'The heat in our student flats is unbearable'

Residents in Sheffield 3 apartment block said their windows don't open wide enough to allow enough air into the rooms

Residents of a tower block in Sheffield said living conditions this summer have been "unbearable" because of the heat and lack of ventilation in the building.

Tenants in the Sheffield 3 student accommodation in Shalesmoor said that despite the heatwaves, property managers Student Roost have permanently locked the windows, only allowing for them to open hinge-style at the top and limiting the air flow.

One student said: "When I've been invited into friends' rooms I can barely stay in there for 30 seconds because the temperature is sometimes reaching 35 degrees."

Student Roost said it was reviewing the situation and working with Sheffield City Council, which is investigating complaints.

Sheffield 3 is managed by Student Roost and has more than 900 rooms

Although the 992 rooms in Sheffield 3 are mostly occupied by students, they are available to rent by members of the public too.

Alex lives in a studio apartment on a short-term lease and said despite feeling "increasingly uncomfortable" in his room, believes it could actually be one of the coolest in the block.

The lack of air flow, however, has become an issue.

"You can only open the window to a tiny degree where it pivots inwards and the amount of air is minimal.

"The room is extremely hot, there is almost no air, you can barely sleep," he said.

Student Roost said the window opening was restricted because of safety regulations to prevent falls from height in high-rise blocks.

Student Roost said all windows were fitted with restrictors in line with health and safety laws to prevent falls from height

Ben, an undergraduate student, has lived in his flat for two years and said it has been his "safe haven".

He bought three fans for his room eight weeks ago which he said "are on 24/7, every single day".

"During the summer it's been unbearable. I had the fire door propped open just to get some air in here.

"It's hot and sweaty, quite frankly without my tablets I wouldn't have slept."

Within the bedrooms are heat exchange units which are designed to draw in fresh air from outside, filtering it before supplying it to the room. Both Alex and Ben were adamant that their units have never worked.

Ben said he had not considered moving.

"I don't like change. I'm autistic. It took a lot for me to get used to it when I moved here. I can't uproot again. I'd prefer physical suffering to mental suffering."

Students said kitchen spaces were cooler than bedrooms

An international student who asked to remain anonymous told the BBC that despite arriving from "hot and humid" India, he found the temperature in his room "awful".

"When I arrived I had to spend my time in the kitchen where the window opened slightly more. In my room it opens two or three inches at most. I sit here and I'm sweating.

"When the UK heatwave hit, I couldn't sleep for three nights. There is no air circulation in the building."

He also criticised Student Roost for billing six residents £670 for deep cleaning of a communal kitchen which was in an "unacceptable" condition, but the landlord said the facility was a "genuine health and safety concern" and that the group had been issued with several prior warnings before the invoice.

Councillor Douglas Johnson, chair of the housing policy committee at Sheffield City Council, said: "Our private housing standards team is actively investigating the issue following a recent complaint about ventilation and air quality in the Student Roost building.

"Everyone deserves to live in a safe and comfortable home, and we take these matters seriously.

"We encourage any other residents experiencing similar issues to contact us directly so we can ensure their concerns are included in our investigation."

Sheffield 3 is located in Shalesmoor just outside Sheffield city centre

In a statement Student Roost said it was "awaiting a full report" from Sheffield City Council's environmental health team and would "take immediate action if required".

It added: "As high-rise, purpose-built student accommodation, Sheffield 3 complies with national safety requirements.

"All windows are fitted with restrictors in line with health and safety law and building regulations to prevent falls from height, while still allowing adequate airflow."

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