Temple's Best Nest Program
What is Temple’s Best Nest program?
Temple University’s Best Nest Program is a self-certification program designed for properties in Temple’s patrol zone who self-identify as meeting certain criteria that University has defined as important for consideration for recognition into its Best Nest Program. In essence these are properties that meet the standards we set forth in our on-campus residence halls.
The goal of this program is to offer Temple students the ability of searching off-campus housing options that meet certain safety, security, and good neighbor criteria. The Best Nest Program will allow for properties to display recognition as either a Cherry Certified property or a Diamond Certified program on their listing thus providing students with more information about the locations they consider living.
The program is voluntary for landlords and participating properties must re-certify each year and provide Temple with updated documentation that meets the Diamond or Cherry criteria outlined below.
What properties are eligible for the program?
- Properties within Temple’s patrol zone that are available for rent to Temple students
- In addition to being in the patrol zone, landlords will need to provide proper documentation including their valid/current landlord license from the City of Philadelphia and a screenshot showing no violations.
- NOTE: Properties seeking certification that are not already listed on Temple's off-campus housing website must also apply and pay for a listing on the website prior to being awarded certification. Please visit the off-campus housing website (offcampus.temple.edu) and click on "Add a Listing" to apply.
Best Nest Certification Criteria
There will be two levels of criteria that landlords can use to self-certify that they meet. Landlords will agree that they have completed all items in order to be eligible for a certification level by signing the required agreement and submitting the appropriate documentation.
2025 Best Nest Self-Certification Form for Landlords/Property Managers Linked Here
Properties will self-certify meeting the Cherry or Diamond Level standards:
Cherry
For Cherry certification, this set of standards focuses on crime prevention, and these properties meet all the below criteria:
1. Valid and current landlord license
2. Adequate outdoor lighting (can participate in grant program) - adequate outdoor lighting is defined as having light that illuminates at least two feet of its immediate surrounding area and illuminates the ground surface beneath it.
3. Outdoor cameras with retrievable video footage (can participate in grant program)
Diamond
For Diamond certification, this set of standards focuses on crime prevention (Cherry), residential safety, and being a good neighbor, and these properties meet all the below criteria:
1. Properties meet all Cherry certification criteria
2. No current "unsafe" Licenses & Inspection code violations (print out required)
3. Minimal noise violations in the past year (print out required)
a. Minimal = 2x per leasing year max
b. Can be verified at atlas.phila.gov
4. Minimal trash violations in the past year (print out required)
a. Minimal = 2x per leasing year max
b. Can be verified at atlas.phila.gov
5. Landlords agree to provide enough trash cans, recycling bins, and storage space for these receptacles such that occupants’ trash and recycling can be stored on the premises between trash pick-up days and not left on the street or sidewalk
6. It is recommended that a 32-gallon trash bin is provided for every 3 occupants, and a 32-gallon recycling bin is provided for every 4 occupants
Safety and Security Checklist
Filtering for Best Nest Properties
To search for only Best Nest certified properties, follow the instructions below in the Housing search tool:
- Click “Housing” on the black bar at the top of your page
- From all the dropdowns above the map area, click the one that says “More” toward the righthand side
- Scroll to the “Community Features” section and you will see a checkbox for “Temple Best Nest Diamond Certified Property” and one for Cherry and you will click those to view just properties with Best Nest certification
Best Nest Certified Properties
 Diamond Certified: |
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 Cherry Certified: |
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