20 Questions to Ask before choosing a Student House in Sheffield

Updated: 12^th October 2026

Choosing a student house in Sheffield is an exciting part of university life, but there's a lot to think about before you sign. The right house puts you in the right area, with the right people, at a price everyone can afford. Whether it's your first move out of halls or you've rented before, these 20 questions will help you and your housemates choose with confidence. When you’re ready, search over 400 student homes to rent in Sheffield with Dove Students.

Choosing your housemates

1. Have you got the right housemates?

Who you live with matters as much as where. Before you view anything, talk honestly about cleaning, noise, overnight guests and how you'll split the bills. Decide whether you want a sociable house or a quieter one for studying. A group that agrees on the basics early finds it much easier to agree on a house. Don’t rush the decision just to get a house quickly.

2. How will we share the bedrooms and bathrooms?

Rooms are rarely identical. Agree what matters most to the group, whether that's more bathrooms, bigger bedrooms or a larger shared living space, and settle who gets which room before you sign. If you know your group size, start with our 3 bed student houses, 4 bed student houses, 5 bed student houses, 6 bed student houses, 7 bed student houses and 8 bed student houses in Sheffield.

Choosing the location

3. Which area suits my university?

Start with where you'll spend most of your time. If you're at the University of Sheffield, look at student houses in Broomhill, Crookesmoor, Crookes and Broomhall. Our guide to Sheffield University student accommodation covers each area. If you're at Sheffield Hallam University, student houses on Ecclesall Road and Hunters Bar suit Collegiate Campus, while the City Centre is close to City Campus. See our Sheffield Hallam student accommodation guide for more information.

4. How will I get to lectures, and home?

Check the walk or bus time to your lectures before you fall for a house. Think about how often the buses run, whether the Supertram is useful, and how easily you can reach Sheffield station for trips home. If you're bringing a car, check the parking with Sheffield City Council: some streets near the universities are in permit zones, which adds to your costs.

5. What's on the doorstep?

Supermarkets, gyms, cafés and green space all make a difference to everyday life and to your budget. Sheffield is often called one of the greenest cities in the UK, and Endcliffe Park, the Botanical Gardens and Weston Park are all within easy reach of the main student areas.

If you love climbing, walking or cycling, the Peak District is right on your doorstep. The 272 bus runs straight along Ecclesall Road, through Hunters Bar and Banner Cross, and out through the Hope Valley to Hathersage, Hope and Castleton. It’s a short trip to the gritstone climbing at Stanage Edge, walks up Mam Tor and some of the best cycling routes in the country.

Finding a property

6. Is the house well looked after?

There is no substitute for seeing the property in the flesh. Don't rely on the photos alone, as layouts and furnishings can change. Walk round every room and look for damp, mould or leaks, including behind furniture and in bathrooms. Check that windows, doors and appliances are in good order and that any outside space is tidy. If anything concerns you, ask.

7. What furniture and appliances are included?

Check what's included, as some items may belong to the current tenants and won't be there when you move in. Look for the essentials, such as beds, wardrobes, desks, a fridge-freezer, a washing machine and an oven, and ask about anything extra that matters to you, like a dishwasher. It's worth counting the plug sockets in each bedroom too.

8. Is there somewhere to study?

Much of your studying will happen at home, so make sure each bedroom has a desk and chair, good light and somewhere to keep your books. A room away from the kitchen and lounge can make a big difference at exam time.

9. How good is the internet?

Run a quick speed test on your phone in the bedrooms and living areas during the viewing. Ask whether broadband is already installed, and whether it's included in the rent or the bills package.

10. How is the house heated?

Ask whether the heating is gas or electric and how well the house holds its heat. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates every rental property from A to G, and a better rating usually means lower heating bills. This matters most if bills aren't included.

11. Is the house secure?

Check the locks on the front and back doors and the windows, especially ground-floor windows that face a back alley or path. Ask whether the bedroom doors lock and whether there's an alarm. Note, most student homes have thumb-turn locks for fire regulations.

12. What do the current tenants think?

If the current tenants are home during your viewing, ask how they've found living there. Is it warm in winter? They're the best people to tell you what a house is really like.

Safety and paperwork

13. Is the house safe and legally compliant?

Every rented house must meet legal safety standards. Ask about:

• Gas safety: a gas safety certificate, renewed every year.
• Electrical safety: an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), renewed at least every five years.
• Alarms: a smoke alarm on every floor, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fuel-burning appliance such as a boiler or fire.
• HMO licence: if five or more of you are sharing, the house will normally need an HMO licence from Sheffield City Council.
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): rented homes generally need a valid EPC with a rating of E or above, and you should be shown it before you sign. Generally the better the rating, the easier it will be to heat the home.

14. Where will my deposit be protected?

By law, your tenancy deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days, and you must be given the details. For most student lets, the deposit is capped at five weeks' rent, and a holding deposit to reserve a property is capped at one week's rent. Dove Students protects tenancy deposits with mydeposits.

15. What does the tenancy agreement say?

Read the agreement carefully before you sign and make sure everyone in the group understands it. Check the start date, the rent payment dates, the deposit details and which bills you're responsible for. Ask whether each tenant needs a guarantor and what they'll need to provide. Our tenancy information page sets out payments and charges.

