Help and Advice

The safest method of looking for a property in Sheffield is via Sheffield Hallam University Accommodation Services. They provide free advice and information about private sector accommodation. Together with the Sheffield City Council and the Students’ Union Advice Centre, Sheffield Hallam University have a private sector student property standard called Snug.

Snug was introduced to tighten up the control and regulation of student housing in Sheffield. It is a scheme of registering, inspecting and advertising student properties and tenancy agreements in Sheffield with the intention to make sure all our students have access to good-quality, safe accommodation. In partnership with Sheffield City Council, we have compiled a snug accredited directory of private student accommodation in Sheffield as showed on our listing pages here. Accommodation Services also provide advice and guidance on all aspects of house-hunting; we have knowledge of the local area and the types of properties that might suit you. Contact Accommodation Services for more information at accommodation@shu.ac.uk

Sheffield Hallam Studentpad lists a variety of accommodation types, including shared housing, self-contained apartments, shared-flats and residential landlords. 

• full house (groups)-whole houses to rent as group.
• shared house (single room)- rooms to rent as an individual.
• purpose built student accommodation- rooms in halls of residence and student flats.
• resident landlord- lodging with the homeowner (who will be your landlord).

The areas closest to Sheffield Hallam which are popular with students are within a 25-30 minute walk. These include Broomhall, Sharrow, Ecclesall Road, Crookesmore, Hunters Bar, Norfolk Park, and Kelham Island. Rents begin at around £85 for a room in a shared house so it is worth pricing-up different properties depending on area. Do check with the landlord to see if utility bills are included in the rent.
 

A tenancy agreement is a contract between a tenant and landlord. The tenancy agreement gives rights to both tenant and landlord, for example, the tenant’s right to occupy the accommodation and the landlord's right to receive rent for the length of time as specified on a tenancy agreement. Only enter a legally binding tenancy agreement once you are happy you understand the contract and never sign anything you don't understand.

A tenancy agreement may be entered into verbally; by physically signing a tenancy agreement (wet signature); by providing a digital signature; or by ticking a Terms and Conditions Checkbox on an online accommodation booking system. You should take care not to unwittingly enter into a legally binding contract when your intention is to only make an enquiry.

The Student Advice Centre can provide further assistance to current Sheffield Hallam students should you have questions about a tenancy contract. Do not feel pressured or rushed into entering a contract.

There are different types of tenancy agreements to look out for:

1. Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements 
The majority of students will be offered an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). During the contract period, tenants have ‘exclusive possession’ of the premises and the landlord is guaranteed the payment of rent.

The contract may be either be ‘fixed term’ with a clear start and end date or ‘periodic’ where the contract runs on a ring basis, for example, week-by-week or month-by-month basis. A fixed term AST is the most used contract type in student accommodation.

2. Single and Joint Tenancy Agreements

Contracts can be ‘single’ or ‘joint’.

 - A single contract will typically be for a specified bedroom in the property with use of the communal areas. The rent stated is the amount for one person (e.g. £250 per month).

 - A joint contract will typically have all tenants’ names on it and will state the rent for the whole property (e.g. £1,000 per month). In this case the group will be renting the house as a single entity.
Joint contracts make all tenants ‘jointly and severally’ liable for the whole rent. In other words, if one of you can’t (or won’t) pay their share, the landlord can pursue the rest of the tenants for it. This may seem unfair but it’s perfectly legal. Due to the shared level of risk involved, please make sure you understand the risks before entering a joint agreement.

If you are offered a ‘licence’ agreement (this often happens if you live with a resident landlord) instead of a ‘tenancy agreement’, seek further advice as licence agreement give you fewer rights. The Student Union Advice Centre and Sheffield Hallam Accommodation Services can help current students with this.

Before entering a tenancy agreement, you should be aware of the following:

• an application for accommodation should not be charged for.
• no monies for tenancy damage deposits or rent should be demanded prior to the signing of any tenancy agreement. However, the management agent/landlord may request a small refundable reservation/holding deposit prior to agreeing the tenancy contract. You should ask for a receipt stating clearly what this money is for and the grounds for a refund. If the agent/landlord won't provide this then don't pay it.
• aside from the above, all administration charges are banned under the most recent UK government's Tenant Fees Act.
• it is reasonable for the landlord to allow you 24 hours to read and check the contract before signing it; under the SNUG scheme landlords should allow at least 48 hours.
• it is recommended that students only enter into a legally binding tenancy agreement once the place on the university course is confirmed. International students who may have additional visa requirements should ensure a valid visa is in place and correct course enrolment procedures are followed before committing to a legally binding tenancy agreement The International Experience Team can support the application and enrolment process with further information found on the International Experience team's webpage.
• once entered, an agreement is extremely difficult to leave, usually finding a replacement tenant is the only way out of the contract so it is strongly advised that a well-informed decision is made prior to entering into an agreement.

DO NOT SIGN UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING:

• work out if you can afford the rent and bills: Monthly rent per person + utility bills + food & living costs = monthly amount you are committing yourself to.
• viewed the property yourself, either in person or virtually. Look at around 5 or 6 properties for good comparison; you wouldn't buy a pair of shoes without trying them on first!
• read and understood the tenancy contract. The Sheffield Hallam Students Union team can help current students with this if required.
• for a joint tenancy, got all tenants together at the same time to sign the contract; otherwise someone may pull out and you may be stuck with additional rent and living costs.

Remember – do not sign multiple tenancy agreements!

• It is really important to remember not to sign multiple tenancy agreements over the same time period as you will be contractually liable to pay the rent for each, even if you do not collect the keys or move into the property.

What is a tenancy deposit protection scheme?

It is a legal requirement for Assured Shorthold Tenancies that deposits are secured in a tenancy deposit protection scheme.

The schemes are designed to ensure that any deposits paid to landlords are kept safe so tenants can get their deposits back at the end of the tenancy. They are also designed to ensure that landlords cannot withhold deposits without having a valid reason.

This means if you stick to the terms of the tenancy, pay your rent and bills and don't cause any damage to the property, you should be able to get your 100% of your deposit back.

There are 3 schemes which are backed by the government:

• Deposit Protection Service
• My Deposits
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme

You can find out more about these schemes on the U.K Government website.

How it works

Your landlord must protect your deposit in one of the above schemes within 30 days of receiving it. Also within 30 days your landlord/management company must provide you with the following information:

• the address of the rented property.
• how much deposit you’ve paid.
• how the deposit is protected.
• a reference number.
• the name and contact details of the tenancy deposit protection (TDP) scheme and its dispute resolution service.
• the landlord/management company's name and contact details.
• the name and contact details of any third party who have paid the deposit.
• the reasons why they would keep some or all of the deposit.
• how to apply to get the deposit back.
• what to do if you can’t get hold of the landlord/management company at the end of the tenancy.
• what to do if there’s a dispute over the deposit.

Don't take your landlord/agent's word for it- make sure that you check with the relevant scheme that it has been secured.

Shelter has a useful information regarding deposits on their website here.

If your landlord hasn't secured your deposit

If you think that your landlord/management company hasn't secured your deposit in a scheme within 30 days or hasn't given you the prescribed information, then contact the Student Union Advice Centre for further advice. There could be legal consequences for your landlord/management company if you deposit is not protected.

If there is a dispute over the deposit at the end of the tenancy

Your tenancy deposit protection scheme offers a free dispute resolution service if you don't agree with your landlord about how much deposit must be repaid. However, both you and the landlord have to agree to use this service.

If you can't contact your landlord or you think your landlord is being unreasonable, contact your scheme provider and raise a dispute with them. Please note that there may be a time limit to using this service, so don't delay!

You’ll both be asked to provide evidence, and the decision made about your deposit will be final.

The scheme will refund your deposit if the dispute resolution service agrees this is fair.

It’s exciting to move in and make your new place a home but there are a few things to tick off to-do the list before unpacking!

1. Take meter readings

If you are moving into a house, it is likely you will be responsible for setting up an account with an energy supplier for use of gas and electricity. To avoid paying for previous usage, take a meter reading for your gas and electricity once you have access to the property and provide your energy supplier company with the readings when setting up an account. If you don’t know where the meters or located or how to take readings, ask your landlord/management company for help.

Unless you have a smart meter in the property, we recommend you provide the energy supplier with meter readings on a monthly basis, to ensure that the bills are not estimated. Energy providers usually over-estimate usage, so you could end up paying more than what you should. A smart meter does this for you so please check with the landlord if there is already a smart meter already installed.

