Student accommodation in Manchester

insured

Does anyone have any experience of renting student property in Manchester.
My son is at Manchester University at the moment (1st year and therefore in halls) For next year he and his friends are looking to rent a house. He will not need the property in July and August as he will be at home. I know that most student contracts last for 1 year from 1 July, but if he waited until mid August perhaps to find somewhere, how likely is it that there would be still property available so that he did not have to pay rent in July and August?
Is there an oversupply of property in Manchester (Fallowfield area) is what I am saying?

poet123

Most students do plan well ahead and so the best properties go early. So,if he is not too fussed about the location,size etc,then it may be worth the risk. If he is sharing with friends they may well be the catalyst for wanting to get things sorted out, if he was just going into any houseshare it may be easier.

Also,most landlords do take half rent for July/August. Another angle is to look for properties which are being re furbished and which may not be ready till later,obviouslyif there arenot ready no rent will be payable,but you have the security of having actually got accomodation.

andyrules

My DD has already secured her accommodation next year in Manchester - as have many of her peers. Last year she managed to get one without July/August payment, but I think normally they charge. He should definitely be looking out now. Some of the places she viewed were dives - you wouldn't want him stuck with one of those.

Also, be aware that the predominantly student areas like Fallowfield and Withington (bit further down the same route) can be a bit of a target for burglary.

mancmum

Rest assured there is definitely an oversupply in this area but unfortunately students are reluctant to play the market (my own son included who has a very nice bedroom at home only two miles from Uni).

There was heaps of stuff advertised after the start of term, when quite frankly I think a lot of landlords would be pleased to have it let.

Some of it is a bit of a dive but its nothing like it used to be and lets face it some people are only living in it for 26 weeks of the year. Even in what I regarded as a prime area close to local buses in Fallowfield places were vacant.

I think the problem is that renting a flat/house required a pre-agreed group of people and some of them then set there hearts of a five/six whatever bedroom house. Go with a smaller group and play the market.

melancholly

one of the best places to look for info on accommodation in manchester is:

http://www.manchesterstudenthomes.com/

the forums can be very useful, as well as the adverts. it's also got lots of advice as it is managed by the universities there.

with the huge new blocks of halls that have sprung up near town, i would imagine it's much more a student renters' market now than it has been in the past.

insured

Thanks for all of these replies. Do not visit the boards often, so was surprised by the number of replies. Thanks all.
mancmum I completely agree with you. Trouble is that he is in a big group, and whilst I have won him over with this, his friends are panicing that they will not find anywhere next year. I agree that even if it is a bit of a dive, its only for a few weeks, and anyway when I was a student no one lived anywhere "nice" and we all lived to tell the tale. He and his friend have had very comfortable lifestyles and think being poor is only being able to go skiing once a year instead of two. Whilst I have tried to keep his feet firmly on the ground, a few of the others in the group are willing to let their parents pay anything for what they want.
They have had a bad experience over the last few weeks with an letting agent, so perhaps this may mean they will see some sense and start negotiating hard. (Well I would like to think so, but I have been wrong in the past!)
Melancholly, I did look at that site, and did not realise that it had a forum. It is very interesting. Is the site actually run by the University or is it a letting agent of its own? The estate agent who behaved in a less than honest manner with them has a couple of houses on that site, and I am sure the University would be interested to hear the tale if so.

melancholly

insured wrote: »

Melancholly, I did look at that site, and did not realise that it had a forum. It is very interesting. Is the site actually run by the University or is it a letting agent of its own? The estate agent who behaved in a less than honest manner with them has a couple of houses on that site, and I am sure the University would be interested to hear the tale if so.

i think the site is run by both unis and i always understood that if you went with a landlord from there you should expect a minimum standard.... well worth mentioning to them even if it goes no-where!

Hutchch0920

As a student living in Withington, i have not yet started looking for a property next year, i have a part time job which in essence means that i have the flexibility to rent privately if i so wish. In my opinion the majority of student lets are extremely expensive for what you get. The house i am in now is £260pcm and privately rented, i have a large double bedroom, a driveway and a garden, in comparison my friend rents a student let, has a smaller bedroom, no garden and no drive for £325pcm. I think her house is slightly better decorated but its not a significant difference.

