10 Questions to ask a Landlord Before Renting a Property
Looking for your first student house is a big milestone in terms of responsibility and if it’s quite easy to miss important bits in all the excitement. We have put together a list of ten important questions to ask when signing for your property to make sure you have everything covered.
1. Who manages the property and repairs?
If you let from an agency, find out if it is a let only or fully managed let. If the property is not fully managed, ask for the details of the landlord and if applicable, their handyman. Find out the best way to report repairs and whether they go straight through the agency or to the landlord. Is the property on a maintenance contract with British Gas/Homeserve? It is also important to find out how to report repairs out of office hours. If the property is not managed by the agency, ask to meet the landlord so you can get a clear understanding of how repairs will be dealt with.
2. What happens with my deposit?
If there is a deposit to pay on the property, ask how much it is and how it will be held. If deposits are held throughout your tenancy as opposed to being used as a rent down-payment, it is very important to find out which deposit protection scheme it will be held with. You could also find out what happens with charges being made on the property at the end of the tenancy and how your deposit will be paid back to you.
3. Will I need a guarantor?
Student tenants, in general, have limited income and little or no previous credit history. A Guarantor, in effect, therefore acts as a co-signer to the Tenant in the lease obligation. Find out if you will need a Guarantor and what their responsibilities will be in terms of their liability. Finding out who can act as your Guarantor helps you make a more informed decision on approach. Usually a Parent who is a property owner will be acceptable or other individual.
4. Will I or my guarantor need to be credit referenced?
Some agencies and Landlords include credit referencing as part of their pre tenancy procedures. To pass a credit reference, an Applicant or Guarantor needs to meet certain criteria. Find out if this will need to be done on your guarantor, how long it will take and what the positive credit referencing criteria may be.
5. When can I move in?
It is very important not to assume you can move in from the first of July without discussing this with your Landlord or agency in advance. If you need to move in over the summer, you will need to discuss this with your Agency or Landlord well in advance, especially if work is being done to the property over summer.
6. Will inventories be carried out?
An inventory is usually carried out when you move into a property and when you move out. You need to find out if there is an extra cost for inventories and how long you will have to review the inventory before returning with any necessary amendments.
7. How will rent payments be made?
Find out if you are entitled to pay half rent or a retainer in the summer and how rent will be payable, whether by standing order or another method. Find out what happens if you are late with rent payments and with students, find out if arrangements can be made if the loan payment is late.
There is often confusion with rent calculation so here is a brief summary.
Calendar Monthly rent = weekly rent x 52 (weeks in year) = [answer] ÷12 OR yearly rent ÷ 12
Weekly rent = monthly rent x 12 = [answer] ÷ 52 OR yearly rent ÷ 52
Daily rent = monthly rent x 12 = [answer] ÷ 365 OR yearly rent ÷ 365 (days in year).
8. How can I personalise my room/space?
Before you take a property, it is important to ask your landlord what your decorating boundaries are. Some landlords are more accommodating than others but it is not worth losing your deposit over decorating you could have avoided.
9. Am I allowed to have pets?
Some landlords are very strict about not having pets in their property. Make sure your landlord allows pets before bringing yours into the property.
10. Who are the utility suppliers?
Changing utility suppliers from existing ones usually take 30 days. As a result, most people tend to stick to the existing suppliers of the property. Ask the Landlord who the suppliers are of the property and then use a price comparison website such as uSwitch to work out if they are best value.
Other Tips
Visit the Student Lettings page of our website to download a complete student lettings handbook to help you throughout your tenancy. It’s a very comprehensive guide with checklists to ensure everything is covered.
Posted on February 24, 2011
ESSENTIAL TOP TEN GUIDE FOR VALENTINES IN MANCHESTER
Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to spoil someone special in your life and show them how much they mean to you. However, it is quite tricky finding a way to do this, especially with all the options available.
To help, we have put together a comprehensive guide of things you can do in Manchester for Valentines. We hope this makes things a little easier and keeps the day fun and enjoyable, just like it really should be.
1. Restaurants
You can never go wrong with a romantic Valentines meal, and in Manchester, you can always find somewhere lovely to take your loved one on any budget. Make sure you book nice and early to avoid disappointment.
Up to £20 budget
Between 11th and 14th February, visit Rice on Oxford Road or Deansgate and treat yourselves to their Live Rice Love Rice offer. For £10 only, you and your partner will be served a delicious choice of mains, specials or grills.
