Essential Info
Renting a property can be a bit daunting, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. We know that and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions we get, but you can always phone 0114 2684860 to speak to one of our team.
Feel free to have a look down the list below to find out anything you may need to know, and if you can't find the answer just come and see us. Or email. Or phone.
We recommend that all of your group look at the properties online to make sure everyone in the group has seen all the details of that property i.e. YouTube video, images, looked at the map so you all have an idea if the location suits you and the floorplan. These are all available on each property listing.
Please call us on the number above, or come to the office for a chat about what you are looking for, or alternatively drop us an email (see contact us page) and we will get back to you quickly.
We will arrange a convenient time for you to look round the properties you have seen and maybe suggest some more for you that we think might suit you.
Any questions you may have we can answer while we show you around or feel free to get in touch prior.
Our office is on Ecclesall Road next door but one to the Nursery Tavern, 50 yards from M&S Food, so why not pop in next time you are passing.
If there’s a gnome home that you like the look of, your first step is to get in touch with our team and let us know you are interested. Just phone 0114 2684860, email us or stop by the office and we can answer your any student accommodation questions you might have, and get the ball rolling.
A gnome deposit is always £150 per tenant. So for example, if you rent property with four bedrooms, the full deposit will be £600. All deposits are protected through the Deposit Protection Service
Our contracts usually start from around the beginning of July and last around 12 months. We do sometimes have properties available from September if they have been refurbished over the summer. In some cases, you might be able to extend a contract by a few months too.
Most years there are some properties that are available with a later start date and are included in the property listing on our website.
You pay your rent by Direct Debit. We use a four date system, which means that you typically pay around the end of June, 10 October, 10 January and 10 April. If this causes you a problem, please don't hesitate to talk to use about it, we will try to find a solution.
In some circumstances, you may be able to set up a different payment plan. For example, tenants who are nurses on bursaries sometimes pay over 11 months.
If you are a current tenant, check your tenancy agreement. That’s where you’ll find your payment dates and amounts. If you still have questions or you can’t find your agreement, get in touch and we’ll help you out.
We know you want to be comfortable, so we make sure that our properties come with everything you need.
Every bedroom will have the following
- Double bed and mattress
- Wardrobe
- Chest of Drawers
- Desk and chair
- Bedside table
- Notice boards
- Carpet and curtains
- Individual lock on the door
- Digital TV point
Lounges have
- Flat screen TV
- 2 coffee tables
- Sofa's or chairs
Kitchens have
- oven and hob
- microwave
- washing machine
- Fridges and freezers
Please note that we don't provide hoovers, ironing boards, kitchen bins or any cleaning equipment / products.
We do a number of things to make sure that our houses are extremely safe.
All gnome properties:
- meet or exceed HMO licensing fire safety standards
- have an electrical inspection every five years
- have an energy performance certificate
- have a gas safety certificate updated annually
- have a burglar alarm
Every gnome home also comes with heat, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. We test them every six months but recommend that tenants test them every week. One of our team can show you how to do it if you’re not sure.
As long as everyone who lives in your property is a full time student for the whole term of the tenancy, you don’t need to pay Council Tax.
If you would like to extend your contract and that’s absolutely fine as long as we haven't already let your property to another group for the following year. You just need to make sure that your home has the right number of people living there – one person for each bedroom
No – we insure the property. However, that doesn’t cover your own stuff once you’re living there. Most tenants choose to set up their own contents insurance and we think that’s a pretty good idea. Our team can explain what that means if you’re not sure. It is also worthwhile checking if your belongings are covered by any insurance policy your parents or guardians might have at home.
If you have any problem at all, you can contact our team by emailing hello@gnomestudenthomes.co.uk or phoning on 0114 268 4860. You can come and see us in the office too.
Yes, it will. Every bedroom in a gnome home has a fire door with a lock and thumb turn on the inside. It gives you privacy and safety all in one.
For all the info you need about refuse collection and recycling,have a look at Veolia’s collection day finder
It depends where you live. Some of our homes are in areas where you may need to buy a parking permit. You can find out more on Sheffield City Council’s parking guide.
When it’s time to leave your gnome home, we pay your deposit back as quickly as possible. You just need to provide copies of your final gas, electric and water bills, including meter readings taken on the day the last key was handed back to us, and proof of payment.
If you have used Unihomes for your bills you just need an e mail from them confirming the bills have been paid up to date (you will need to send this on to us)
If you have used our bills included service, we aim to get your deposit return agreed within 5 weeks of the final day of your tenancy.