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Snug is a property inspection standard which is awarded when homes meet the required standard of property and tenancy management, and the landlord is considered ‘fit and proper’. The scheme is promoted by Sheffield City Council, both Universities and Students’ Unions, as the best way for students to make sure that their home and landlord are approved.
The guidelines for Snug properties span across all areas that affect a home and its occupants. Split into Property Standards and Management Standards, guidelines include but aren’t limited to:
Find our more about the Snug guidelines.
Snug exists to help create better quality housing for students across Sheffield. Having guidelines that go above and beyond statutory requirements means that students have more protection against bad living conditions. The scheme aims to reduce the amount of bad experiences students have in their accommodation and in turn, give a better Uni experience.
There are a whole range of benefits of choosing a Snug property including:
Above all, perhaps the biggest benefit of choosing a Snug property is that no matter how cheap your rent is, you’re guaranteed to receive good quality accommodation and a good level of service from your landlord.
If a landlord is interested in their property being a part of the scheme, they can apply by completing an application form on the Council’s website, which asks questions about how landlords meet the Snug standards. Landlords are encouraged to thoroughly read the Snug standards to ensure they understand and are able to meet them. The application form includes questions about how landlords meet the Snug standards
Once an application is submitted, the Council will look at it to see if sufficient information has been given about the property. If they’re happy with the application, they’ll progress to the inspection stage.
To ensure properties meet all the standards required to be Snug, a Council representative will carry out a thorough inspection before approving an application. Inspectors are experts in what they do and are trained specifically to assess against Snug guidelines, covering every aspect of the scheme. Landlords pay for their properties to be inspected as part of the application, with fees ranging from £50 to £500 depending on the type and size of property.
Following inspection, Snug status will either be awarded or denied. If approved, the landlord will receive a certificate to display in their property and both Universities will be notified. Once awarded, Snug status lasts for 2 years, at which point the application process will start again.
Now it’s over to the Landlord to promote their Snug property and for students to find their next home. If landlords want to advertise their property through Hallam or Uni of Sheffield’s accommodation services, they’re required to be a part of the scheme. Similarly, only landlords with Snug properties are invited to take part in Housing Fairs at each University, so this is an ideal place to look for your next home to make sure you get a decent house and landlord!
Sheffield City Council have a dedicated Snug team who are experts in ensuring landlords meet the rigorous Snug standards. From application through to property inspection and management standards, the Snug team’s role to work with landlords to make sure the level of service expected is maintained.
If reports are received that a landlord is failing to fulfil obligations in the Snug guidelines, the Council will take action to investigate. If it’s evident that there are issues with a property, the landlord will be given time to improve. If no improvement is seen, the landlord and property will lose their Snug status, meaning: