Moving to Sheffield - where to rent?

[BabCNesbitt]

We're moving to Sheffield at the end of July for DH's job, and as we don't know the place at all and we've been overseas for a couple of years, we were planning on renting for a while. We need at least 2 bedrooms and ideally no more than #700 a month for rent, so I think that probably rules out the swankier areas near the uni, but what would be decent areas within that budget? (DD will be 3 in the autumn but we're hoping to buy a place before primary school becomes an issue, so schools aren't a really important factor right now.)

I've been looking at Rightmove and there seem to be affordable places in Hillsborough, but what's that like as a place to live? We've also been looking at Walkley but I don't know if that would be too expensive for us, too? And are there any places we should DEFINITELY avoid?

Thanks! :)

Bump - anyone?

Sheffield is great! Lovely place to live. I used to live there and was sad to leave.

South/west of the city tends to be the naice areas and therefore more expensive. Also where the universities are so lots of students so the rental market can be geared towards them in some places (around broomhill and ecclesall road for example). But you can still find some nice places (from what I can see on right move). Hunters bar, nether edge, sharrow vale and around the s11 areas are lovely and have shops, parks, good transport links, nice schools etc. millhouses and out towards dore/totley etc are 'posh' and v expensive!

Hillsborough is quite nice too - had friends who lived there and they had a nice terraced house off the main road so close to shops, the tram, buses, the park etc and close to town and they made lots of friends from around their area so there are other young families living there.

this map I googled shows the best and worst places based on the housing market.

HTH and good luck with the move!

Thanks, Onelittlepiglet! I'm really looking forward to it - it seems like there's a lot going on, and the countryside looks beautiful! And It's good to know that Hillsborough is nice as I think that's looking like our best bet at the moment. Impatient to get there, as we're currently stuck here waiting for DH's visa to be processed!

I live in Sheffield - also moved from overseas and love it! Great city, friendly people, loads going on.
Yes S10 and S11 are definitely the most expensive. Nether Edge is lovely and a bit more affordable. Also Hillsborough, Heeley, Walkely. The primaries on the west side are almost all good. Avoid Manor/Gleadless/Pittsmoor.
Where is your DH going to be working? The traffic in Sheffield is truly dreadful so I would really factor in his route to work if you can (e.g somewhere on a tramline maybe). Also try Sheffield Forum - great local website with loads of info on Sheffield. Good luck with the move.

I worked in Sheffield for many years but lived outside the city. Great place.
If you don't mind a short commute you might get more for your money around Chesterfield (Walton, Somersall, Wingerworth), Dronfield.

I think the King Ecgbert School is great in Dore. I would live in catchment for this school. Some of the secondary schools yoyo in and out of poor ratings by Ofsted. It might cost more to buy a property there, but it is much nicer and very green on the map! That was interesting!

Ooh, new replies and I missed them! DH is going to be working at the University, and after a year of living in a place where you need a car to get everywhere, I'm pretty excited at the possibility of our living within walking (or at least bussing/teaming) distance of work and the city centre!

Dore does look pretty, but I think terraced places in S6 or Heeley are probably more our budget at the moment, as far as I can see

I have friends who work at the university and live on the north side of the city in Walkley. Easy access to university via public transport: buses and trams and you get more for your money rent wise, lots of parks, green spaces on their doorstep. The south side: Dore, mill houses, Netheredge , Brincliffe Edge, Whirlow is pretty suburbia but much more expensive and horrendous traffic during peak hours. The part I like best is Endcliffe park and the botanical gardens also walkable / bikeable to the university

Sheffield is a great place to live! Friendly, cosmopolitan and near some beautiful countryside.

As others have said S11 and S10 are lovely and but tend to be expensive. I like Hillsborough, there's a nice centre/community feel to it and Walkley is affordable and close to the university. S7 (Nether edge/ Sharrow) has lots going on and is near to town. I do like some of the areas in S8 (Heeley/meersbrook). They seem
to attract hippy sorts but if you're concerned about secondary schools then the local one doesn't have a great reputation (just been taken over by an academy though).

"Avoid Manor/Gleadless/Pittsmoor."

I would also avoid Darnall, Parson Cross and Burngreave.

This link gives a short description of each area

I think I'd probably fall within the category of "hippy sort", so Heeley and Meersbrook do appeal. I've not seen a lot of houses come up in our price range there, but will definitely be keeping an eye out. It's exciting how enthusiastic people who've lived there are about Sheffield!

