Renting in Manchester City Center

Stagedhigh

Hi everyone, just looking for some advice from anyone that may have it. I am relocating to Manchester for work, and I am currently looking for somewhere to rent. My work will be based in the city center, and so I'm looking for 1 bed flats that are also in the city center.



I haven't visited Manchester that often, and I am unsure of the areas so was hoping anyone that knows might be able to advise on good areas/blocks of flats to live in or avoid. I've been looking around the Northern Quarter and Ancoats mostly at the moment. I am a single female in my 30's if that helps?


Any advice would be massively appreciated

Red-Squirrel_2

Whereabouts in the city centre will you be working?

Its not a big city, everywhere is walking distance, so it just depends what sort of area you want to live in and what your budget is!

Northern Quarter is quite hipster/trendy with prices to match. Ancoats is for people who want to live in the Northern Quarter but can't afford it, you can still walk to the bars and the organic cafes etc! I'm in my thirties and I feel old when I go to the Northern Quarter these days. I live in the 'burbs with the other oldies.

Stagedhigh

Thanks, work will be in Ancoats which is why I'm looking in those areas at the moment. I won't know anyone when I get there so I wanted to be in the center so that I can go out and about without worrying about how I'm going to get there, and hopefully meet people so I wont be on my tod all the time. My budget is up to £800 a month (though I'd rather lower!).

Rambosmum

It's been a couple of years but Ancoats was just awful - had to leave the glove box open and the parcel shelf off to show would be thieves there was nothing to steal, even then it wasn't a certainty (this was in a secured carpark). The bit between the city centre and Ancoats is also the red light district.

Northern quarter is definitely the better of the 2. Gay village is quite nice.

Stagedhigh

Oh, well that's put me off Ancoats then! I want to feel safe (or relatively safe for city center living). Thanks for your advice.

Red-Squirrel_2

Stagedhigh wrote: »

Oh, well that's put me off Ancoats then! I want to feel safe (or relatively safe for city center living). Thanks for your advice.

Ancoats has changed a lot, its quite gentrified.

It's madness to make housing decisions based on what strangers on the internet tell you though. Go and visit, walk around, get a feel for the place!

Stagedhigh

Ok, well I'm going up tomorrow and Thursday to view some flats and to have a look around so I'll go with an open mind. It's just good to get an idea of what other people think as I don't have any friends to ask for advice, so anything is better than nothing. Thanks again!

Red-Squirrel_2

Stagedhigh wrote: »

Ok, well I'm going up tomorrow and Thursday to view some flats and to have a look around so I'll go with an open mind. It's just good to get an idea of what other people think as I don't have any friends to ask for advice, so anything is better than nothing. Thanks again!

I think the best thing to do is to only sign up for 6 months wherever you start out (or maybe even a holiday let/Airbnb?) then when you are actually living in the city and making a new social circle you can make a more informed decision. That's what I'd do I think.

Good luck anyway, and welcome to the city, its great, mostly!