As an international student, you may be searching for accommodation before you arrive, below are some advice/ steps on how to search for accommodation in the City:

• Book yourself temporary accommodarion in a hotel, hostel or serviced apartment (usually for 5-10 days).
• Search for accommodation from the City. 
• Viewings on interested properties should be done in person.  Tips: Property Viewings.
• Holding deposits, to reserve a property, should no more than 1 weeks rent.
• Ask for a copy of the contract and get it checked by Manchester Student Homes.  Tips: Contracts.
• Once your contract has been checked and approved, arrange an appoitnment with the landlord to secure the property.
• A deposit, equivilent to no more than 5 weeks rent, will be required when signing a contract.  Tips: Deposits.
• At least 1 months rent will is payable in advance.

The easiest way to find available, private accommodation is to visit our website at www.manchesterstudenthomes.com.

Popular Searches include:

For Studio/ 1 bedroom

• Property Type = Whole Property
• Rooms Required = 1
• Contract Length = Long Let

For 2-bedroom flats / houses

Property Type = Whole Property

Rooms Required = 2

Contract Length = Long Let

For Private Halls

• Property Type = Whole Property
• Rooms Required = 1
• Contract Length = Long Let
• View the property in person.

When you find a property that you are interested in, please contact the landlord directly on the number/ email address provided to arrange a viewing and/ or ask any specific questions.

You must get your contract checked by MSH before you sign and before any money is handed over. Once you have seen the property and you are interested in signing into a legally binding contract, you may be ask for a holding deposit (also known as a reservation fee or holding fee) to take the property off the market. A holding deposit is equivalent to one week’s rent. You can email your contract to manchesterstudenthomes@manchester.ac.uk or call us on 0161 275 7680 to book an appointment.

Manchester Student Homes (MSH) values the importance of family support for students. Indeed, many students travel to Manchester with their families so they can be with their loved ones and support each other. As a result, couple/ family accommodation in the student housing market is in extremely short supply and high demand.

Due to the current student housing market situation, Manchester Student Homes advises that you do not bring your family to the city unless you have managed to secure decent, safe and secure accommodation in advance. Alternatively, you should arrive in advance, taking on temporary accommodation, and then search for suitable family accommodation from the city. Once suitable accommodation is sourced, your family can join you.

Students with family/ children should source accommodation through local private agents. The majority of our landlords advertise their properties to individual students to share as a group where they rent on a per room per week basis (with shared facilities). These properties may not be suitable for families because they are charged by room and there may be restrictions on the number of occupants in the property. It is more affordable for families to rent a property as a whole. Council tax is also payable when there is one or more non-student (over 18 years of age) living at the property.

More information canbe found on our Family Accommodation page.

The International Friendly Standard has been created by Manchester Student Homes to recognise those landlords and private halls who provide a fair and transparent service to international students in regards to bookings and contractual terms, as well as going that extra mile in the level of service they provide to international students.

It is supported by the International Departments at The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University as well as the International Society. The International Student Friendly standard is also available to all students from The University of Salford, UCEN, BIMM, SFS, ICT and BPP.

You can find landlords and private halls who are awarded the International Friendly Standard by choosing International Student Friendly under the Accreditation Type filter.

All our landlords and private halls that have been awarded the Standard have agreed to the following conditions:

• NO requirement for UK based guarantors

• NO requirement for your rent to be paid upfront for the year

• To have reasonable payment plans available

• To use simplified and fair booking procedures for students to access from overseas

• To use a fair and easy-to-understand contract with clear information on any additional fees or charges

• To provide information about the area to assist your orientation at check-in

• To have a commitment to international student safety

If you have any questions about the International Friendly Standard please contact manchesterstudenthomes@manchester.ac.uk or call us on 0161 275 7680.

The Manchester International Student Safety Campaign was created following discussions with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and international students. These discussions highlighted the crimes which international students were most likely to be victims of and identified the best methods of presenting our safety information. Following this MSH was awarded funding for the campaign from The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) and the Manchester Student Safety Tactical Action Partnership.

The aim of the campaign is to educate international students about personal safety and household security. To achieve this the campaign will take the form of an international student safety guide, safety merchandise, and an interactive student safety video.

Mei's Day Out International Student Safety Video

Manchester International Student Safety Guide