest updates of the student accommodation industry.