Choice Restaurant and Bar in Manchester have a Valentines Menu running from 12th – 14th February with a choice of one to three course dinners under £20! There is also live piano music on the night to create a lovely ambience.
£21 – £50 budget
If you’re a fan of Asian cuisine, Zouk is a great choice. Their 4 course Valentines menu is for £25 per head and boasts of mouth-watering dishes such as Oyster Pakoras and Lamb Neelgiri, a dish from Goa.
£51 to £100 budget
Bem Brasil Deansgate and Northern Quarter offer a unique experience in Brazilian dining that is worth exploring. For £29.50 per head, their Valentines Menu includes a cocktail on arrival, full Rodizio and buffet, roasted king prawns on skewers and fruit buffet with chocolate fountain.
Ning is the home of gorgeous South East Asian cuisine. For £59.95, they invite you to indulge in a delicious 4 course menu with a complementary sparkling wine or cocktail. For a unique experience, book a Valentines Cookery Class with Ning.
Over £100 budget
Vermillion Restaurant and Cinnabar has an exquisite Valentines menu which is sure to impress. For £118 (£88 for vegetarians), you and your partner are treated to a spectacular 5 course menu. Sample their £158 7 course menu for an even more fulfilling dining experience.
For £130, treat your partner and yourself to a superb 5 course meal and champagne cocktails at the Linen Restaurant. The restaurant is stylish and together with the luscious cuisine, it will be a valentine’s to remember. For more restaurant ideas, visit our previous blog post, Special Places to Eat in Manchester.
2. Experiences
As an alternative to dinner, you could plan an experience together as a couple. Red Letter Days has amazing Valentine’s Deals that can be booked for an activity idea or even for Valentines gifts. Groupon is great for keeping an eye out for brilliant experience deals but it is important to check the terms to make sure the deals can be used on the actual Valentine’s Day.
3. Gifts
For Him
Buying Valentine’s gifts for men can be quite tricky. If unsure of what to get, visit Treat Him for excellent gift ideas for men for inspiration. Need a Present also has a great selection to choose from. I want one of those is a great website for unique presents and has an extensive section for men too!
Confectionery
For chocolate lovers, Valentine’s Day is like heaven. Treat your partner to amazing chocolate treats from Thornton’s, varying from £5 gifts to £75 chocolate hampers to suit all extremes of chocoholics. From £14, get a personalised box of chocolates for an individual touch.
Love Hearts has a great selection of Valentine’s sweets to suit the occasion, ranging from £3.99 to £99.00 to suit your budget. A selection of presents can be personalised. For something different, the English Cheesecake Company has an amazing selection of Valentines Cheesecakes which can be delivered for free anywhere in the UK.
4. Cards
Valentines Cards are a lovely way to send a personal message to loved ones. Moonpig has a great selection of Valentines Cards for him and her and also allows you to personalise your cards for an individual touch. Hallmark also offers a similar service and also has a selection of Luxury Cards to send your chosen message.
5. Flowers
Flowers are an essential part of Valentines and it is important to pick the right flowers for your partner. Most people tend to go for the classic dozen roses, but to go the extra mile, find out what your partners favourite flowers are and have them sent.
You could also pick flowers which have a personal meaning and to help with this, Clare Florist has a list of the meanings of flower types. Clare Florist delivers around the UK and offers a next day delivery service for last minute purchases.
6. Hotels
For an overnight Valentines stay to remember, it is important to pick the perfect hotel. Manchester has a great selection of hotels to choose from so we have listed a few to help you out.
The Radisson Hotel in the Manchester City Centre offers a luxurious overnight stay on 14th February from £112 per night depending on which suite you desire. Malmaison Manchester Hotel boasts a great selection of rooms ranging from £99 on the night. The hotel is a very convenient walk from the Manchester Piccadilly train station. The Midland Hotel, located in the heart of St Peters Square Manchester provides an overnight Valentines night’s stay from £125.
To compare your favourite hotels or to discover other options, visit http://www.manchester.com/hotels.
7. Staying In on Valentine’s
Staying in on Valentines does not have to be any less special than going out. Enjoy a Michelin star meal in the comfort of your own home. BBC Great British Menu chef and former Michael Caines at Abode Executive Chef, Ian Matfin creates your own menu for you to suit your taste and budget.
