Looking for accommodation

As a student in Sheffield, you have lots of choice when it comes to finding somewhere to live. As well as University owned or managed properties, Sheffield has a good supply of private rented accommodation, including self-contained flats/studios, houses suitable for groups of friends wishing to move in together, accommodation with a resident owner and accommodation for student families/couples. 

Unless you have very specific needs or are a very large group, you can find suitable accommodation throughout the academic year. Beware, around November each year landlords/agents will start advertising properties for the following academic year. They target first years in halls and the annual house-hunting frenzy begins. Students are told that they must sign contracts early, or they won’t find anywhere decent to live for the following academic year. This is not true!

Don’t rush into signing contracts before you are ready and make an informed decision about where to live. If you later change your mind about who you want to live with or where you want to live, it can be very difficult and expensive to get out of a contract.

Whatever time of year you are looking for somewhere to live, a good starting point is the Smartmove House-hunting guide. It is a step by step guide, designed to help you through the house-hunting process. It includes tips on when and where to look, contains information on popular student areas, a handy checklist for you to use when viewing properties and lots of other useful information.

If you have specific requirements or need further help, please contact the Student Advice Centre to speak with a housing adviser. We also offer a contract checking service, where we can look over a contract, check it is fair and help you make sense of all the legal terms and conditions. A good landlord should always agree to give you a sample contract and allow you time to get it checked, before asking you to sign it or pay a deposit. The advisers know many of the local landlords and can offer you tips and advice about all aspects of housing.

Where to look

Private sector 

The Students’ Union also recommends that where possible it is worth trying to find private accommodation, which has been registered with the University. For further information about the registration scheme, visit PropertywithUs.

You can find details of available registered properties via the Housing Finder website.

All properties on this list have to meet good Physical Property Standards and the landlords and letting agents agree to abide by a Management and Tenants Code of Practice. A new Sheffield wide accreditation scheme for student properties should be launched in the Spring of 2013, more details to follow.

Also try looking at the Students’ Union forum, the Accommodation Board is also a good place to find somewhere to live. Students and registered landlords can use the site to advertise spare rooms, find replacement tenants and search for potential housemates. Vacancies are advertised throughout the year and it can be a good place to look for a room if you are on your own and wanting to share with other students. Please note that the Students’ Union does not inspect or endorse the properties advertised via this forum.

If possible do not visit or view a property on your own. If you have to, make sure someone knows the address and time you are visiting and check in with them. Always view the property and meet with all potential housemates before you sign a contract or pay a deposit.

University accommodation

The University offers a wide range of accommodation to both first years and returners. They also have accommodation suitable for postgraduates and a limited supply of accommodation suitable for couples and families. For further information visit their website.

Letting agents

Many students find accommodation through Lettings Agencies and there are dozens of agencies operating in the student sector in Sheffield. You can easily find details online via a search engine using keywords such as ‘student’ ‘accommodation’ ‘Sheffield’.

An agent is someone who acts for someone else.  Some landlords set up limited companies or trade under company names.  This can be confusing but unless the landlord really is acting for someone else (e.g. another landlord) he or she will not count as an agent.  This is important because landlords and agents have different legal responsibilities.

Some agents only deal with lettings.  This can include advertising the property, taking up references, carrying out credit checks on prospective tenants and drawing up a tenancy agreement.  Once the property has been let the agent will no longer be involved.  The landlord will deal with any problems which occur during the tenancy.

Some agents offer a more extensive service and manage properties for landlords.  This can include collecting rents, dealing with repair problems and processing deposit refunds.  The extent to which the agent can act on the landlord’s behalf will depend on the nature of the contract between them. This can sometimes cause problems if the actual landlord is reluctant to sanction repairs and the agency cannot act without his permission.

Most agents who operate in the student housing sector in Sheffield usually manage as well as let properties but ask before you sign the agreement or hand over any money if you’re not sure.

If you pay your rent to an agent, you have the right to know your landlord’s name and address.  If this information is not contained in your tenancy agreement, write to the agent.  Keep a copy of your letter.  You should receive a reply within 21 days.  Failure to comply is a criminal offence.  Contact the Student Advice Centre if you require further advice.

Agency fees 

Agents are not allowed to charge for registering prospective tenants’ details or for supplying lists of available properties.  However, agencies make their money through charging fees for things like:

• Holding deposits
• Taking up references and carrying out credit checks.
• Preparing new or renewal tenancy agreements making changes to tenancy agreements.
• Sending out letters, such as rent reminder letters to tenants.

Always find out if charges are refundable, before you hand over any money. Be aware that if you change your mind, after you have paid a fee or holding deposit, it is usually not possible to get your money back.

Please also remember, that there is a surplus of student accommodation in Sheffield, although agents will often imply that there is a shortage, to encourage you to sign up for their properties. Unless you are seeking a property for 6 people or more this is not the case and so you should be able to find suitable alternative accommodation.

If you are not entirely happy with the Agency’s fees or actions, do not sign a contract or part with any money.

National approved lettings scheme (NALS)

This is a voluntary scheme and is open to members of professional associations such the Association of Residential Letting Agents, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.  It may be worth checking that an Agency is a member, as NALS agents are required to meet defined service standards such as ensuring that tenants are provided with an inventory (a list of the furniture and other property contents) and a written tenancy agreement.

They are also required to respond promptly to tenant enquiries and to comply with a complaints procedure.  For more information, including a list of member agents in Sheffield, go to the NALS website.