BIMM MANCHESTER ACCOMMODATION GUIDE WHERE TO LIVE EUROPE’S PUBLIC TRANSPORT MOST CONNECTED TYPES OF LETTING MUSIC COLLEGE MANAGING FINANCES 2017/18 BIMM.CO.UK CONTENTS ACCOMMODATION 3 PRIVATE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION 4 HOUSE SHARES 5 HOUSE VIEWINGS 6 LOCATION 7 TRANSPORT 8 FAQ 9 “ JOINING BIMM WAS MANCHESTER LIFE 13 ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I EVER SHOPPING 15 MADE. THE TUTORS EATING OUT 15 WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO QUICKLY THINGS TO SEE AND DO 16 INTEGRATE ME INTO THE MUSIC SCENE IN CULTURE 17 MANCHESTER.” ACCOMMODATION One essential thing you must ensure you Manchester hosts various possibilities for have arranged prior to your studies at BIMM accommodation such as flats, shared houses, Manchester is your accommodation. Your living and private halls. However, as Manchester is arrangement can be an important factor in a university city there is a heavy demand for your success as a student. student accommodation. We advise you to look as early as possible to find a place that We do not have halls of residence at BIMM suits your needs. Institute Manchester, which means you must find housing privately but we have various resources available to help with every step of the process. PRIVATE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION Alternatively, there are many letting MANCHESTER STUDENT VILLAGE agencies and private landlords MCR Student Village is located less than 5 minutes based in Manchester. If you are away from the Great Marlborough Street building. going through a letting agent you New refurbished apartments with the perfect city will be expected to pay a holding centre location. For further information please visit fee, agency fees, a deposit and centurionstudents.co.uk usually one month’s rent up front, plus provide a guarantor. Ensure UNITE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION that the letting agent you use is Unite offer great value student housing with a wide following the code of practice of range of studio flats and en-suite rooms available. the National Association of Estate New Medlock House accommodation is located within Agents. a 5 minute walk to BIMM. For further information please visit www.unite-students.com/manchester Websites that list locally MANSION STUDENT available accommodation can Mansion House offers 40 fully furnished en-suite also be found here: rooms. The property offers internet access within your own room and laundry facilities, modern kitchen accommodationforstudents.com and lounge area fitted with a flat screen TV and all fish4lettings.co.uk utility bills included in the weekly rent. For further findaproperty.com information go to www.mansionstudent.co.uk latesthomes.co.uk property.men.vivastreet.co.uk LIBERTY HEIGHTS ineedaplace.co.uk Formerly Student Castle, Liberty Heights is located rightmove.co.uk across the road from the Great Marlborough Street zoopla.co.uk building. Liberty Heights offers new studio flats and mixed flats, all self contained. There is also a free Please be aware that the agents on-site gym. For further information please visit listed have not been visited libertyliving.co.uk or vetted in any way by BIMM Institute Manchester and you PRIME STUDENT LIVING should therefore use them at Cambridge House is located within a 10 minute walk your own risk. Ask what charges from both BIMM buildings. The property consists of you will have to pay before 40 en-suite bedrooms all provided with a double you enter into an agreement bed. Each flat is arranged in 4 or 5 bedroom clusters with them. If you do have any with a shared fitted kitchen and a lounge provided concerns about the agency, with a leather sofa and flat screen TV. For further contact the National Association information please visit of Estate Agents at primestudentliving.com/manchester/cambridge-house www.naea.co.uk HOUSE SHARES You could also find a number of existing house shares in Manchester where you could join an established group of people. These can be found on the following websites; www.gumtree.co.uk/manchester www.accommodationforstudents.com www.spareroom.co.uk RENT AND BILLS FINDING HOUSEMATES Below are some guidelines for the average Facebook is a good way to link up with people price of accommodation in Manchester. who are already at BIMM or who are starting at the same time as you. Some students set up Accommodation Price per month groups prior to starting BIMM in order to find Student Halls £360 - 600 (inc. bills) housemates. Using this facility is a great way House/Flat Share £250 - 350 (not inc. bills) to post in formation about yourself, the type (2 or more) of housing you are looking for and also any rooms that you or others may know of which As a full time student you are not liable to are available for rent. pay council tax if you are house sharing with other students. The local Council Tax It’s the perfect place for