When the menu is chosen, a price is set in addition to the minimum £250 fee for his services. This offer is only available to Pride of Manchester members. Visit their website to find out how to become a member for free.
8. Singles
Being single should not stop you from having fun on Valentine’s. Why not take on any of the suggested activities with your friends? Go out for a meal, visit the spa for a day or go out for drinks. You never know how long you’d be single for so make the most spending as much time with your friends while you can.
You don’t need a partner to get presents on Valentines, get a group of friends together and draw names out of a hat, and buy presents for each other – a bit like secret Santa for Valentines.
If all your friends are taken, why not go out and meet new people? On Saturday 12th February, pick up an amazing mask and attend a Valentines Masquerade Party at The Castelfield Rooms, Manchester. Tickets are £25 and starts at 7:30pm. The event is for guests between 22 and 41. Visit the Elect Club Website to book tickets.
9. Nights out on Valentines
There are several club and bar events on Valentine’s Day in Manchester. Depending on your taste in music and venue preferences, visit Tilllate to find out what’s on. If you’re a student, LoveDough is a brilliant new night in Factory that is recommended for the great music selection and vibe. It is popular in cities such as Leeds in the UK and is even talked about with nights around the world, even in Dubai!
For a sophisticated night, visit the Cloud23 Bar in the Hilton on Deansgate. They have an excellent selection of cocktails and drinks and a great atmosphere.
In the heart of Chinatown lies the K2 Karaoke Bar. Popular for its décor and karaoke, the bar boasts several karaoke rooms which are all differently decorated by theme. Book a karaoke room for the night, it promises to be fun.
10. Getting Away from Manchester
If you would rather spend Valentines away from Manchester, why not surprise your partner with a last minute Valentines getaway? Visit Jet2Holidays for amazing Valentines Package Deals to romantic cities such as Rome and Paris.
World Travel Guide also has an amazing guide on the best Valentine Holiday deals to help you decide on the magical destination of your choice.
Whatever you do, we hope you have an amazing time! Happy Valentines from everyone here at Around Town Flats.
Posted on February 10, 2011
TOP TEN ACTIVITIES FOR RAINY DAYS
As residents of Manchester, we are all too familiar with the 200% likelihood of rain throughout the year. We all know how annoying it can be when you’re looking forward to doing something fun and it starts pouring down with rain, leaving you stuck indoors.
To make your rainy days fun, we have put together a list of fun activities to keep you occupied until the rain goes away.
1. Bake Cookies
Warm homemade cookies with milk are the perfect snack on a rainy night. Visit www.cookierecipes.org for amazing cookie recipes for whatever tickles your fancy, be it your standard chocolate chip cookie or something a bit different. If you’re not massive on cookies, why not bake a cake or make your favourite sweet snack? Pancakes are a great alternative and very easy to make.
2. Quiz Night
We all love a good quiz night at the pub but when it is raining, who not bring the quiz home? For some free quiz ideas, visit The Inquizitor Website or even better, you could create your own to suit the occasion or interests of your group.
3. DIY and Decorating
Why not catch up some DIY or decorating you’ve been putting off for a while? If you live in a rented property, it best to find out from your landlord or agency what your boundaries are before doing anything. Check out our Deposit Friendly Decorating Tips blog post for great tips on how to make your property look great while not annoying your landlord.
A murder mystery can be so much fun and is a great way to accommodate different group sizes. If you’re not sure how to go about organising one, Murder Mystery games can be purchased on Host a Murder Mystery or similar websites.
5. Cocktail Party
Rustle up some tasty cocktails with your housemates at home or better still, invite some friends over and have a party. For some great cocktail recipe ideas, visit Cocktail UK.
6. Home Spa
Have your own special spa at home by getting your housemates or friends to put together all your beauty supplies and give each other manicures, pedicures and facials. Homemade face masks are a nice touch and you can find some good recipes for your skin type at Beauty About.
7. Game Night
Whether its poker, FIFA, Articulate or even twister, pick your favourite group games and have a big game. Why not enter our Xbox Competition; you might be a lucky winner of a 4GB Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle with 3 games, that’ll be sure to impress your friends!
8. Movie Night
Movie nights are very easy to arrange, making them great rainy weekend activities. You could always theme movie night to make it a bit more fun, or make them into box set marathons.