If bills are inclusive of rent, it is still advisable to take meter readings (in absence of a smart meter) and check with the landlord/management company if there is a cap on utility bill usage – being hit with an unexpected excessive usage bill isn’t helpful for budgeting!

2. Complete an inventory

An inventory records the condition of the property and anything provided with property upon moving in. Get a written inventory of everything that is provided by your landlord, e.g. furniture, curtains, hoover, etc. Have a good look around the property and note anything that is damaged, e.g. marks on walls etc.

Take date stamped photos of any issues (no matter how minor they may be) and keep copies of the inventory, photos and any correspondence with the landlord/agent until the end of the tenancy and when your deposit is received.

Towards the end of the tenancy you should arrange for a property inspection with your landlord/management company or alternatively if this is not possible, complete another inventory/condition report and send this to them again. This will help to avoid any disputes over your deposit when you move out.

3. Locate the stopcock

Your mains water tap (stopcock) is the off-switch for all the water supply in your house. In event of something like a burst pipe, you’ll need to turn the water supply off completely via the stopcock to prevent flooding and damage to the property and your possessions. Hopefully you'll never need to use the stopcock but it’s good to know where this is located and how to operate it if required.

The stopcock may be found either under the kitchen sink, by the boiler, in the airing cupboard or elsewhere in the property. If you don't know where it is and would like further information about this, your landlord/management company will help you.

4. Get a copy of your tenancy agreement

If you haven't already been given a copy of your signed tenancy agreement, ask your landlord/management company for a copy. Each tenant should have a copy.

5. Be sure to have your landlord's contact details

Make sure you have the name, address, telephone number and email address for your landlord, even if you are using a management company or estate agent.

6. Not down any due repairs

If any repairs need to be done, notify your landlord/management company in writing as soon as possible.

7. Request safety certificates

Ask for a copy of the gas safety certificate for the property (if your property has gas).

8. Find out how things work

Get your landlord/management company to show you how:

• the heating and hot water works.
• the doors and windows lock.
• safety procedures- including how alarms work and fire procedures.
• where the water stopcock and switches to turn off the gas and electricity are.
• how the appliances work.

9. Know which day your bins will be collected, at the link here

10. Get to know your neighbours!

Our students are important members of the communities in which they live. Student tenants are encouraged to take pride in their neighbourhoods - their home, while living in Sheffield. Why not know on the door next door and introduce yourselves? More information on living with the local community can be found here.

There is lots to think about during your tenancy including how to be a good housemate, a good tenant and how to handle disagreement and disputes. See our advice below to ensure your success in independent living. 

How to be a great housemate

There is an old saying that you don't really know someone until you live with them! Here are our top tips to enjoy living with your new housemates:

• Agree on a list of house rules as soon as you move in particularly for subjects such as playing music and guests. Different people can have different tolerance levels of volume, time of day music is played and what is acceptable in terms of how often visitors are around. Be respectful of each other’s preferences, study requirements and timetable including study and part time working patterns.
• Get everyone to agree on how you will share and pay for utility bills if they’re not included in the tenancy agreement. We advise putting all tenants' names on the utility bills, because if there are several names on the bill, the company can chase one or more of those named people rather than just one person. Like joint tenancies, you will be also jointly and severally liable for the whole bills. Try to pay your bills on time, as late payments can result in additional charges. You could set up a house kitty to pay for essentials such as cleaning supplies, toilet rolls and maybe even for basics such as tea, coffee, milk and sugar.
• Do your fair share of the cleaning of communal areas such as kitchen, lounge and outside areas. You should agree how to keep the property/communal areas clean and tidy. Top tip - if you tidy up as you go along, you won't have to spend hours doing it at a later date.
• DON’T steal your housemates’ food or belongings! They may even say yes if you ask nicely. Make it clear if you don't want people to use your belongings. You may wish to keep things  in your bedroom if required.
• Whilst being respectful of your housemates’ boundaries and wishes, try to eat and relax as a group rather than spending all spare time in your bedroom. If you’re free, make yourself available in the communal areas of the house or set ‘house dates’ where you can spend time together.
• Be respectful of everyone in the house. Remember respect is a two way thing. You are all individuals with your own personalities. Generally, if you can respect each other, communicate effectively and do not take disagreements personally, life will be a lot easier.

