Equality & Diversity Policy

1. Introduction

Premier Student Halls is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment for all residents, staff, contractors, and visitors. We firmly believe that equality and diversity are fundamental values that underpin everything we do.

This policy sets out our approach to promoting equality, preventing discrimination, and celebrating the diversity of our community. It applies to all aspects of our operations, including the letting of accommodation, the delivery of services, and the conduct of all who live and work within our properties.

Premier Student Halls is a member of the ANUK/Unipol National Code of Standards for Larger Developments for Student Accommodation Not Managed and Controlled by Educational Establishments. This policy is designed to meet and exceed the requirements of that Code.

2. Scope and Application

This policy applies to all current and prospective residents, all employees, temporary workers, volunteers and contractors, visitors and guests to our properties, and any party engaged in a business or commercial relationship with Premier Student Halls.

It covers all aspects of accommodation services including advertising, enquiries, applications, lettings, tenancy management, maintenance, communal living, and departure.

3. Our Commitment

• Providing equal access to accommodation and services for all eligible applicants regardless of any protected characteristic.
• Treating all residents, staff, and visitors with dignity, fairness, and respect.
• Actively challenging and addressing any form of discrimination, harassment, or victimisation.
• Complying fully with the Equality Act 2010 and all associated legislation.
• Creating an environment where diversity is valued and every individual can feel safe and included.
• Taking prompt and proportionate action where breaches of this policy occur.
• Regularly reviewing and improving our equality and diversity practices.

4. Protected Characteristics

Under the Equality Act 2010, Premier Student Halls will not discriminate against any person on the basis of any of the following protected characteristics:

• Age — a person belonging to a particular age group, whether young or old.
• Disability — a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial, long-term adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities.
• Gender Reassignment — the process of transitioning from one gender to another.
• Marriage & Civil Partnership — people who are married or in a civil partnership.
• Pregnancy & Maternity — pregnancy, maternity leave, and related circumstances.
• Race — includes colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origins.
• Religion or Belief — any religion, religious belief, or philosophical belief, including lack of belief.
• Sex — refers to a person being a man or a woman.
• Sexual Orientation — whether a person is attracted to people of the same sex, opposite sex, or both.

5. Prohibited Conduct

5.1 Direct Discrimination

Treating a person less favourably than another because of a protected characteristic. For example, refusing to process a housing application because of an applicant's race or religion.

5.2 Indirect Discrimination

Applying a provision, criterion, or practice that, while applying equally to everyone, disadvantages people who share a protected characteristic and cannot be justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

5.3 Harassment

Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. This includes verbal abuse, written communications, online conduct (including social media), physical conduct, and exclusionary behaviour.

5.4 Sexual Harassment

Any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, including unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, sexual comments, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

5.5 Victimisation

Treating someone unfairly because they have made, or are suspected of making, a complaint about discrimination or harassment, or because they have supported another person in making such a complaint.

5.6 Bullying

Offensive, intimidating, malicious, or insulting behaviour, whether physical or verbal, that undermines an individual's dignity. While bullying is not a specific legal concept under the Equality Act 2010, it is taken extremely seriously and is subject to the same investigation and disciplinary procedures.

6. Roles and Responsibilities

6.1 Management

• Ensuring this policy is communicated clearly to all staff and residents.
• Leading by example and modelling inclusive behaviours.
• Ensuring all staff receive appropriate equality and diversity training.
• Investigating complaints promptly, thoroughly, and fairly.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of this policy and reporting on outcomes.

6.2 Staff

• Treating all residents, colleagues, and visitors with respect and dignity.
• Upholding this policy in all their interactions.
• Reporting any concerns about discrimination or harassment to management.
• Cooperating fully with any investigations into complaints.
• Completing all mandatory equality and diversity training.

6.3 Residents

• Treating fellow residents, staff, and visitors with respect and dignity at all times.
• Refraining from any conduct that constitutes discrimination, harassment, or bullying.
• Reporting any incidents or concerns to property management.
• Cooperating with any investigations carried out under this policy.
• Serious or persistent breaches may constitute a breach of tenancy agreement and could result in tenancy termination.

