Hi all,

I'm moving from Canada to Sheffield in January with my wife (who is pregnant :clap: ), to take up a 2-year Post-Doctoral position at the University of Sheffield.

I've looked through the forum, but I'm having a tough time figuring out which neighbourhoods would be appropriate for us.

Given that we have a wee one on the way, we would be looking for an unshared 2-3 bedroom house (furnished or partly furnished). Our budget is pretty meagre since I will be paid in Canadian dollars (which doesn't go far in the UK, I'm afraid).

We don't mind living away from the University if it is less expensive, so long it is safe and there is bus transportation available.

Any advice on where we should be looking, on how much we should expect to be paying, and on the likelyhood of finding something in January?

Thanks!

If you can give a roung idea of budget, we can probably suggest some areas. But prices do vary from area to area. Close to the university you will probably be looking at around £500 - £600 per month for what you require.

Thanks for the reply - and very good question.

I still haven't wrapped my head around what everything costs and what my likely monthly expenses would be, but I would estimate that 650 would likely be the absolute maximum we would be able to afford, and would prefer cheaper if at all possible.

Close to the University isn't so critical, provided transportation is available.

Canuck.
Welcome to the forum first of all.
With £650 Per calendar month, you will have no problem renting a nice 2 or 3 bedroomed house in most of the "Nicer" areas.

I am sure you will get a lot of advice regarding areas to live from the forum regulars.
Good luck for the move, and the new arrival. :thumbsup:

Excuse me if I'm telling you things you already know, however, as well as your rent you will have to pay for gas, electricity, water and Council Tax. I don't know if you have budgeted for these?

However, you will be able to get a good house for the money you have available.

Hi Andy,

No, you are correct, I would say that the 650 would have to include most of the bills, taxes, etc.

Sorry, I should have been more specific.

Viking,

Are you really an archaeologist?

I am also.

Sorry can't help with the house thing, just thought i'd send greetings from another archaeologist :)

I'm guessing you will be working for the Archaeology Dept then???

Good luck with the move and the new small person :)

Em

Welcome to the Forum and good luck with the move and the new baby!
Walkley and Crookes are close to the University and have family houses which are not too pricey.
Be careful of choosing to live too far from the University as transport costs in Sheffield are horrendous and parking is a nightmare.
To use the carpark space at the University you have to have a special pass. You only get this if you live outside the city limits, or if you have some disability. Even then you have to pay for the pass!
I am sure that the University owns houses to rent for its staff on a temporary basis, either if you are here for a short time or because you are looking for somewhere more permanant.
In the first instance I would contact them.
:)

anywhere along the tram routes would be quite convenient for getting into the university, the typical student areas are broomhill/crookes (amongst others), but if you go a little further you could look at walkley or hillsborough.
It takes you out of the typical student area, but you should be able to find a house within the budget, and the areas themselves aren't too bad.

Whereabouts in Canada are you coming from?

Hi Canuck, welcome to the Forum and welcome to Sheffield!

Try searching on www.rightmove.co.uk/renting.rsp for some of the areas already suggested - this should give you an idea of what's available.

Sheffield city centre is postcode S1 and then you can search within a certain distance of there.

The closer you are to the city will probably be more expensive, further out is cheaper but then you have more travel expenses. It also depends on what type of area you want to live in - again closer to the city is much busier (bigger choice of restaurants, bars, shops etc) whereas further out in the suburbs can be quieter and maybe better for families.

There is a good tram system in Sheffield but it doesn't cover every area, although it does run near the university so, as already suggested, it may be worth looking at some of the areas on/near the tram route?
Details of the tram system are at www.supertram.net

If you find somewhere you fancy, let us know - I'm sure you'll get plenty of feedback from people on here about whether it's a good choice or not!

cheers & good luck

Hey Folks,

I was in Sheffield in June on a scouting trip and -- thanks to some good advice received in this forum -- I managed to find a very nice furnished place on Walkley Road -- just on the edge of the hill.

From all of the great comments in other threads, it seems that Walkley will be appropriate for me, my wife, and 5 month old, and it is a fairly easy walk to the University.

We will be moving there in mid-September, and I was wondering if there is anything you can think of about the neighbourhood that it would be helpful to know (good restaurants, cafes, shops, pubs, libraries, facilities, etc.?).

Also, I've been doing some searching online and in the forums on the best options for Gas, Cable, EV, Broadband, Phone, etc. It seems that there are about a million options -- anyone have any opinioins on packages offered by the various companies?

And, perhaps just as importantly, for a Canadian coming to Sheffield with no existing football allegiances -- Wednesday or United?:D

just up the road from me.

Telewest combined package for broadband, cable tv and telephone.
Nowhere i'd particularly recommend to eat locally, but nowhere to particularly avoid either. For chinese takeaway you have lucks kitchen just up the road, and opposite that, gulistans for indian.
For shops, get the tram into meadowhall or the city centre.
Pubs, plenty around, springvale beer engine on springvale road is close and reasonably nice. Plenty more on the route into the uni.
Gas+Electric, personally I think we're with Scottish Power.

From your description of where you're going to be moving, there's quite a strong possibility that you'll be in a house that I used to live in (definitely lived on the same road).

The local library for family books is on the corner of South Road (1/4 mile up the hill) although if you catch a number 95 bus into town there's a wonderful children's library that's free to use with lots of story sessions and the like at the main library.

There's a very good chinese in Hillsborough that will deliver- Sang Lung on 2315888, and it's your choice as to whether to support either footy team. I just swap between my fave rugby team and wearing my Canuck's jersey.

Welcome to Walkley - I hope you and your family enjoy your time here.

Walkley Community Centre on Fir Street (just off South Road, the main road through Walkley) has a new playgroup for preschoolers starting on Wednesday Mornings 9.30 - 11.30am in September. It should be a really good place to meet and make friends. Also Rocking Horse Music Group is moving to Walkley in September at the Community Centre for music and fun for children and babies. There is also pregnancy yoga at Ebenezer Hall, Greenhow Street. Walkley has a super babysitting circle where you swap tokens with other families on the circle in exchange for free babysitting. You have to babysit back of course but an excellent way to meet new people - nearly everyone on it is University/Health Service/Council employees.
Other things...., The library is great as a previous poster said. You will have the amazing 201 bus going past your door - a veritable magical mystery tour up and down the hill.
Why not visit the Walkley Forum website (do a google search) or go to the Walkley Community Centre site www.firstreet.org.uk for details of what is going on. Also you can email me through this (I am a trustee of the centre) and I can give you further information.

Wow, thanks.

We will be sure to check out the Community Centre.

I noticed that the website for the Walkley Community Forum has been disconected. Is there a new one that doesn't show up in google?

Are there many Mum's and Babies groups in the Walkley/Crookes area?

I have just tried Walkley Forum website and you are right - I will ring them to see what is going on. There are lots and lots of playgroups etc in the Crookes and Walkley Area. Go to the Website of the Childrens Information Service www.sheffieldchildrenfirst.org.uk and they have information based on postcode of all playgroups in the S6 and S10 areas and lots more. Also Sheffield Information Service based at the central library do information sheets covering thousands of groups in the Sheffield area - great if you are looking for interest groups etc.

Hope this helps.