Your quick guide for finding accommodation

Thursday 23-05-2024 - 14:14

Written by your Education Officer, Sandesh Puhnani

We know moving can be stressful. No matter how far away you’re moving from, it can be a daunting challenge finding a place to live. Finding the right accommodation was a crucial step in my university journey. This experience, however, inspired me to help fellow students navigate the process more smoothly. Here are some of my tips to help you secure the best possible living arrangement in Manchester.

Where can I find accommodation?

A good first place to start is on the uni’s ‘choose your university accommodation' page, on here you’ll find a list of both university affiliated halls and private partner halls (not directly associated with Man Met, but still endorsed). Looking through this list can give you a better idea of what you want in a flat and maybe what you don’t want.

Unfortunately, as we get closer and closer to freshers week, sometimes these halls do fill up. But not to worry, there are alternatives! On Manchester Student Homes you can find student houses rented by private landlords, the website is associated with several universities in Manchester, ensuring that you are protected against unethical landlords.

Now you know where to look, it’s time to decide where you want to live.

Choosing the type of accommodation

Although you want to pick a place that suites you, not every flat is made equally, and you should pick somewhere that suites your needs. Things to consider when looking at accommodation is:

Living on your own or having flatmates
Quiet accommodation
University affiliated or private
Halls or student house

There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong choice for any of these, it mainly comes down to availability and personal preference. For example, living on your own does have the perks of your flatmates never leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight, but it can sometimes be lonely and often a lot more expensive.

Additionally, quiet accommodation is right for some, but if you plan on exploring Manchester’s bustling night life and fancy inviting friends round to see your place, you run the risk of making a few enemies if you make too much noise!

Halls vs private accommodation

Typically, most first year students opt to live in halls initially, living in private student houses in 2nd and 3rd year. However, sometimes this isn’t an option and there are still plenty of private student houses for first years.

To find your dream student halls, check out the uni’s choose your accommodation page and if you’d rather live in a private student house, have a look at the listings on Manchester Student Homes.

Location

Where in the city you choose to live is sometimes just as important as the flat itself. Living close to the city centre obviously has the benefits of being close to everything (including uni!) but is often more expensive than living a little further out.

Additionally, some halls offer free bus passes to residents, making that journey in to class free! Before picking a place, it’s important to budget how much you plan to spend on everything (food, clothes, rent, bills, travel, luxuries etc) and then you’ll have a better idea of where you can afford to stay. It’s also not a bad idea to look up a location on Google to make sure you aren’t moving to somewhere miles away or somewhere with no travel links to the centre.

What do I need to bring?

Almost every accommodation you look at will be fully furnished, meaning you don’t have to worry about putting together all new flat pack furniture when you arrive. However, for your bedroom, you will need to either bring or buy pillows, duvets and bedsheets. Similarly, in the kitchen, you’ll have to provide your own kitchen equipment (pots, pans, cutlery, etc).

If you’ve heard of the UK, you’ve probably heard that it rains. Like, a lot. An umbrella and waterproof clothing is, unfortunately, an essential.

Similarly, although Manchester isn’t arctic, it can get pretty chilly around wintertime so warm clothes are definitely something to consider packing.

You also don’t need to buy everything new, by living in Manchester you’re surrounded by charity and vintage shops, if you suddenly realise your saucepan isn’t big enough or your winter coat isn’t thick enough, it may be tempting to jump on amazon and order a brand new one, but by shopping pre-loved not only are you helping the environment, you’re also decking out your new pad on a budget.

Quick Tips

Book it sooner rather than later, accommodation fills up quick!
If you’re arriving from another country, you can get a free taxi from the airport to your new home. On us!
Cheese graters and power adapters are essential first year equipment.
Decorate your room and bring things from home that matter to you – this can make even the most difficult days easier to get through. Also, at the start of every semester we host poster sales and plant sales, to spruce up your new gaff.
Bring something to get you through the move – moving in can be a tiresome task, pack some sweets or biscuits to give you a little boost when unpacking. Additionally, leaving your door open and offering your new flatmates a sweet treat is a great little ice breaker.