Who Is MAF Properties' Accommodation Suitable For in Sheffield?

Updated

MAF Properties suits two broad groups in Sheffield: students at universities and colleges who want shared houses, private flats or studios near campus, and non-students — graduates, working professionals and families — looking for long-term residential rentals. The site presents both as affordable, well-maintained homes in convenient neighbourhoods, so it is a reasonable starting point if you want a single letting specialist covering student and residential lets in the city. It is not a university-run allocation service, and the site does not publish rents, so you will need to enquire directly to judge affordability for your budget.

Students: shared houses, flats and studios

MAF Properties describes itself as a specialist in student accommodation in Sheffield for university and college students, with over 30 years of experience in the city centre. The student side of the site is built around three property types:

  • Shared houses — the search filter lists properties from individual rooms up to 6 bedrooms, which matches the typical shared-house format.
  • Private flats — one- and two-bedroom options appear in the same bedroom filter.
  • Studios — listed as a distinct category for students who want their own unit.

Locations are chosen for convenience to campus and the city. The site's location filter covers Broomhall, Broomhill, City Centre, Devonshire Quarter, Ecclesall, Netherthorpe, Norfolk Park and University — neighbourhoods grouped around Sheffield's universities and the centre. If your main criterion is a short walk or bus ride to lectures, filtering by these areas is the quickest way to see what fits.

The site also states it is now letting for 2027/2028, which tells you the student cycle it is currently advertising for. If you are planning further ahead than that, ask directly rather than assuming listings exist.

Graduates, professionals and families: residential lets

The same company runs a residential lettings section for people who are not students. According to the site, this covers flats, houses and apartments for long-term rental, aimed at graduates, working professionals and families. The pitch is the same as the student side: high-quality, well-maintained homes in convenient neighbourhoods.

This matters if you are staying in Sheffield after graduation and want to avoid moving letting agents, or if you are a family or working resident who found the site while searching for student properties. Use the residential section rather than the student search, since the two are presented as separate ranges.

How to check whether it fits you

  1. Decide which range applies — student property or residential property. The site separates them, and the search filters (location, number of bedrooms, property type) sit within the student side.
  2. Filter by location and bedrooms — pick the neighbourhood closest to your campus or workplace and the size you need, from an individual room to 6 bedrooms.
  3. Shortlist and save — the site has a saved-properties feature, useful for comparing options before enquiring.
  4. Contact the team — the site invites you to get in touch so they can match you to a property. This is also where you confirm rent, bills and availability, none of which the homepage states.
  5. Check the student information pages — there are dedicated sections for new students and existing students, plus utilities, FAQs and a maintenance reporting route. Existing tenants should note the maintenance reporting option before signing.

Where to look for caveats

  • Price is not published. The site calls its homes affordable but gives no figures, so treat "affordable" as a positioning claim until you have a quote.
  • Bills and utilities are not spelled out on the homepage beyond a utilities menu item; confirm what is included before comparing with other providers.
  • Availability timing is tied to the 2027/2028 letting cycle for students; ask about your specific move-in date.
  • It is a letting specialist, not a university service. If you want halls or officially allocated rooms, this is a different route.

In short: if you are a Sheffield student wanting a shared house, flat or studio in a campus-adjacent neighbourhood, or a graduate, professional or family wanting a long-term rental from the same local specialist, MAF Properties is set up for you. Start with the relevant property section, filter by area and size, then contact the team to get the numbers the site does not show.