It's a fair trek from Meersbrook to Sheffield university but fine if it's Hallam university

Hillsborough is great and fantastic value. Beautiful park for the kids with a great adult and children library, invaluable for cold winter days! Excellent for getting to the university as it takes ten minutes on the tram (the tram is fab, by the way). Quite a few shops for daily essentials, although the shopping area can look a bit rundown. A new Costa, if that's your kind of thing, has just opened opposite the lovely old swimming baths (now a tasteful pub). Lovely period houses all over.

If you go for Hillsborough, I would head for the nicer streets uphill from the park, the area closer to Wadsley. My favourite streets there are Crofton Avenue, Withens Road, Overtone Road and the surrounding area (pls google them!). There is a lovely primary school within walking distance, Marlcliffe school (big school but great feel) and I have also heard good things about Malin Bridge. Kendal Road is very close and that area is another little gem. There is a gorgeous, tiny primary school in Loxley, which is another area worth considering but a lot more rural, and you would need to get to uni by car. Less convenient but beautiful. Another massive plus of Hillsborough is that you can get to the Peak District in no time from there. The adorable village of Bradfield, for example, is ten mins drive.

Now, the thing to bear in mind is that Hillsborough does have mixed demographics - it is a traditional working class area although many professional people do also live there, especially in the areas mentioned above. Downtown Hillsborough can be rough, especially on Saturday nights. Many academics seem to live in the posher end of town around Endcliffe Park, Botanical Gardens and so on, which are certainly more upmarket. But the traffic is horrendous over there - much less so around Hillsborough. And if you want to be careful with money, Hillsborough would get my vote every time.

Sheffield is a great place to live, you'll love it!

Walkley and Crookes as both nice, and very near Sheffield Uni, but there are patches which are 100% student.

Hillsborough is near the uni, but at the bottom of the valley, whereas the Uni is 1/2 way up. Sheffield is very hilly, but there are still loads of cyclists.

Heeley and Meersbrook as both nice. If your dh just wants to catch one bus to work, then really living in Heeley would be good as he would be able to catch the 51 bus, which goes through the city centre and then past the Uni.

Broomhall would be worth a look, as would some parts of Netherthorpe and Upperthorpe.

The up and coming are at the moment is Sharrow. Go for a wander up Abbeydale Road and you will see it is slowly becoming more upmarket. Moving on from mainly ethnic grocers and hairdressers to vintage shops, Cafes and other foods and antique shops.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-44838550.html

Thanks, soaccidentprone and rosarosae, that's so helpful to know! And we used to live all over South London before we moved here, so I'm not too bothered by areas that get noisy on a Saturday night

Good luck!

Hippy sorts;
Nether green
Hunters Bar
Sharrow
Nether edge.

Naice schools:
Eccellsall
Grey stones
Whirlow
Bents green
Fulwood
Lodge Moor
Cross pool
Banner cross
Dore
Totley
Woodseats
Broom hill
Crookes
Ranmoor

The last 3 are very studenty though.

I hate Hillsborough

Id go for Meersbrook or Abbeydale area as they are within a good distance of the city centre and tons of green spaces and shops which is perfect when you have young children , I'd say Walkley is a bit far out for what you want .
Also their are plenty of choices for schools in these areas as well hth

Sheffield is a weird and polarized city. You will be able to see which areas according to house prices are desirable.

Hills borough is IMO horrid. Really really full of traffic, nowhere to park, awful one way system, really really busy all the time. Very densely populated and crowded

I often go through Hillsborough on the tram and from what I can see from the tram I would agree with Orange

I never take the car into Sheffield as it is horrible to drive round, but public transport is very good so I use that instead.

I also think the traffic round Endcliffe and Botanicalvgardens is much much less congested than around Hillsborough.

Academic types tend to cluster near and round the universities. So The Groves, Broomhill, Crookes, Walkley, Ranmoor, Nether Green. All quite expensive though,

I would avoid Broomhall too, although it looks nice. What's your budget?

Sheffield has the distinction of have both the most and least socially deprived areas in the country within a few miles (Park Hill flats and Fulwood). S10 and S11, out toward Dore would be my "money no object" areas, but Meeresbrook/Heeley/Abbeydale Road areas are likely more realistic.

Or Penistone and get the train into Sheffield.

Broomhall was the red light district when I lived in Sheffield!

I didn't know that BRS. The university is a bit of a hike from the station though, unless it is Sheffield Hallam, in which case it is ideal. Trains from Penistone are only hourly.

Broomhall was dodgy when my sister was a student 1978 - 1981.