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Tuesday 25 January | 12pm - 4pm | Hallam Hall, Owen Building
Want to find your ultimate Housing Heaven? Visit our Housing Fair to find your perfect student home with SNUG status! No need to book, just turn up.
The safest method of looking for a property in Sheffield is via the Housing Fair or the University's Accommodation Services. These provide free advice and information about private sector accommodation.
Sheffield Hallam University, the Students' Union and Sheffield City Council have a private sector student property standards scheme called Snug. Snug was introduced to tighten up the control and regulation of student housing in Sheffield to make sure all our students have access to good-quality, safe accommodation. Snug status is awarded when a home and its landlord meet the required standard of property and tenancy management.
All of the properties advertised by UAS are Snug, and the Student Advice Centre can check the latest Snug list for you if you want to check if a property is Snug before you sign. Accommodation Services also provide advice and guidance on all aspects of house-hunting; they have knowledge of the local area and the types of properties that might suit you. For more information contact accommodation@shu.ac.uk.
Go into house hunting and viewings with a list of essentials and negotiables for your perfect home. Know what is necessary and know the things you're willing to compromise on. 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.
Another important thing to think about is budget and considering how much everyone is willing to pay. Make sure everyone knows what each other's expectations are and how much everyone can afford. You don't want to get into a situation where you've found your perfect student house and one person knows that realistically, they can't afford it, so it's vital that everyone is vocal and honest about their budget. Don't fall into the trap of finding a luxury student house which has everything you could possibly need but is way out of your budget. Remember, your student loan has to pay for bills, rent, household supplies and everything else. TIP – Don’t forget to factor in bills if your property isn’t all inclusive and bear in mind that your maintenance loan may not cover your entire rent.
Don’t allow a landlord to rush you into signing a contract by making you think there’s a huge shortage of housing. Similarly, tenancy contracts can be lengthy and daunting, so never sign anything you don’t understand. The SU’s Student Advice Centre offers a free contract checking service, where full trained and qualified Advisors will look over your tenancy contract and let you know if anything seems out of place.
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.
Once you've decided who you'd like to live with, get your future housemates together and discuss your accommodation preferences. Would you prefer a house or a flat? Do you want to live nearer to City Campus or Collegiate Campus? Do you all want bigger bedrooms? It's important that you all discuss what you want so that you know what you're all looking for. Also, consider the area in which you'd like to live, as there are lots of places in Sheffield that are ideal for students. Depending on your studies and lifestyle, you might want to consider different options. Explore options outside of your comfort zone and consider prices and value for money.
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, City Centre. As rule of thumb, the closer to the city centre you live, the more expensive the accommodation.
When house hunting, don't just rely on your friends' opinions or take one look at photos online to make your decision. Arrange house viewings when everyone can attend, and if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Always view the accommodation first and ask the landlord lots of questions when you're there to find out as much information as you can. Explore different areas in Sheffield and have a wander around the city to get a feel for each place. It's so important that your accommodation is right for you and your fellow housemates, has everything you need and is within budget, so don't make any sudden decisions until you've all seen the property.
Snug is a property inspection standard which is awarded to properties which meet the required standard of property and tenancy management, and the landlord is considered trustworthy and 'proper'. Managed by Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Hallam Students' Union, the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Students' Union, the Snug scheme was established to ensure that Sheffield students are living in accommodation which is safe, reliable and managed properly. Only properties that have been assessed by the Council as being 'Snug' are advertised by the University, so make sure that any properties you look at are Snug.
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Don't believe the myth that there is a shortage of student housing in Sheffield - it's not true!
Unfortunately house hunting starts early in Sheffield, but that doesn't have to be the case. Despite what you may have heard, there is actually a surplus of student property in Sheffield, so you'll be able to find student accommodation at any point in the year - so don't panic, and take your time! Students who don't start house hunting until the summer before they return to University still secure good properties. We recommend that students wait until after the Students' Union Housing Fair before even considering signing up for a tenancy for the next academic year.
We see many students each year that 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.
"Just after I moved into my accommodation in my first year, everyone was saying that we should look for a house for next year. There was a buzz about finding houses for next year, letting agents started advertising. I had just made friends with 5 other girls all in their first year and new to Hallam and we decided to share a house together. I thought it was early but everyone was talking about it so we started looking.
We found a property we liked, but not everyone went to view it. We made a decision and signed up for a property to start the following July and paid our deposits, luckily I had just received my student funding so I could afford the deposit. However, after Christmas one of the girls I was moving in with, fell out with us and so I decided that I didn't want to move into the property.
I went to the Students' Union Advice Service for advice - they told me what my rights were, but basically I could only get out of the contract if I could find a replacement tenant. As of yet I haven't managed to do so and I am not looking forward to moving in. I wished now that I didn't sign up so early."
"Two of my housemates trashed the kitchen after coming home drunk, the cooker got broken and food was thrown everywhere, even on the ceiling. I share the house with 5 others and I believe that we shouldn't have to pay for it.
One of my friends recommended the Advice Service in the Students' Union. I went for the drop-in session and was advised what my rights were. I wasn't happy that I might be liable for the damage as I had signed a joint contract. However, the adviser explained what my options were and I am trying to sort it out but unfortunately I have to still live with the people that caused the damage and I'm not sure if I will live with them again after this."
All our advertised properties have Snug status.
For more support, visit the University's Student Housing Help or the Students' Union's Student Advice Centre.