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Your housing options in Sheffield

Becoming a Sheffield City Council tenant

Contents
Your housing options in Sheffield
Are you eligible to join the housing register
If your property needs repair or alteration
If your current housing is not adequate
Alternative housing options
Becoming a Sheffield City Council tenant

Becoming a Sheffield City Council tenant

There are some things you have to consider in when becoming a Sheffield City Council tenant. This includes: 

  • the application process
  • what property band you will be in
  • how to bid for a property
  • tenant introduction and your responsibilities

Your application

You will need to complete an application form and provide the necessary information.

View our list of acceptable IDs.

All housing applicants are required to provide Identification (ID) and a landlord reference when they apply to join the housing register. 

References should be submitted using the Sheffield City Council reference template. If you are currently or have ever lived independently, Sections 1, 2 and 3 must be completed by your most recent landlord.

If you have never lived independently, you will need to contact us for an alternative form. This form must then be completed by someone who knows you in a professional capacity. This could be a support worker, social worker or employer.

Sending us your information

You can upload your documents through the system or take these to your local First Point or to Howden House. 

All required documents must be submitted at the same time.

These must be provided within 28 days of submitting your application online.

If we do not receive these, your application will be cancelled and you will need to re-apply. If you have any issues get in touch with us.

What happens next

The Registrations Team will process your application and write to you. 

Bidding

A bid is a show of interest in a property that has been advertised via the Sheffield Property Shop website.

This is a Sheffield City Council property or a Housing Association property.

You can only bid after your application has been processed and we have placed you into a band.

How to place a bid

You place a bid by logging into the Sheffield Property Shop website.

You can only bid on properties you are eligible for. For example, as a single person you would be eligible for a bedsit (studio flat) or a one-bedroomed property.

You can bid for up to three properties per week.

Refusal of 3 offers

The person in first position for a property when the bidding period closes will be offered the property in most cases.  
If you are currently in Band D and refuse three offers, we will look towards moving you to Band E. 

If you are currently in Band E and refuse three offers, we will look towards disqualifying you from the register.

In both cases, we will write to you and ask you why you refused the three properties.

Banding

Your circumstances dictate which band your application will be placed:

Priority Band:

Your application will be placed into a priority band once a full assessment of your needs has been completed.

General Needs Band D:

  • you are a Sheffield resident or live outside of Sheffield and have a local connection to the area
  • you do not owe any arrears to SCC/private landlord/mortgage company
  • you have not committed any nuisance or anti-social behaviour – serious enough to disqualify you or demote your application

Reduced Preference Band E:

  • you live outside of Sheffield and do not have a local connection to the area
  • you owe some arrears to SCC/private landlord/mortgage company but these are being reduced by making regular payments
  • you have caused nuisance or anti-social behaviour that did not meet the criteria for disqualification

In addition to the reduced banding, we may also restrict the areas of Sheffield you can move to.

Your Band can be reviewed and changed at any time during the lifetime of your housing application.

Introductory tenancies and tenant responsibilities

If your application successful, you will begin an introductory tenancy. IT usually lasts for 12 months, and it functions much like a trial period.

If there are no problems during the trial period, the tenancy will automatically become a secure tenancy 12 months after the tenancy started.

Go to Introductory council tenancies for more information.

Tenant responsibilities 

Our Tenancy Conditions set out what we expect from you as our tenant. This forms the agreement between you and us.

You can read the Tenancy Conditions in You and Your Home to find out more.

Independent advice

If you would prefer to get independent advice outside of Sheffield City Council, you can contact:

Citizens Advice

You can speak to them about any concerns you have around housing, benefits and general support, including questions you may have around your rights as a tenant. 

There are also other organisations such as: 

Contact Council Housing Service

Ask us a question
0114 293 0000
Monday to Friday
8am to 5:30pm
Housing and Neighbourhood Service
PO Box 5967
Sheffield
S2 9GH

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Supporting information

Sheffield Property Shop

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