7. Reporting Concerns and Making Complaints

Premier Student Halls takes all concerns and complaints very seriously and operates a confidential, fair, and transparent process for raising concerns.

7.1 Informal Resolution

Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, concerns may initially be raised informally with a member of property management. Many issues can be resolved promptly through open communication and mutual understanding.

7.2 Formal Complaints

Formal complaints may be made by speaking directly with the Property Manager or Operations Director, submitting a written complaint by post or email to the management office, or using the complaints form available at reception or on the Premier Student Halls website. All formal complaints will be acknowledged within five working days and investigated within a reasonable timeframe, ordinarily not exceeding 28 calendar days.

7.3 Confidentiality

All complaints will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. Information will only be disclosed on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with our obligations under data protection legislation.

7.4 External Bodies

If a complaint cannot be resolved internally, residents and staff retain the right to seek advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the Property Ombudsman, Citizens Advice, or an Employment Tribunal for employment-related matters.

8. Reasonable Adjustments and Accessible Accommodation

Premier Student Halls is committed to making reasonable adjustments wherever possible for residents and prospective residents who require them due to a disability or health condition.

8.1 Types of Adjustment

Examples of reasonable adjustments may include:

• Allocation of ground-floor or accessible accommodation.
• Provision of visual or tactile fire alarm systems.
• Adjustments to payment schedules.
• Adapted bathroom or kitchen facilities subject to property constraints.

Residents wishing to request a reasonable adjustment should contact the Property Manager in writing and will receive a written response within 10 working days.

8.2 Pricing of Adapted Rooms - National Code Requirement

In accordance with clause 2.4 of the ANUK/Unipol National Code, Premier Student Halls will not charge more for rooms adapted or designated for residents with mobility or physical impairments than the lowest room rate available within our portfolio for that local authority area. Accessibility must never be treated as a premium feature. This applies to all adapted rooms across all Premier Student Halls properties.

8.3 Gender-Neutral Facilities - National Code Requirement

In accordance with the National Code, Premier Student Halls provides gender-neutral toilet facilities in all publicly accessible areas of our properties. Where older buildings present structural constraints that prevent reconfiguration of private facilities, gender-neutral provision will be made available in all publicly accessible communal areas as a minimum. We are committed to reviewing and expanding gender-neutral provision as part of any planned refurbishment or development works.

9. Equality Impact Assessments - National Code Requirement

In accordance with the ANUK/Unipol National Code, Premier Student Halls will carry out an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) whenever a material change is proposed to our services, facilities, or buildings.

An EIA will consider the potential impact of proposed changes on residents and prospective residents across all protected characteristics, with particular attention to the needs of disabled students. Where a proposed change is found to have a negative or disproportionate impact on any group, Premier Student Halls will take steps to mitigate that impact before the change is implemented.

EIAs will be documented, retained, and made available to the relevant Code administrator upon request. Responsibility for commissioning EIAs rests with the Operations Director.

10. Monitoring, Review, and Improvement

• This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner following a change in relevant legislation or the National Code.
• We will monitor equality-related complaints and incidents to identify trends and inform improvements.
• We will ensure all staff participate in regular training.
• We will consult with residents where appropriate.
• We will publish summary information on our approach to equality and diversity on our website.

11. Related Policies

This policy should be read alongside the following:

• Tenancy Agreement and House Rules
• Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policy
• Complaints Policy and Procedure
• Data Protection and Privacy Policy
• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Policy
• Accessibility and Reasonable Adjustments Procedure

12. Legislative Framework

This policy is grounded in and compliant with the Equality Act 2010, Human Rights Act 1998, Housing Act 1988 and 1996 (as amended), UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018, the Equality and Human Rights Commission Statutory Codes of Practice, and the ANUK/Unipol National Code of Standards for Larger Developments for Student Accommodation Not Managed and Controlled by Educational Establishments (2022).