This is probably the most dangerous activity and not one for members of Shopaholics Anonymous but we can all agree that online shopping is so much fun and a lot less stressful than shopping in store. Visit Money Saving Expert, Student Money Saver and Studentbeans for great bargains while you shop.
10. Start a Blog
Last but not the least, you could start a blog like ours. For inspiration, check out some existing online blogs. Websites like Blogger allow you to sign up for free and connect with followers.
We hope these ideas give you some inspiration for some rainy day fun. If all else fails, grab your willies, go outside and enjoy the raining. Who says splashing in puddles isn’t for grownups?
Related articles
- Free Online Murder Mystery Games (brighthub.com)
Posted on February 7, 2011
Where’s Winnie?
Where’s Winnie Weekly Competition
To fight the winter blues, Around Town Flats are giving away £10 iTunes vouchers to one lucky winner each Wednesday of the month until 30th June. All entries should be sent in by 5pm the next Tuesday.
To enter, simply:
- Follow us on twitter @AroundTownFlats
- Look at our online property list to find out where winnie is hiding. One clue will be given each day on the twitter page.
- When you find winnie, tweet @AroundTownFlats with the address she is hiding at with #whereswinnie in the tweet e.g. @AroundTownFlats 70 Whitby Road #whereswinnie.
- Keep an eye on our tweets to find the winner the following Wednesday.
Terms and Conditions
- This competition is open to all current university students in the Manchester area.
- All entries must be received via twitter mentions by 5pm the next Tuesday.
- The winner will be drawn at random from all eligible entries and will be notified by twitter on the Wednesday after the competition opens.
- Prize is a £10 iTunes voucher.
- The prize may be collected from 208 Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield M14 6LF by the winner by arrangement with Around Town Flats.
- Around Town Flats is not liable where a prize has been lost or stolen following delivery of the prize.
- Around Town Flats is not liable for any costs, liabilities, damages or losses incurred by a winner. The prize excludes all other cost and expenses. There is no alternative prize. The prize is non-changeable and non-transferable.
- Publicity – Around Town Flats (or any third party nominated by Around Town Flats) may exercise its sole discretion to use the winning person’s name, university and image and their comments relating to the prize for promotional, marketing and publicity purposes in any media worldwide without notice or without any fee being paid.
- Data Protection – Information, data (“personal data”) which is provided by entrants when they enter will be held and used by Around Town Flats to administer the prize and for marketing purposes.
- No correspondence will be entered into.
- One entry per person per week.
- The promoter of the competition is Around Town Flats, 208 Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6LF
Posted on February 2, 2011
Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle Student Giveaway
- Image via Wikipedia
Around Town Flats are giving two lucky students a chance to win an Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle to add some entertainment your student house or flat this academic year.
Impress your friends with your new Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle, the new exciting new way to play games. Control music, actions and characters with movement and the sound of your voice with no controllers whatsoever!
The prize includes a 4GB Xbox 360, Kinect Sensor and three games: Dance Central, Kinect Adventures and Kinect Sports.
The competition is open to all university students in the Manchester area and it’s very easy to enter, simply send your full name and email address and name of your university to competitions@aroundtownflats.com from your university email address.
Closing date for for the competition is Thursday 31st March 2011.
Full terms and conditions below.
Good Luck!
Terms and Conditions
- This competition is open to all current university students in the Manchester area.
- All entries must be received via competitions@aroundtownflats.com by 31st March 2011.
- The first two correct entries drawn at random from all eligible entries will be the winner of the prize and will be notified via email within four weeks of the closing date.
- The prize is a 4GB Xbox 360, Kinect Sensor and three games including: Kinect Sports, Kinect Adventures and Dance Central.
- The prize may be collected from 208 Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield M14 6LF by the winner by arrangement with Around Town Flats.
- Around Town Flats is not liable where a prize has been lost or stolen following delivery of the prize.
- Around Town Flats is not liable for any costs, liabilities, damages or losses incurred by a winner. The prize excludes all other cost and expenses. There is no alternative prize. The prize is non-changeable and non-transferable.
- Publicity – Around Town Flats (or any third party nominated by Around Town Flats) may exercise its sole discretion to use the winning person’s name, university and image and their comments relating to the prize for promotional, marketing and publicity purposes in any media worldwide without notice or without any fee being paid.
- Data Protection – Information, data (“personal data”) which is provided by entrants when they enter will be held and used by Around Town Flats to administer the prize and for marketing purposes.