How to be a great tenant

As a tenant you have responsibilities, as well as your landlord.

• Pay your rent on time- if you have any problems paying your rent; notify your landlord/ management company as soon as possible. We recommend paying your rent by standing order, this means you won't have to remember to send payment on agreed dates.
• In writing, notify your landlord of repairs as soon as possible. This ensures the problem is fixed in a timely manner and further damage is avoided.
• Keep the property in a good, clean condition. Clean the property as thoroughly as possible, remember that it has to be left in a similar condition as to when you moved in, allowing for 'fair wear and tear'. The general rule would be to leave it in the same condition that you would expect when you move into a property to not risk loss of deposit.
• Be aware of your noise levels, if you can hear your neighbours through the walls, just think about what neighbours may be able to hear from your house. If you are going to have a party, it would be polite to let them know in advance.
• Be respectful of your neighbour's circumstances; they may have young children, who may go to bed early or may be elderly. Most people will have to get up for work early in the morning, so won’t want to be kept awake by noise during the night. When coming home late at night, keep voices down and be careful not to slam car doors or front doors. Treat them how you would like to be treated.
• Don't leave rubbish outside your property
• Get involved in your community – there’s lots to do to feel part of your new community and it helps to boost the perception of students.

How to handle disagreements and disputes with housemates

It is normal for people to fall out and disagree from time to time, especially if you are living in a shared house.  Falling out with housemates is one of the most common housing issues for students and can make the shared living experience difficult.  However, if handled correctly, disagreements do not have to be the end of the relationship between you as housemates.

Often the key to successfully resolving disagreements and disputes with housemates is simple – effective communication! We have a few tips for you below.

• Plan to have productive discussions to resolve disagreements. Those involved in the dispute should prepare a list of issues that are to be discussed so that you don't get side-tracked.
• Think about possible solutions (which may involve compromise) to offer as resolution to the dispute.
• Agree before you begin, that only one person speaks at a time, others listen and no-one should raise their voice. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It sounds obvious but going through it all beforehand helps people feel reassured.
• Be honest with each other. Honest conversations are difficult to have but they are worthwhile in the long run to make sure the dispute doesn’t repeat later.​​​
• Leave the conversation in the knowledge that the points are addressed and the issue is successfully resolved for everyone. 

Moving out

• Don't forget to defrost the fridge and replace any missing light bulbs in the property.
• Get the landlord or agent to inspect the property and show them a copy of the inventory. If your landlord/agent isn't happy with the condition, they may withhold your deposit.
• It is important that you take final meter readings for your gas, electric and possibly water (if metered) before you move out. Your liability for the bills will end on the last day of the tenancy and you don't want to be paying for someone else's usage. Keep them safe and contact the utility companies as soon as possible to notify them that you have moved out and to give them the final meter readings. The companies should then send you a final bill. This is important as your landlord may not release your deposit until the bills have been paid.
• It is vital that you hand your keys back to your landlord. If you fail to do so your landlord may change the locks for the new tenants and you may be charged, which could be taken from your deposit.
• If you have paid all your rent and the bills are all paid, there is no damage or issues with the condition of the property. Your landlord/agent must return your deposit within 10 working days.
• If your landlord/agent is withholding any amount that you don't agree with, ask for a breakdown of charges. There are rules for what charges the landlord can withhold from the deposit and they are not allowed to charge for 'fair wear and tear'.
• Also notify your tenancy deposit protection scheme as soon as possible that there is a dispute. If in any doubt please contact Student Advice Centre for further advice.

Donate your unwanted items.

Moving house is an opportunity for many of us to sort our possessions and get rid of anything we're no longer using. But this can mean many useable items being thrown out, when they could be donated to benefit charities and reduce their environment impact.

Donate, Don't Waste works with the British Heart Foundation to place on-street donation points in areas with high numbers of students. These are installed in May and remain in place all summer. The accept clothes, shoes, books, bric-a-brac etc. Please don't put duvets or knives in these donation banks.

Don't leave donations on the ground around these donations points, as they can be damaged by wet weather or strewn about by passersby, causing litter. The banks are emptied regularly, but if you find it full please take your items to another bank, charity shop or return at another time. 