We will be looking to move in and stay over summer so we will begin looking in May, i am confident we will get a better deal then in a privately rented house than a student let. I am not sure whether this option would be as suitable for your son if he is in a big group, as more professional share houses are for smaller groups i.e 3/4 people rather than large groups of 8/10. You may wish to take a look at philipjames.co.uk as i know they have alot of large houses up for rent at the moment.

A number of landlords offer "retainers" where by you do not pay the full price for the accommodation over summer, this is not across the board though.

I definately think you should lodge a complaint with regards to the dodgy agent, anything to help improve the standard of accommodation

Finally, i must say i take a dislike to parents who pay for every expense that their child incurs whilst at uni, how are these people supposed to know the value of money if their parents pay for everything! having a job does not affect my grades, i work while my boyfriend lazes around in bed because his parents pay for him. Working a proper job gives me work ethic, he on the other hand puts it all off to the last minute. Furthermore it shows employers that i have experience and i personally think this puts me head and shoulders above. anyway personal rant over, i hope some of this info is of use to you.

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eth01

currently renting privately in castlefield. quite a few available for reference.

poet123

As a student living in Withington, i have not yet started looking for a property next year, i have a part time job which in essence means that i have the flexibility to rent privately if i so wish. In my opinion the majority of student lets are extremely expensive for what you get. The house i am in now is £260pcm and privately rented, i have a large double bedroom, a driveway and a garden, in comparison my friend rents a student let, has a smaller bedroom, no garden and no drive for £325pcm. I think her house is slightly better decorated but its not a significant difference.

We will be looking to move in and stay over summer so we will begin looking in May, i am confident we will get a better deal then in a privately rented house than a student let. I am not sure whether this option would be as suitable for your son if he is in a big group, as more professional share houses are for smaller groups i.e 3/4 people rather than large groups of 8/10. You may wish to take a look at philipjames.co.uk as i know they have alot of large houses up for rent at the moment.

A number of landlords offer "retainers" where by you do not pay the full price for the accommodation over summer, this is not across the board though.

I definately think you should lodge a complaint with regards to the dodgy agent, anything to help improve the standard of accommodation

Finally, i must say i take a dislike to parents who pay for every expense that their child incurs whilst at uni, how are these people supposed to know the value of money if their parents pay for everything! having a job does not affect my grades, i work while my boyfriend lazes around in bed because his parents pay for him. Working a proper job gives me work ethic, he on the other hand puts it all off to the last minute. Furthermore it shows employers that i have experience and i personally think this puts me head and shoulders above. anyway personal rant over, i hope some of this info is of use to you. Claire

How is that any of your business?

We pay for our sons because we want them to concentrate on achieving first class degrees, and not have to work to pay their way. Summer jobs are just as valuable on a CV,as are jobs done before university,both of which they have done/will do.

You are perfectly entitled to do as you please,as is everyone else. I would not dream of judging parents who can't contribute to their childs continuing education,however, those who can and choose not to,are being unfair imo as the loan assessment is based on their income,therefore there is an expectation of help.

Obviously, you are one student who would not take such help,and of course I dont know which category your parents fall into,but to make a blanket statement about disliking parents who do help, is very judgemental.

melancholly

Finally, i must say i take a dislike to parents who pay for every expense that their child incurs whilst at uni, how are these people supposed to know the value of money if their parents pay for everything! having a job does not affect my grades, i work while my boyfriend lazes around in bed because his parents pay for him. Working a proper job gives me work ethic, he on the other hand puts it all off to the last minute. Furthermore it shows employers that i have experience and i personally think this puts me head and shoulders above. anyway personal rant over, i hope some of this info is of use to you. Claire

although i agree with you to a point, i think that parents can teach children the value of money without the child getting a job (i.e. even by 13/14 i knew what the cost of things meant and i wasn't employed then!). some parents pay for everything and their selfish children take advantage, other parents make a financial contribution for which their children are very grateful.... tarring everyone who doesn't work with the same brush is unfair - it's just not accurate.

i'd also suggest that attitute of thinking yourself to be head and shoulders above any other candidate isn't really attractive..... feel free to think that your CV is strengthened, but the arrogance that comes across in your post (however intended or otherwise!) will not held in the recruitment process.