- No correspondence will be entered into.
- One entry per person.
- The promoter of the competition is Around Town Flats, 208 Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6LF
Related articles
Posted on January 31, 2011
Around Town Flats Top Five Tips for Claiming Tenancy Deposit
The Deposit Protection Service has confirmed that £5million worth of deposits were left unclaimed by tenants at the end of their tenancies last year. The DPS have been proactively attempting to contact all these tenants and has succeeded in returned £3million to their rightful owners but a further £2million remains unclaimed. Of the unclaimed deposits 4,627 cases are waiting for the response of the Lead Tenant before they can be repaid.
The DPS are now appealing to tenants to come forward and claim their deposits.
Going forward the DPS have introduced a text messaging service to help remind tenants to claim their deposits at the end of a tenancy but they are also asking current tenants to ensure that the contact details held by the DPS are up to date.
So here are our top tips for recovering your deposit
- Make sure your contact details are kept up to date with the DPS both during and after your tenancy ends
- When you are choosing who is going to be your Lead Tenant try and make sure the individual is going to be in the country and available to deal with reclaiming your deposit at the end of the tenancy
- If you are one of a group of tenants in a property make sure you know who your Lead Tenant is as they are the only one who can request a deposit refund
- Even if you have had a bad experience in the past recovering your deposit do not assume that your landlord or agent has made a claim for your deposit. IF you have not heard from your landlord or agent chances are your deposit is still waiting to be claimed.
- Remember it is never too late to claim your deposit so if you are unsure if you have claimed an old deposit just get in touch with the DPS for confirmation
Here at Around Town Flats only six of the deposits we have lodged with the DPS over the past four years remain unclaimed by our Tenants. Having dealt with over 2,000 deposits in this time we try to make it as easy as possible for our tenants to recover their deposits.
In the event we are unable to make contact with a tenant when the deposit is ready to be refunded we simply authorise the DPS to refund the monies. In this way when our tenants are ready to make a claim everything is ready to go. So if this blog has jogged your memory and you are one of our six tenants who has not claimed your deposit just log on to the DPS website and start your application for repayment.
The DPS currently protects nearly 670,000 UK deposits of the 2 million deposits held across all three tenancy deposit protection schemes. The Deposit Protection service is the only deposit protection service which physically holds deposits on behalf of landlords and tenants.
Related articles
Posted on January 28, 2011
Money saving tips for Students
- Image via Wikipedia
During the Christmas Holidays, it is the norm to wipe out your bank account and max out your credit cards buying presents and paying for all the delicious dinners. This leaves most of us financially crippled in the New Year, putting Budgeting at the top of our Resolution Lists.
We at Around Town Flats are no financial advisers but we thought we’d give you a helping hand by creating this basic guide on budgeting and spending less as a head start. We hope you find it useful.
Budgeting
Budgeting sounds like a chore but is a very useful tool. Taking the time to budget does great wonders for your finances and allows you to spend within your means on the things that you need, and allows you to work exactly how disposable income you have left. Visit Tell Me Money to use their very quick and simple budget calculator to create your own personal cash flow budget for the year.
Discounts
Exploit available discounts as much as possible to make the most of your money. Signing up to websites like Money Saving Expert and Groupon allows you to get great offers sent straight to your inbox, making you one of the first to get clued up. If you’re a student, Student Beans has great offers in your area for almost everything. We recommend that as soon as you make arrangements to go out, it’s worth searching on Google and these sites for offers. You never know what you may find.
Using Loyalty Cards
Loyalty and reward cards are a great way to get rewards on products you would have already bought. Some high street shops such as Boots offer you a massive 4 points per £1 spent on their Advantage Card loyalty schemes. It’s also worth joining loyalty card schemes such as Nectar, which allows you to earn points from many different retailers and Tesco Clubcard which gives you points for spending in store or online but allows you to spend on many different rewards including days out and cinema trips.
Pocket-Friendly Eating
Going out to eat often tends to add up and it is usually cheaper to cook at home. Planning your meals and making a shopping list before you shop saves you more money than buying impulsively. Cutting out your Friday night kebab or visit to the curry house to once every other week and cooking an alternative meal at home is a great way to save money and to stay healthy. For delicious meals on a budget, visit Sainsbury’s Feed Your Family for a Fiver page or the BBC Good Food Website.
