Your First Month in a Sheffield Student House: A Local Guide from Dove Estate Agents

Your First Month in a Sheffield Student House: A Local Guide from Dove Estate Agents

There are a few important things to consider when settling into a new student house, and getting them sorted early can benefit you in the long run.

First things first: photograph your property when you move in, make sure to cover both the bedrooms and the communal areas while also taking note of any damage, marks or issues that were already present, make sure you report these as soon as possible.

Doing this helps protect you and your letting agent in the long run, as it provides a clear record of the property's condition at the beginning of your tenancy and can help prevent any confusion or miscommunication about when damage or maintenance issues occurred.

It's also important to know how to report any maintenance problems that arise during your tenancy. Reporting issues promptly can help prevent smaller problems from becoming bigger ones.

For Dove tenants, the relevant contact details can be found on page two of your tenancy agreement.

If you are a fully managed tenant, you can report maintenance issues directly through our online maintenance portal:

https://doveproperties-maintenance.10ninety.co.uk/

Another important thing to get sorted when you first move into your new home is making sure all of your bills and payments are set up correctly for the months ahead.

For your rent, make sure you have set up your Direct Debit using the correct details. You will generally have a payment schedule which provides the information you need, but it's always worth double-checking that everything is set up correctly and that you know when your payments are due.

When it comes to household bills, what you need to do will depend on how you arranged your bills when applying for your property.

If you have chosen to use a bills-inclusive service such as UniHomes, or a similar provider, make sure your Direct Debit is set up with them and that you understand what is included within your package.

If you haven't used a bills-inclusive provider, you may need to arrange your utilities individually. Depending on your tenancy, this could include:

• Gas
• Electricity
• Water
• Broadband
• TV Licence

As a student, you should also make sure your council tax status is sorted. If you're eligible for a student exemption, you will need to notify the council of your circumstances so that you don't receive council tax bills that you aren't responsible for.

Taking a little time to get your rent, bills and council tax organised at the beginning of your tenancy can make the rest of the year much easier and prevent you receiving unexpected bills!

Get to know the area from the start! One thing Sheffield isn’t shot of is a variety of locations that all differ and add to the cities character. The following locations are a must to explore for their own individual reasons:

You can even explore outside of Sheffield; the countryside is on the doorstep!

This next factor might depend on your situation, as some of you might already be living with your best mates. However, if you’re moving in with people you don’t know so well, try to use this time to get to know them. You’re going to be sharing a home, so making an effort early on can make settling in a lot easier!

Try using your communal spaces or exploring some of the recommended places around Sheffield. This will allow you to introduce yourself to your new housemates whilst also getting to know the city you will be living in.

Once you’re comfortable with your housemates, it’s much easier to work out how you’re going to split the chores so that one person doesn’t end up doing everything. You could make a simple rota, take turns each week or just agree between yourselves who is responsible for what.

It’s also worth finding out how your bins and recycling work. Make sure you know which bins are for what, when they need to be put out and who is going to remember to take them out and bring them back in. You’re all sharing the same space, so doing your bit and being considerate of everyone else will help keep the house happy, clean and relaxing.

Overall, there is plenty to do when first moving into your new student house but it is all for your own benefit in the long run. Most importantly, don't feel like you have to figure everything out on your own. If there are any issues during your tenancy that you think we may be able to help with here at Dove Estate Agents, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Give us a call, drop us an email, or pop into our office on Ecclesall Road and speak to a member of the team. We're always happy to help where we can.