Tips on getting a rented property in Sheffield?

Lady_K

sdooley wrote: »

flattery and turning the knife is a good method of haggling

"yes yes I think it's a lovely flat and can really see myself living there, great kitchen, decent size bathroom & plenty of space for all our books... the only thing, and I stress the only thing, which bothers me is the price, I know it's a lot to ask but [could you/could you ask the landlord if he could] do us a bit of a deal, it wouldn't have to be much, just £20 a week off the rent would be fine for us & we're happy to pay a month's deposit to go in the scheme and move in Friday week"

say per week as well - it makes it seem like less you are asking for.

Yes I see it does sound better saying a weekly amount

tbs624

sammyjammy wrote: »

How about this? Just off Chesterfield Rd which is decent area, probably about 20 minute drive to hospital at busier times
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-6559621.rsp?pa_n=3&tr_t=rent

About a 20 minute drive from NGH ? A some times of the day you'd be lucky to make it to the city centre in 20 mins from here. You really don't want to be commuting all the way across or around the city centre.

Hillsborough, Walkley, Crookes, lower Stannington are the best bets

Your daughter does need to check out the car parking situation though because it is dire - staff have protested loudly in the past about cost and lack of availability (and there used to be staff from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital nearer the city centre who would park at NGH and use the intersite bus because the RHH has such limited parking.) There was also talk of operating a two tier staff parking fee depending on how far away you were travelling in from.

Lady_K

This parking thing is sounds a bit worrying, I know her friend who is a nurse at Birmingham Hospital said the parking charges arent that much and as it comes out of her wages she doesnt notice it. She said it makes it much easier with doing shifts. But maybe different hospitals have different costs for parking, shes going to have to find out asap.

She wants to try and view some places today if she get get some appointments

Lady_K

Found this on google about staff parking charges

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Outrage-over-staff-parking-at.1375483.jp

Its probably better to get a place a bit closer to the hospital so she can commute if need be

sammyjammy

tbs624 wrote: »

About a 20 minute drive from NGH ? A some times of the day you'd be lucky to make it to the city centre in 20 mins from here. You really don't want to be commuting all the way across or around the city centre.

Hillsborough, Walkley, Crookes, lower Stannington are the best bets

Your daughter does need to check out the car parking situation though because it is dire - staff have protested loudly in the past about cost and lack of availability (and there used to be staff from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital nearer the city centre who would park at NGH and use the intersite bus because the RHH has such limited parking.) There was also talk of operating a two tier staff parking fee depending on how far away you were travelling in from.

Well I can do it in twenty minutes from Heeley, maybe you're going the wrong way

Back the OP, you'r daughter could chec out the buses, they do run very regularly and it would save on all those excessive parking fees, she could just use the car when she is on an inconveniently timed shift.

Best of luck.

Sam

Lady_K

They have visited one in Walkley S6 and like it but have to look more into what its like in that area before finally deciding but it seems to be what they are looking for. I just hope there are no hidden charges this one is £400 pcm they didnt ask for a discount, not as yet anyway but they seem quite keen so I think they will be reluctant to do so as the price seems ok for this area?

Its partially furnished and has 2 large double bedrooms, large bathroom, kitchen dining room, lounge, garden to rear and offstreet parking. Does £400 pcm sound right?

There is already a girl living there she is moving out and buying her own house, she said that the landlord has been ok but you never know if hes offered her some off her last months rent or something if she helps to get new tennants. I know when my daughter was in student accom the landlord there offered them a months free rent if they helped to get new tennants.

They are meeting up with the tennant again on Tuesday to discuss more, why isn't it the landlord? I don't want them handing over a deposit to someone unless its the right person and everything is legit. It is a private rental place, no estate agents or agencys. How can they protect themselves?

Its 15 mins from the hospital and theres buses too. They have a gardener and a window cleaner but there was no mention of any extra charges for this.

She said its at the top of a hill as I said be carefull of the flood risk areas there. But even if its the top of a hill if theres bad weather they need to find out if its hard to get in or out of.

minimoocow

Hi I'm a Sheffield-ite too and I'd agree with others that there is lots of decent housing.

Unlike other posters I only have praise for Blundells although I have only seen them from a seller/landlord point of view I do know people who have rented through them and been very happy.

In terms of area:

My views are avoid city centre - it is overpriced and must be noisy evenings and weekends which would be rubbish if she's on shifts. Plus she'd have to pay extra for a parking space if she could get one at all. Other ok areas are Crookes, Broomhill, Eccelsall Road but they are very studenty - as a result rents are higher also they have implemented parking permits in some parts which adds to the cost. Walkley is a real mix of students, postgrads, young professional shared houses and families. Hillsborough is nice with local shops but not as liberal as other areas although only about 15mins drive to Northern General. Nether Edge or Upperthorpe might also be possibilities. I'd agree with other posters that Heeley and woodseats are nice but depending on the time can be a real pain for traffic and not as close to Northern General

Obviously there are other areas but you are probably getting away from the hospitals.

It should be possible to get a 2 bed house for about £500 a month although if it is through an agency don't forget to consider the upfront fees

Hope that's useful.

MMC

paintpot

Hi

Have you also seen the "sticky" at the top of this board - a tenant's guide to renting. There are loads of tips on what you should be looking out for generally when renting e.g legal requirements the landlord should fullfil, things to look out for etc.

All the best

Lady_K

Thankyou, they have more or less chosen the one in walkely, they have spoken to landlord and are meeting up with present tennant on Tuesday to discuss things and talk about when she is moving out and they are moving in.

She said the gardener and window cleaner are no extra cost, its £400 pcm which seems quite reasonable I'm a bit concerned if theres a reason we don't realise yet that it seems cheaper than most. There are places accross the road for over £550. The landlord said he could have put the rent up but he isn't going to. The landlord said that he isn't an absent landlord and if they find they need anything when they move in just let him know and he will get it. I said to ask for a double bed for the spare room then because the one in there now belongs to the present tennant. They might not get it but they do need a washing machine should they ask for these things?

They have to pay one months rent ahead as deposit. The landlord said he has one tennant in there that has been there for 4 years and people tend to stay once they are in. Not sure how long the agreement is for or what kind it is, what kind should it be?

Its offroad parking in a shared private carpark as this is one of a group of apartment houses.

Could the lanlord put the rent up once they are in?

Lady_K

I got it wrong they have to pay £400 deposit and £400 a month in advance is that about right?