16. Who manages the house and handles repairs?

Find out who manages the property, how to report repairs and who to call out of hours. Some landlords manage their own houses, while others use an agent. Where Dove manages the house, tenants can report a maintenance issue online at any time.

The costs involved

17. What will it really cost?

Student rents in Sheffield are typically in the region of £85 to £125 per person per week for a shared house of 3 persons or more, before bills are taken into account. We recommend agreeing a budget everyone can afford before you start viewings, then comparing the total cost of each house, including rent, bills and travel. If bills are included, check which ones are covered and whether there are usage limits. If they aren't, ask whether a bills package is available. Check when the deposit and rent are due, as this varies by property and start date. Budget for a TV licence if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, and for contents insurance: the landlord's insurance covers the building, not your belongings.

You’ll often find that properties further from campus have a lower weekly rent.

18. Do we need to pay council tax?

Houses where everyone is a full-time student are normally exempt, but the exemption isn't automatic. Once you move in, apply to Sheffield City Council with the student certificates from your university.

19. Should we use a “bills package” company?

A utility bills package generally combines your household bills, usually gas, electricity, water and broadband, into one weekly or monthly payment per person. It can make budgeting easier and saves one housemate from having to put the accounts in their name. Bills packages are provided by separate companies, not by your landlord or letting agent, so read the provider's terms carefully before you sign up and check:

• What's included: some packages also cover extras such as a TV licence.
• Any usage allowance: find out whether there's a limit on how much energy you can use and what you'll pay if you go over it.
• The contract length: check how it fits with your tenancy and what happens if someone moves out.
• The total cost: compare the package price with setting up the bills yourselves, so you can choose what suits your group.

20. Where can I find the cheapest student houses in Sheffield?

Rents vary by area, house size, quality and what's included, so the lowest weekly rent isn't always the best value. A few things usually help keep costs down:

• Look a little further out: areas such as Crookes and Hunters Bar often have lower rents than streets closest to campus, and the area around Sheffield Hallam's City Campus can be good value too.
• Share with more people: larger houses can often work out cheaper per person when you take into account the utility bills. Take a look at our 7 bed, 8 bed and 9 bed student houses.
• Compare the total cost: add up rent, bills and travel. A cheaper house that needs a daily bus fare, or has high heating bills, can cost more over the year.
• It depends on the landlord: Some landlords are happy to keep their rents low, so make sure you search around and look out for the great value student properties we have in Sheffield.

Every Dove Students listing shows the weekly rent per person and whether bills are included, so you can compare like for like.

Compare before you commit

Once you've viewed a few houses, shortlist the ones that suit everyone. Compare the total cost, location, condition and extras such as a garden or a second bathroom, and make sure everyone is happy with how the bedrooms will be shared out. It's also worth reading what our tenants say about living in a Dove Students house.

Take your time: popular houses do let quickly, but more are released throughout the season. When you've all agreed, contact us to start your application and confirm what's needed to reserve the property.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a guarantor?

Usually, yes, but requirements can vary, so ask us when you enquire. Our FAQs explain what a guarantor needs to provide.

Are bills included?

Most of our student houses don’t include bills, however many offer an optional bills package with an external firm. Each property listing shows which applies.

When do student houses for next year come on the market?

We generally start viewings for the next academic year in November, and tenancies are signed from January onwards, typically for July move-ins. More houses are often released throughout the season, so register here to hear about new houses first.

Where and when can I find 1 and 2 Bed Student Homes in Sheffield?

Want to live on your own or with one friend? Browse our studio, 1 bed and 2 bed student flats in Sheffield. Since the Renters’ Rights Act, most smaller flats only become available once the current tenants give notice to leave, so many come onto the market later in the season, often in spring or summer, and start dates can vary. Register with us and we’ll let you know as soon as one comes up.

Is a shared house better than purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)?

It really depends what suits you, but many students choose a shared house over halls after their first year:

• Choose who you live with: students share with their friends, not whoever is allocated the next room on their corridor.
• More space: a shared lounge, their own kitchen and often a garden.
• Value: rent per person is often lower, especially in larger houses.
• A real neighbourhood: living among the cafés, shops and parks of Broomhill, Crookes and Ecclesall Road. Student houses in Sheffield are often located in established neighbourhoods rather than a single large purpose-built block.
• No long fixed contract: most purpose-built accommodation is exempt from the Renters’ Rights Act rules on rolling tenancies, so they can still tie you into a fixed contract for the full academic year, often 44 or 51 weeks. Shared houses are now let on rolling tenancies, which give tenants more flexibility.

Why should you choose Dove Students for your student accommodation in Sheffield?

For over 30 years, Dove has been finding Sheffield students the right home. We have more than 400 houses and flats, from studios to 9-bed houses, close to both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam. We’re independent and family-run, our office is right on Ecclesall Road, and our local team is there to help from your first viewing onwards. With new houses released throughout the season, there’s no need to rush into signing early. Register with us and we’ll tell you as soon as new properties come on.

Ready to find your student home?

The right student house in Sheffield suits your budget, your housemates and your lectures. Browse our student properties in Sheffield or Contact us to arrange a viewing for your perfect home.