Saving on Utilities
Utilities tend to cost a fortune, especially in the winter with the extra costs of heating. It is usually worth finding out the cheapest suppliers for your property as it differs. IamMoving offers a free utilities service which gives you quotes on who they think the cheapest suppliers for your property is. It usually takes 30 days to switch suppliers so if you are renting you’re a short period, it is worth thinking carefully before switching. Visit the Tell Me Money and Money Saving Expert utility sections on more saving advice for utilities.
We hope these tips help you to make some wise spending choices. Happy New Year to you from everyone here at Around Town Flats.
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AroundTownFlats to be the first to hear about our offers and information about new properties available. We also have some very exciting competitions coming up so stay glued to our blog and twitter page.
Related articles
- Tips Series: Money Saving Tips For Students – Tips To Save More Money (helpwithdebtnow.com)
- Five Reasons You Should Budget (turbotax.intuit.com)
- Tips Series: How To Save Money – Tips On Budgeting (helpwithdebtnow.com)
Posted on January 10, 2011
Top ten places for Students to live in Manchester
- Image by kh1234567890 via Flickr
So you have worked out who you want to live with next year now you just need to decide where you want to live. Here are Around Town Flats top ten locations in Manchester…
1. Fallowfield North-West
Fallowfield North-West is traditionally the most sought after area of student letting focused on the Fallowfield Brow (Mabfield Road, Furness Road, Cawdor Road, etc). There is a wide range of Victorian terraces in 3 to 9 bedrooms. The largest houses are on Cawdor Road, while the smallest houses are on Furness Road. The houses on Albion Road look onto Platt Fields Park, a great location for picnics, playing sports and relaxing in the summer.
The best thing about living in Fallowfield North-West is the lively student atmosphere and the worst is too many takeaways and bars, so you eat too much and drink too much, doesn’t do too many favours for the waistline.
2. Fallowfield North-East
Fallowfield North East is mostly a university owned area and there is a wide differentiation in properties available from high specification flats to large 1930s semi-detached houses. The rent in this suburb is slightly lower as it is not in the main Fallowfield hub. The properties here are great value for money and tend to be better quality than the average student property.
The best kept secret in Fallowfield North-West is the Birchfields Shopping Centre. Located on Birchfields Road, it’s a convenient for your grocery shopping or to pick up a DVD from Blockbusters. There are also very quick and convenient transport links to the university.
Being inbetween the main Fallowfield Hub and the University/Rusholme area is both the best and worst thing about living in Fallowfield North-East. The best part, because you are closer to everything can conveniently travel between and the worst because although you are close to the Fallowfield hub, you are still not right in the middle of it.
3. Fallowfield South-West
Fallowfield South-West is mostly an owner occupied area and features a wide range of semi-detached and terraced houses. The properties in this area tend to be less expensive than they are in Fallowfield North West and offer great value for money. There are many local convenience shops and takeaways as well as the Hill’s Bakery on Mauldeth Road West where you can get your freshly baked bread and pastries. There are also very quick transport links to the university, town centre as well as Asda in Hulme.
The best thing about this suburb is the Old Moat Park which is a popular feature of the area and is a nice place to chill out in the summer, play sports and have picnics. The worst thing about the area is that due to the volume of owner occupiers, you may not be living next door to people your own age.
4. Fallowfield South-East
Since Sainsbury’s opened about 10 years ago, the Fallowfield South-West area has become very popular with students. There is a high density of terraced houses of different sizes so there’s something for everyone. Popular roads in the area include Whitby Road, Labybarn Lane and Filey Road. The area is home to the Battered Cod which is rumoured to make the best Fish and Chips in Fallowfield! Another must-visit is the Friendship Inn, where most students like to have a drink and watch a game. Let’s not forget Ram and Shackle and Red Rum, both great student venues for a drink and alternative music.
The best thing about Fallowfield South-East has to be having Sainsbury’s around the corner. It’s very convenient to pick up your weekly food shop. Negatives include the scrambles for the first bus as everyone rushes for their lectures every hour on the hour.
5. Withington
Because Withington is quieter than Fallowfield, most of the residents who opt to live here are a mix of professionals and older students. Highlights include Withington Village which features a few cool pubs, bars, restaurants and takeaways. Favourites include Fuel, a lovely quirky Vegetarian café right in the centre of the village; Solomon Grundy, a relaxed bar where you can get an all-day breakfast and Moon, which is rumoured to be one of the best Indian restaurants in South Manchester.
