Accommodation Guarantor Scheme

Eligibility

To apply for the Accommodation Guarantor Scheme you must meet all of the criteria listed below:

• You are a care leaver or are estranged from your family and do not have anyone to act as a guarantor; or you are an international student (overseas or EU) who does not have a UK guarantor.
• You are a registered full-time student and are applying for a guarantor for your second year* of study at the University of Sheffield. You must be a registered student for the full duration of your tenancy.
• The property you need a guarantor for is registered with Smart Move Sheffield for the academic year you wish to live there. You can find out if a property is registered by contacting Smart Move Sheffield via their website, or by visiting them on Level 3 of the Students’ Union.

* If you are a postgraduate student, you are eligible to apply in the first year of your course. You will need to provide an adequate reference as part of your application to be eligible.

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Our guarantee

The guarantee will cover the rent for students who fall into financial difficulty and cannot pay their rent. The University will limit the amount it guarantees for 2024-2025 to:

• £170 per week for single students
• £220 per week for students with a family

Any award will be made directly to your landlord or letting agent and will be recorded on your student record. You are required to repay any funds paid on your behalf within three months of any payments being made.

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How to apply

1. You will need to complete the Accommodation Guarantor Scheme application form.

This will involve providing some personal details and relevant documentation to support your application, specifically:

• Three months' worth (consecutive) of your most recent bank statements, listing transactions, for each account you (and your partner, where applicable) hold
• Your new tenancy agreement
• A reference from your current landlord or letting agent if you currently live in privately owned accommodation (if you currently live in University of Sheffield accommodation then you do not need to provide this)

If you are a current student, use the link below to apply.

Apply for the Accommodation Guarantor Scheme

If you are a postgraduate student who has not yet registered with us, or if you require a paper application form for any other reason, contact the Student Funding Team to request a paper application form.

You will be notified of the outcome of your application within 20 working days of submitting your complete application.

The deadline to submit applications in the 2024-2025 academic year is 5pm on Friday 18 July 2025.

2. When we have processed your documents, you will be sent the guarantee agreement. 

Follow the instructions on the agreement.

Do not sign the contract with your new accommodation provider until you have met with Smart Move and they have checked it.

3. Once completed, return the agreement to the Student Funding Team.

The Student Funding Team will stamp and sign the completed contract and send one copy to you and the other to your future landlord or letting agent.

Contact the Student Funding Team if you have any questions or require further guidance.

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Help and advice

If you would like to discuss your housing or financial situation with someone, contact the Student Advice Centre in the Students’ Union.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme you may find the following links of interest:

• Your Guarantor
• Housing Hand

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