There are also many charity shops around Sheffield who would welcome your donations.

View donation points here.

Council Waste Collections

Your last resort for anything you can't reuse, donate or recycle, or that won’t fit in your black bin, is Sheffield City Council's excess waste collection service. From 24 June - 9 July 2023 the Council runs an additional service in areas with a high student population to collect any additional waste you have. 

If your street is highlighted on the below map you should securely tie your waste in sacks and leave them outside your property and it will be collected within three days. If you are not on a highlighted route, please put your bags out on your normal (black) bin day.

The contents of these sacks are not sorted and will be sent directly to an Energy Recovery Facility where they are burnt and turned into electricity and heat, so only use these as a last resort! Don’t use them for food waste, as this could attract vermin and cause bad smells for your neighbours - ensure this type of waste is either donated to our food bank or put in your wheelie bin. Do not place bagged waste out other than during the above collection period, doing so could be considered fly tipping for which fixed penalty notices could be issued to those responsible.

See if your area is covered here.

The Student Union Advice Centre provides free, independent and confidential advice on all aspects of housing such as;

• Contracts
• Deposits
• Repairs
• Utility Bills and Council Tax
• Tenant's rights and Landlord obligations

Self-help - if you have a query, please check the online self-help resources for detailed, on-the-spot guidance about a range of student issues. This may be the quickest way for you to find your answer.

Email - if you still have some questions, or your query isn't covered by the leaflets or webpages referred to above, please contact the Advice Centre here. Once you have contacted them, you may be asked to complete a form to enable them to open a full case file for you.

The Student Union Advice Centre aim to provide an initial response to your enquiry within 3 working days. However, during busy periods the response time may occasionally be slightly longer.

The Student Union Advice Centre arrange a housing fair each year (see the Union webpage for details, Covid restrictions permitting). Only landlords that are registered with the University under the new SNUG scheme are invited to attend the housing fair. It provides a perfect opportunity for students to start thinking about finding a property for the next academic year.

Come along to the fair and speak face to face with the landlords, you can ask them questions and find out as much information that you need whilst also arranging viewings for properties that you might be interested in. 

However, wait to sign up until after Christmas, preferably after your exams at the end of January, so that you are in a better position to make an informed decision and are not rushing into anything.

Things to consider

There are a few things that you can do to make sure you get the best house possible for your group:

1. Work out who you want to live with. Think about this carefully as you will end up living together for a whole year. Socialising with someone is a completely different experience to living with someone. If there are things that are irritating now a year can be an extremely long time. People have different ideas of cleanliness and lead different lifestyles, some people are studious and have early nights, others like to go clubbing and stay out until all hours.

2. Explore areas of Sheffield to decide where you want to live. Walk around different areas at different times of day and make sure you like the atmosphere and feel safe. Think about if you want to live in Sheffield centre next to bars and clubs or would you prefer a quieter area, etc. You might also want to consider how far away it is from Uni, as you may have transport costs on top of your bills. The most common student areas of Sheffield include Bramall Lane, Crookes, Ecclesall Road, Norfolk Park, Kelham, Sharrow Vale and City Centre.  

3. Work out how much you can afford (don’t forget gas electricity etc.). This is a common mistake that many students make. Most students' maintenance loan does not usually fully cover the rent. Make sure that everyone in the group decides a budget and sticks to it.  Remember to factor in the bills and living costs!

4. Discuss what you want in the property. Not everything will be possible but your group could draw up a list of essentials and desirables. TIP: If you are in halls your internet is normally already sorted. In the private rented sector some houses have this, some do not. Internet is relatively easy to install so don’t let this put you off a property if it isn’t there already. Please note, that most internet contracts last for 12 months, so you may have to pay for a whole year and not just an academic year.

5. Use your common sense, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Signing up early? - think again

No sooner will you have moved into your halls or new property, then word will be getting around that it is time to start looking for next year's property. However, don't panic! There is no reason to rush as there is a surplus of good quality accommodation in Sheffield.

The Student Union Advice Centre in the student union sees many students each year who sign up very early, then change their minds a few months later, usually because they have fallen out with their friends, or have realised they cannot afford the new rent or have changed their study plans. Once you have signed a tenancy agreement you are not usually able to change your mind, and may find yourself having to pay the rent whether you move in or not.