The best thing about Withington has to be the advantage of getting first dibs on the bus to university before getting to the packed Fallowfield bus stops. Very convenient! The worst thing is the long walk bringing food shopping from Sainsbury’s, however, there is a local Somerfield’s which stocks most essentials for a quick small shop.
6. Rusholme
Rusholme is typically a cheaper area to live in and has a high density of Victorian Terraces. It is a very busy area, especially at nights. It is famous for the curry mile, which is a stretch of great Indian restaurants located right in the centre of the suburb on Wilmslow Road. There are also a range of very good kebab shops for post night out munchies. For those with a sweet tooth, there are amazing dessert shops such as Treats, Moonlight and Vanilla which make delicious cakes, waffles, milkshakes and other goodies to tickle your fancy. Rusholme is also very close to the university and Manchester Royal Infirmary which is great for students and staff at the hospital.
The best thing about Rusholme has to be the food at the Curry Mile. The Curry Mile is so vibrant, with lots of delectable food to try. The worst thing may be the buzz that comes with the activity of the area if you don’t really like noise, but its part and parcel of the atmosphere of Rusholme.
7. West Didsbury
West Didsbury is a popular area for older students and professionals alike for its quieter and more relaxed atmosphere. Dubbed by the Guardian newspaper as “Bohemia”, the area is popular for its independent retailers and great variety of places to eat. Places to visit include the Metropolitan, one of the area’s most popular pubs, and Crazy Wendy’s, a lovely Thai restaurant where you are sure to be entertained by the owner Wendy’s famous Elvis renditions.
If you enjoy going out to eat or for a quiet drink in the pub, West Didsbury is the place for you, with the best thing about it being the variety of pub and restaurant choices. The worst thing about it could be the distance from the main campus of the university if you are a student; however, there are great transport links to make it easier and quicker to get around.
8. Didsbury
Didsbury is popularly misnamed by students as “East Didsbury”. The area is mostly popular with professionals due to its atmosphere and offers a good variety of properties to choose from larger terraced houses to charming period flats and more modern apartment buildings.
Didsbury Village is the hub of the area and is popular for the abundance of amazing restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs. With efficient transport links, it is a great place to visit on a relaxed night out or for a gorgeous meal.
The main disadvantage about getting a property in Didsbury is that you tend to pay more for the location than the property. However, the good news is that there are some excellent properties in the area to choose from. Other advantages include good transport links (mainly buses) and the opportunity to spot celebrities around every corner.
9. Whalley Range
Whalley Range is one of Manchester’s best kept secrets. Formerly a rundown area, it has now been regenerated and is very popular for professionals for its gorgeous, large and great value value Victorian villas and 1930s semis. The properties in the area tend to have larger, more spacious bedrooms. Popular landmarks in the area include Alexandra Park which has facilities for football, cricket, tennis, a large children’s area as well as a lake with an abundance of wildlife, making it a great place to relax.
The best thing about Whalley Range has to be the improvements in the area and it will only keep improving, making it a great place to live in good value properties. The worst thing about Whalley Range for student residents is that it is slightly removed from the student areas; however it makes for an excellent alternative area of residence and has good transport links for travel.
10. Chorlton
Chorlton is a very popular suburb, especially with its abundance of lovely professional properties. It is an area full of great pubs, bars and restaurants, which make it a busy and lively place to live. Chorlton is a very convenient location with its excellent shopping links including some independent shops and Morrison’s supermarket all in the centre. Chorlton has good transport links, making it easy to get around, with a new tram station planned. Our top tip for kebabs in Chorlton is ‘Abrakebabra’ for some of the best!
The best thing about Chorlton is the convenience for shopping. The worst thing about Chorlton is the lack of cheaper student deals you get in the central student arrears of Fallowfield and Withington.
Each area offers opportunities for different groups of people. Younger students often prefer Fallowfield migrating to Withington in their second year. Didsbury and Chorlton being the areas of choice for final year and post-grad students.
If you need any more advice about which area would suit your needs Around Town Flats have years of experience and local knowledge to assist your choice.
Posted on December 22, 2010
Finding the Perfect Student Housemates
- Image via Wikipedia
Perfect characteristics for a new housemate differ from person to person. One person’s dirty noisy slob is another’s dream roomy.
Around Town Flats have compiled a few questions to ask yourself and a list of important criteria to think about when choosing a housemate for your student house next year.