students to acquaint Office will be notified of students who are themselves with their fellow course friends and exempt after enrolment: however you can find appropriate housemates. Look for group also request a letter to confirm your student names such as “BIMM Freshers”. status from reception. Students are responsible for setting up and paying for their utility bills, including water, electric, gas and internet access. HOUSE VIEWINGS TIPS FOR VIEWING PROPERTIES: • We recommend viewing a property at least twice. You’ll be more likely to notice problems the second time around. • Take someone with you or let someone else know exactly where you are when you vis it a property, just to err on the side of caution. HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN VIEWING • It’s also a good idea to visit the area at A PROPERTY? night. If you do this, please ensure you stick to the point above and take someone We have checklists and tools to help with you. when you’ re viewing properties. Use • Make sure you and all your other the checklist below to make sure you housemates view the property. Don’t take ask the right questions and look into all someone else’s word that the property is the key areas: right for you. • Compare a range of different landlords • Does the place look well and properties. maintained? • Take your time and don’t let landlords • Will you be warm enough in winter? pressure you – there is a surplus of good • Will it be safe and secure? properties in the area and you will find • Does it have the space and facilities somewhere you like. you need (i.e. washing machine, • When you go to view, take notes and heating, fridge/freezer)? photos and use our checklist to make sure • Are the current tenants happy with you don’t miss anything. the landlord? • Get informed – knowing your rights will • Is the property affordable and good help you view properties more critically and value? put you in a stronger negotiating position. • Is the area suitable for your needs? Where to live: LOCATION Where should I be looking? BIMM Institute Manchester has two buildings, located at: 8 Great Marlborough Street Manchester M1 5NN Bank Chambers Faulkner Street Manchester M1 4EH There is an abundance of student accommodation within a fairly short distance of both buildings, and plenty of house and flat shares run by private landlords in other popular student areas. Please take into consideration the cost of travelling and the time it takes to get to the College from where you choose to live. The following areas in particular are a good place to look for shared student accommodation: • Manchester City Centre/Oxford Road • Rusholme • Fallowfield • Withington Manchester is well connected through public transport services; frequent buses that run all through the night, Metrolink/ rail and cycle lanes make it easy to get around. Please note there are no parking facilities available. TRANSPORT BIMM Manchester is well connected to the rest of the city via public transport. BUS The closest bus stops to Great Marlborough For details about service times, prices and Street, on the main student route route information please refer to are located on Oxford Road, by the www.tfgm.com Dancehouse coming into the city centre, and by the Palace Hotel to leave the city TRAIN centre. Bank Chambers is located a few For those living outside of the city, BIMM is minutes from the main bus station at easily accessible from either Piccadilly or Piccadilly Gardens. Buses at these stops Oxford Road Station. Oxford Road station run frequently between Manchester City is the closest to Great Marlborough Street, Centre, and popular student areas such as and Piccadilly Station is closest to Bank Rusholme, Fallowfield and Withington. Chambers (See map for details). Manchester has the busiest bus route in METROLINK Europe due to the number of universities Manchester Metrolink has been expanding on the Oxford Road corridor. As a result throughout the city, and is a quick and easy you will rarely have to wait more than a way to travel across Greater Manchester. few minutes for a bus during the day. The Metrolink runs on several lines including majority of buses on this route go from Salford Quays/Media City and East Piccadilly Gardens to South Manchester Didsbury. See www.metrolink.co.uk for straight down Oxford road. details 142 or 42 – Piccadilly Gardens – Universities BIKE – Rusholme – Fallowfield – Withington – Manchester is very cyclist-friendly with Didsbury Village – East Didsbury accessible cycle lanes. If you live a short 143 – Piccadilly Gardens – Universities – distance from the College it might be the Rusholme – Fallowfield – Withington – West most cost effective way to travel. Find out Didsbury more about cycling in Manchester at www.cycling.tfgm.com 43 – Piccadilly Gardens to Manchester Airport 147 – Manchester Piccadilly Train Station – Universities – Manchester Royal Infirmary and other hospitals.