For students attending our St James’ Manchester campus, student accommodation is available privately from a variety of providers covering a number of different options and price ranges. This means you are not limited to any single building, area, or style of living and have full choice to select an option that suits you best.
Our Accommodation Team are based at our main Ormskirk campus and are here to guide you. Although you are away from the main campus you can still access our services either online, on the phone or over email.
How do I book private accommodation in Manchester?
How do I begin?
The most important thing to think about first is your budget. Most private accommodation options will ask for an initial deposit and then will take payments throughout the year. Have a think about all your costs throughout the year including groceries, public transport etc and come up with a figure of how much money you will have coming in and out. This is your budget and will determine which options are available to you.
What am I looking for?
Next, it’s time to do your research and identify what your options are. Common considerations include:
Distance to campus
Length of tenancy (6 months vs 12 months)
Bills included vs bills paid separately
Private landlord vs letting agency
House vs apartment
Ensuite bathroom vs shared bathroom
Washing machine vs launderette
Shared accommodation vs studio living
Where can I look?
There are a large number of providers available across the city, with many advertising their vacancies via online platforms. As a university and not a private provider, we cannot offer any formal recommendations for providers, however we have included a few websites below where you may wish to utilise during your search:
Please note we do not have any affiliation to the websites or companies above and their inclusion in this list is not a recommendation.
When should I book?
Once you have applied for university, it can be tempting to book straight away. Remember, never book your accommodation until your place on your course is confirmed. Signing for accommodation is a legally binding contract and you will be held to it, even if plans change.
Once your place on your course is confirmed, bookings for the following academic year often open 12 months in advance, so you can begin your search as soon as you are ready. Availability will go down as things get booked up, so remember not to leave it to the last minute.
How do I know if it’s a good deal/if my tenancy agreement is legitimate?
As an Edge Hill University student, you have exclusive access to the free advice service provided at Edge Hill Students’ Union. When deciding on your accommodation, we would recommend booking an advice appointment where you can get independent, professional advice and contract checking free of charge.
When asked about accommodation, students from our St James campus recommended looking at Facebook groups and group chats where you can connect with other students also seeking accommodation and consider “buddying up” to book accommodation together.
