Cosmopolitan Manchester is a centre of culture and sporting excellence and a powerhouse of northern England. With five universities in the Greater Manchester area, the city is popular with students. Manchester also attracts large companies thanks to the quality and diversity of the city’s workforce.
Verified residents at some of Manchester’s newest and most popular developments have provided HomeViews with their reviews on the best 2-bedroom houses to rent in the city. Reviewers provide first-hand accounts of living in some of the most desirable new housing developments in Greater Manchester. Read on to find out more about living and renting in this exciting city.
2-bedroom houses to rent in Greater Manchester: top 10 developments
rated by tenants
Let’s take a look at the best 2-bedroom houses you can rent in Manchester. Each development is included based on the reviews of residents, who have taken to HomeViews to rate every aspect of their experience of living in the building. Reviews consider everything from design and facilities, to the management team, services, location and value for money of the developments. Take a look at the list to find the best 2-bedroom rental houses in Manchester.
What’s it like to live in Manchester?
The Greater Manchester urban area is home to some 2.8 million people. It’s the second-largest urban area in England is the second-largest urban area in England. The city’s multicultural population makes it one of the most diverse places to live in the country. The city is home to the UK’s fastest growing economy, with recent years bringing significant investment to the city.
Manchester is a popular choice with students and young professionals. The city is home to world-class universities and has one of the UK’s most renowned bar and club scenes. More than 50% of students choose to stay in Manchester after graduating, second only to London in the UK. Manchester has also been recognised as the best city to start your career outside London.
Culture, nightlife and entertainment in Manchester
Central to the city’s identity is its thriving, vibrant and diverse cultural scene. The city has produced some of Britain’s most legendary bands, shaping Britpop, the rave scene and other cultural trends. Manchester’s selection of live music venues, theatres and arenas attract the world’s greatest performers. The city also boasts some of the country’s most popular museums and galleries, including The Lowry and The Whitworth.
The city centre is a first-class shopping and dining destination, with designer brands, boutique shops and reputable names in the foodie scene. The latest Michelin Guide features 12 restaurants from the city, with Manchester’s reputation as a gastronomic destination growing by the year.
Manchester is perhaps best-known around the world thanks to its famous sports teams and sporting venues. It is home to two of England’s most successful football teams in Manchester United and Manchester City. The city also boasts a test cricket venue, the National Cycling Centre and an Olympic pool at the Manchester Aquatics Centre. Living in the city provides some of the best opportunities to watch world-class sport anywhere in the world.
Is Manchester expensive to live in?
Manchester strikes a good balance as a popular and desirable city with a reasonable cost of living. Compared to some other UK cities, Manchester is relatively affordable to live in. House prices have remained fairly steady while many other places have seen a drop-off over the past year, but it remains competitive compared to the UK average.
At the time of writing (August 2024), the average rent per calendar month in Manchester is £1,400 (Home.co.uk). A two-bedroom property currently goes for an average of £1,475 PCM.
Living costs in northern cities are generally lower than their southern counterparts, and Manchester follows this trend. The cost of living in Manchester is lower than London, with everyday costs such as groceries around 5% cheaper. Manchester residents save the most on rental costs though, with renting in Manchester more than 50% cheaper than London.
What is build to rent?
Build to rent properties are purpose-built for renting, rather than for selling. A relatively new trend in the property sector, the design and build of build to rent properties can be different to traditional developments.
The design of the developments encourage a sense of community and security for tenants. The focus is on delivering high-quality homes with excellent services. Developments can offer benefits that the traditional rental sector doesn’t provide, including on-site management teams, communal areas and green spaces. Some packages include perks like health clubs and spa facilities or concierge services.
Rental only developments can offer the security of longer-term tenancies, with the promise of a hassle-free renting experience. Because the developments are purpose-built for rental, the rental process is designed to be as smooth as possible. This can include transparent contracts and a choice of optional extras. Choosing a built to rent property can be more expensive, but can have numerous benefits that may outweigh the additional cost.
What do you think of our list of the highest-rated 2-bedroom houses to rent in Manchester? If you’d like to find out more about what it’s like to live in this vibrant, diverse city, our dedicated area guide has all the information you’ll need. You can click through to the guide below. From there, you can read more about life in Manchester, including the most popular areas of the city, and find rental opportunities in the Manchester area.
HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
