Family-Accommodation

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.

Whilst there are a number of family accommodations available on our website, 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.

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

Some landlords will advertise their property as being ‘suitable for families’. To find Family Accommodation on our website, run these types of searches:

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

When the search results appear you will need to:                                                                                                                                                                                       

• click on the filters
• then click on suitable for
• then select families

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.

If you are unable to source appropriate accommodation through our website, you can source accommodation through websites such as Rightmove and Zoopla, or through local agents*.

Here is a small list of local agents* that you can contact directly:

• Philip James
• Leaders
• Bridgfords
• Hunters
• Reeds Rains
• Julie Twist
• Belvoir
• Gascoigne Halman
• Savills
• Kaytons
• Jordan Fishwick
• Buckley Frayne
• NPP Residential

*All the websites of local agents or accommodation providers mentioned are not vetted by Manchester Student Homes.

When you find a property you may be interested in, whether through Manchester Student Homes or the private sector, you need to ensure the following steps are taken:

• Contact the landlord/agent for a viewing.

• Visit the property and view it internally - for advice on property viewings, please click here.

• If you would like to proceed with the property, the landlord/agent may ask you for a holding deposit. This can be no more than 1 weeks' rent and will hold the property for 2 weeks. Ensure you keep a receipt of payment. Further information on holding deposits, please click here.

• Ask for a copy of the contract to view and email the contract to Manchester Student Homes at manchesterstudenthomes@manchester.ac.uk for a free contract check.

• Once the contract is checked and approved, you can proceed with arranging a time to sign the contract. For more information on contracts, please visit our Contracts page.

• When you sign the contract, you will need to pay a security deposit (equivalent to a maximum of 5 weeks' rent) and the first months' rent. Your holding deposit should be deducted from this amount. For information on deposits, you can visit our Deposits page.

Whether you find accommodation through our service or with a different provider, you are welcome to use our advice and support services, such as our free contract checking service.

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For students visiting with their partners, The University of Manchester offers limited accommodation to student couples. You may visit Horniman House (The University of Manchester) for more details and will need to apply in advance as rooms are limited. Alternatively, student couples can search for a studio or 1-bedroom flats/apartments, which can be found through MSH website.

Many students want to live close to campus for convenience, however this may not be the case for students with families, especially those with school age children. There are different factors to consider when deciding where to live with your family, for example your partner's workplace or your child's school. 

Greater Manchester is the UK’s second largest city and is full of diversity, so there are plenty of areas to choose from. You can check out our local area guide for more information on different areas in and around Manchester.

Please note that council tax is payable when one of more non-student (over the age of 18) resides at the property.

If your partner or an adult member of your family is not a student, the household will be liable to pay council tax, although you may be able to apply for a discount.

More information can be found on the relevant council website below:

• Manchester City Council
• Salford City Council
• Trafford Council

For more general advice on council tax, please click here.

For more information on family accommodation, please download the FAQs here: Family Accommodation FAQs.