Problems with my housing or accomodation

If you rent a home, your landlord must make sure it is safe and free from hazards.

If your landlord does not act, you can get help from the Sheffield City Council Private Housing Standards Team. They can:

• Investigate problems in the property
  
  
• Give advice
  
  
• Take action if the landlord ignores serious hazards
  
  

Renters unions can help if you are dealing with:

• Harassment from your landlord
  
  
• Illegal eviction
  
  

You usually join a renters union and sometimes pay a small membership fee.

Renters unions can:

• Attend and stop an illegal eviction
  
  
• Request repairs on behalf of tenants
  
  
• Challenge bad practices by letting agents, such as charging illegal fees

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‍What you can do:

• Get in touch with the SCC Private Housing Standards Team
  
  • Telephone: 0114 273 4680‍
  • Report a disrepair
    

Damp and mould can make your home unhealthy. They can cause health problems, especially for children, older people, or anyone with asthma or breathing problems.

Signs of damp or mould:

• Wet or dark patches on walls or ceilings
  
  
• Peeling paint or wallpaper
  
  
• Musty smell
  
  
• Condensation on windows
  
  

What you can do:

• Tell your landlord or housing provider if you rent
  
  
• Keep your home ventilated – open windows and use extractor fans
  
  
• Wipe away mould with a safe cleaner
  
  
• Report serious problems to Sheffield City Council Private Housing Standards Team
  
  

Remember: Landlords must make sure your home is safe and free from hazards, including damp and mould.

‍

Helpful Websites:

• How to manage damp and mould yourself
• Shelter's guide to identifying types of damp and mould

If you are a council tenant or leaseholder, or your complaint is about a tenant or leaseholder, you can report it to Sheffield City Council.

• Check the council website for all the ways to report a problem.
  
  

If someone is in danger:

• Call 999 in an emergency
  
  
• Call 101 to report a concern that is not an emergency
  
  

Sometimes what seems like a noise problem could be domestic abuse.

• If you see or hear domestic abuse, report it to the Police straight away to help keep others safe.
  
  

If you are worried a child is being harmed or is at risk:

Call the Sheffield Safeguarding Hub on 0114 273 4855 to speak to a social worker

Fly-tipping is dumping rubbish illegally on land where it should not be.

It can be:

• A single bag of household rubbish
  
  
• Large amounts of household, business, or industrial waste
  
  

Fly-tipping is dangerous and can harm the environment and public health.

What to do:

• If you see fly-tipping, report it to Sheffield City Council.

If you have pests in your home, like:

• Mice
  
  
• Rats
  
  
• Cockroaches
  
  

You can get help from Sheffield City Council Pest Control.

What they can do:

• Give advice on how to keep pests away
  
  
• Visit your home to deal with the problem
  
  
• Help prevent pests from coming back
  
  

How to contact them:

• Sheffield City Council Website
• Phone: 0114 203 7410
  
  

Tips:

• Keep food in sealed containers

• Take out rubbish regularly

If you think your home is overcrowded, you can get advice and support from Sheffield City Council Housing Service.

They can help with:

• Advice about your housing options
  
  
• Support to find a bigger or more suitable home
  
  

How to contact them:

• Visit Sheffield City Council's website

Or

• Phone: 0114 293 0000
  
  

Tips:

• Contact the council as soon as possible

• Have information about your household and home ready.

It is important to reduce the risk of fires in your home.

You can:

• Read fire safety advice online
  
  
• Arrange a home safety visit from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
  
  

What happens in a home visit:

• They will check your home for fire risks
  
  
• Give advice on making your home safer
  
  
• Explain what to do if there is a fire