When should you start looking for next year's student house in Manchester?

October and November: groups form

The first thing to sort is who you are living with, and roughly where. Most groups settle this in October and November. Decide on a budget per person and whether you want bills included before you look at anything.

November to February: the widest choice

Houses for the following September are listed from the autumn onwards, and this is when the choice is widest. You can book a viewing time on any house page. Good houses for larger groups tend to go quickly at this point in the year.

March onwards: still plenty, less choice in size

Larger houses for six or more go first. Smaller houses and individual rooms keep appearing right through to the summer, including houses that come back after another group's plans change.

What the Renters' Rights Act changed

Since May 2026 tenancies are periodic rather than fixed term. Landlords of student HMOs can still take a house back each summer for the next group (Ground 4A), but only if they tell you in writing before you sign and the tenancy is signed no more than six months before you are entitled to move in. So a tenancy signed in November for September can't use that rule, and some landlords may now sign later in the year than before. The calendar above is still a good guide to when houses are listed and viewed, and looking early still gives you the widest choice; ask when the tenancy would be signed and how it ends.

How not to miss out

• Register your interest with your group size, areas, budget and room type, and we email you when a matching room is listed.
• Check what each room costs, not just the house total, and whether bills are in.
• Sort a UK guarantor for each person early. If someone cannot, talk to us before you apply.
• Book viewings as a group. One visit with everyone there beats three separate ones.

Ready to look? Search the houses with rooms free now, or register and let the right house come to you.