Manchester is going through the biggest property investment and construction boom the city has ever known. Billions of pounds are being invested in dozens of major property development projects across the Greater Manchester area. With so much choice available on the Manchester apartment market, our reviewers’ ratings highlight the very best blocks on offer.
Repeatedly hitting the top spots in ‘best places to live in the UK’ guides, Manchester is confidently attracting new investment and residents from all over the world. Whether you’re looking to live in the beating heart of the city or in one of its many up-and-coming suburbs, you’ll have plenty of quality options to choose from.
Manchester Apartments: Buy or rent?
The Manchester apartment market was particularly strong at the end of 2020. The city experienced the highest increase in average house prices across the UK for the year at 5.7%. The average property price in Manchester in 2020 was £227,721, with flats selling for an average of £192,732.
In terms of the rental market, average private rents fell by over 5% in Manchester at the end of 2020. Like London, this was largely caused by tenants moving out from the centre to the suburbs. The knock-on effects of the pandemic are still being felt, with renters now valuing garden/balcony space more than ever.
This means that there are good options for attractive rental rates across central Manchester as well as its popular suburbs. The pipeline of new housing developments means that rising supply will also give buyers greater choice too. If you want to buy-to-let, Manchester was recently ranked as the UK’s number one landlord investment prospect.
Chapel Wharf, M3 by Dandara Living
The 10 Best Manchester Apartment Blocks
The following is the top 10 Manchester apartment developments available to buy and rent, as voted by people who know them best – their residents. We assign each of the overall star ratings based on the combined scores given by residents as part of their verified HomeViews reviews.
Rated on their location, facilities, management, design and value for money, these 10 developments show what Manchester has to offer. These rankings also take into account the number of reviews each development has received. Our top spot developers have managed to get consistently high scores across a greater number of reviews.
If you want to know more about any of our top 10 Manchester apartment blocks, just click on them. This will take you to its dedicated page and allow you to see in detail what residents have to say.
4.98 (14 reviews)
4.98 (14 reviews)
Top of our list is Vox with an almost perfect score. However, do bear in mind that this is from far fewer reviewers than many of the developments below. A high score from lots of reviewers is far harder to achieve! Vox offers a collection of well designed 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments, complete with under-building car parking spaces and bike storage, CCTV security, gym, running track, studio, roof terrace and residents’ lounge. Residents say they love the facilities, access to local amenities and the little touches laid on by the always helpful staff.
4.90 (55 reviews)
4.90 (55 reviews)
Chapel Wharf, by Dandara Living, sits in the heart of Manchester. Even so, residents enjoy peace and quiet due to the excellent sound proofing of its apartments, which range in size from studio to 2-bed. Residents benefit from a pet-friendly policy, an onsite gym and car/bike parking. As well as this, the development is just moments away from Manchester’s famous shopping, entertainment and cultural scenes.
4.89 (78 reviews)
4.89 (78 reviews)
Number 3 is The Green Rooms, near Media City. Residents love being close to this vibrant and exciting part of Manchester, and they appreciate the ever-helpful Green Rooms concierge staff who do everything they can to make things comfortable and convenient.
Read reviews and details of The Green Rooms MediaCityUK, M50
4.85 (56 reviews)
4.85 (56 reviews)
Duet is another Media City residents’ favourite. Residents regularly comment on the quality of the modern, light and airy design of the apartments that enjoy stunning views out over the waterfront. There’s also immediate access to over 15 bars/restaurants, four shopping outlets, six leisure facilities, a cinema, a theatre, and a nursery.
4.71 (79 reviews)
4.71 (79 reviews)
In the middle of our list we have a Spinningfields entry. The Slate Yard is a Build to Rent development that’s only a 6-minute walk away from Salford Central. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities, including a 24-hour on-site team, a residents’ gym, housekeeping services and a residents’ lounge. The development is also pet friendly.
4.68 (45 reviews)
4.68 (45 reviews)
Located only a 5-minute stroll from Castlefield district of Manchester City Centre, Wilburn Basin features a variety of modern, minimalist designed apartments across its four district blocks. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities and amenities, including a gym, cinema, residents’ lounge and meeting rooms as well as a 24-hour concierge service team who invariably get top marks from our reviewers for their friendliness and can-do spirit.
4.61 (70 reviews)
4.61 (70 reviews)
New Maker Yards is well located in the heart of Middlewood Locks. This puts it only 10-minutes away from Salford Central and 14-minutes from Spinningfields and Manchester city centre. Built around three historic canal basins and bounded by the River Irwell, New Maker Yards is described by residents as picturesque and quiet, but with plenty of wow factor. There is also a residents’ club room for a connected workspace, big screen, and free coffee.
4.59 (24 reviews)
4.59 (24 reviews)
Oxbow offers an appealing collection of one, two and three-bedroom rental homes. Situated close to the River Irwell and only a 12-minute walk away from Salford Central train station, this INSTRATA Lifestyle Residence managed by Greystar gives residents access to an impressive range of facilities, including onsite gym and a 24-hour on-site team.
4.57 (58 reviews)
4.57 (58 reviews)
Situated in Deansgate Square, West Tower is a build-to-rent development featuring a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to a wide range of amenities including dry cleaning services and access to a residents lounge. With plenty of new facilties completed throughout 2020, more residents’ comments are being posted about how much they enjoy the swimming pool, sauna, cinema, roof-top garden and bar. The development is only a three-minute walk away from both Castlefield and Deansgate stations.
4.64 (18 reviews)
4.64 (18 reviews)
Last on our list is Anco&co. Situated in Ancoats – one of Manchester’s coolest up-and-coming communities – Anco&co comprises 143 apartments designed by Bowler James Brindley. It offers flexible renting and a 24/7 club concierge alongside a range of onsite facilities. These include a private dining suite and rooftop terrace as well as an onsite co-working space with Anco&co’s very own café-meets-cocktail-bar, Mule. Another nice touch: all apartments come fully furnished with voice controlled tech and intuitive heating. In addition, the development offers secure bike storage and 100mb/s unlimited broadband at no extra cost.
Our Manchester area guide has plenty more information about what it’s like to live in the city. You can also learn more about its thriving suburbs and alternative areas.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.
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