What course do they do at university?
Although this may seem like an odd question to ask, it’s not. There can be a stark contrast between workloads for different courses. For every humanities student who has 5 hours lectures all the way until 3rd year there is a medic, scientist or mathematician with a full timetable. It’s important to consider that 1pm starts every day may clash with a full week of 9am lectures.
Are they a clean and tidy person?
Don’t always think that if someone’s room or clothes are clean and tidy they are automatically going to be helpful with the washing up. Washing up is discussed and argued daily in a student house. It’s boring and everyone knows it, but try and find out if your potential roomy does their fair share. However, on the flip side of the messy slob housemate is the ‘neat-freak’ who nags you 5 minutes after dinner to wash up your plate? Which one is preferable is for you to decide.
How often are they going to have friends over?
This one is best discussed prior to moving in. This is especially true if the person you are thinking of living with has a significant other. You may have a ‘more the merrier’ attitude a few nights a week but if your housemate’s girlfriend is in the bathroom every morning when you have an early lecture will you be quite as welcoming?
Do they understand the etiquette of the fridge?
Fridge etiquette is important. It encompasses both those with too little and too much food. Its best to discuss in advance if the basics like milk and bread are to be shared and if a 3am fridge raid is acceptable. Obviously housemates who pinch your food are annoying as no one wants something they have been saving to have disappeared without a trace before they have had a chance to eat it. Nevertheless, those which so much food in the fridge that you can’t fit in your share can be equally irritating.
Are they a channel flicker or a soap addict?
Unless you have a TV in every room of your house (which is unlikely) this is something you will have to share, especially at 6pm when everyone is making dinner. Will your choice of perfect housemate still look so good when they make you sit through hours of Hollyoaks, Eastenders or Corrie? Just as pertinent a point, do you want someone who flicks through all the channels while everyone argues about what to watch?
These questions may seem trivial but they can become important after a few months when uni work increases and everyone gets that little bit more stressed. The most important thing to remember is to discuss the little things before they become an issue. Also no one is perfect (except maybe you) so you will need to prioritise.
Below is a list of different factors to think of when choosing a housemate, put them into a list with the most important at the top and then check that your potential housemates for next year fit your most important criteria.
Do you want?….
Male or female
Smoker/ non smoker
Overnight guests
A party animal
Drinkers
Hard workers
Those with a part time job
Only people from Manchester (will they stick around after uni?)
Housemates who haven’t fallen out with all their previous housemates
Fellow Enders and Corrie lovers
Housemates without a lot of clutter
Housemates who have a fridge full of food for nicking
Those who do all their own washing up
Only people from your course/halls
Posted on November 25, 2010
We LOVE customer feedback
At Around Town Flats, Manchester we are one letting agent who love getting feedback from our customers about the service they receive from our different teams.
So to celebrate our first year of surveys we thought we would let you know how our customers think we have done.
Our Letting team have worked hard to improve overall tenant satisfaction at move in from 83% back in October 2009 to 100% Total Satisfaction in October 2010. The team have focused on improving their communication with applicants through the move in experience and it appears to have paid off.
Lettings Manager Jill Speers said, “On average 94% of tenants over the year have said they would recommend us – this is a great result for us. Although we had check in issues during our busiest months, in July and August, we are going to work hard in the coming months to improve the information we give to student tenants in the frantic January and February student letting period so they understand what is involved in getting moved in to their new homes in the summer.”.
The repairs and maintenance team have had a busy year following our first month of surveys back in October 2009 when only 67% of our survey participants said they were satisfied with the service they receive on repairs issues. Since then we have recruited Jennie in the role of repairs administrator where she focuses particularly on making sure repairs are allocated to the right contractors and that our tenants are kept up to date on the progress being made with repairs.
Between October 2009 and July 2010 the Maintenance team massive efforts raised the customer satisfaction rate to 86% however the 300% increase in the number of new tenants over the summer 2010 period resulted in repair response times falling and a backlog of repairs building up. Thanks to our survey responses we were able to identify this issue and we made the decision to recruit an additional maintenance person – Andy joined the team in October and we hope our tenants will see a reduction in the repair response times over the coming months.
Once again thank you to all our tenants who take the few minutes needed to complete our online surveys. Each and every survey is read and helps us to get better at helping our customers.
Posted on November 15, 2010