You can find private rented accommodation for yourself by going to a Letting agent. You can find a list of local letting agents on Yell (online Yellow Pages) or Thompson Local. There are reviews on these sites – please be careful and judge how reliable or useful the reviews are for yourself.
When looking for private rented accommodation you are likely to need some money to pay for a deposit and a month’s rent in advance. You may be able to open a saving account with Sheffield Credit Union to support with this. They also offer loans for their members in some circumstances. You can call them on 0114 276 0787 or get information from the Sheffield Credit Union website.
If you are on a low income you may be able to apply to the Local Assistance Scheme. You can request help in funding rent in advance. You can call to speak to an adviser on 0114 273 4567 or get more information from the Sheffield Local Assistance Scheme webpage.
Sharing private rented accommodation
Nomad Sheffield's SmartSteps Programme helps single people aged 18 to 35 who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. They help find shared private rented accommodation. This is often the most viable option for a young person looking for accommodation. Single people under 35 can only claim housing costs at the sharing rate.
You can call Sheffield Nomad on 0114 3210262 or get more information from the Sheffield Nomad website.
Bond Guarantee
The Council Private Rented Solutions Service may be able to help with a bond guarantee. It is important that the property you choose is suitable for you and your household.
If you find a property you're interested apply using their Find Your Let Form.
You can download the form from the Sheffield Property Shop website.
Private Rented Solutions will contact the landlord and inspect the property to make sure it is of a good standard. The landlord will also complete a Fit and Proper Check. The service will only agree to proceed if the tenancy is safe and affordable and the landlord is willing to engage with the service.
If you are interested in this support you should:
- find out how much rent you can afford on https://www.entitledto.co.uk/.
- find a property that you're interested in.
- if possible, arrange a viewing with the landlord.
- fill out the Find Your Let Form with your details.
- send your completed form to the Private Rented Solutions Service and they will get back to you.
You can download the form from the Sheffield Property Shop website.