Accommodation in Birmingham

When moving to a new city, finding a spot to call home is always high on the priority list. With an undersupplied property market, Birmingham’s accommodation tends to be pricey and available housing is snapped up quickly. New arrivals will therefore need to approach the house hunt with a clear yet somewhat flexible idea of what they’re looking for in a home.

Areas and suburbs in Birmingham

Birmingham’s sprawling size means there are plenty of areas and suburbs to choose from. There's something to suit everyone, from bustling central areas to leafy suburban neighbourhoods.

Areas directly in the city centre are vibrant and lively, and they come with easy access to the public transport system. Recommended areas include the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth. Most city-centre homes are in the form of apartments, including old warehouses converted into living spaces. These have a rustic charm to them but are still pricey due to their location.

Those looking for a slightly quieter and cheaper option may prefer suburbs such as Sutton Coldfield, Edgbaston or Harborne. Green spaces abound in these areas, and there are plenty of parks. Homes also tend to be more spacious. For this reason, families often opt to live in the suburbs.

For more advice, see Areas and Suburbs in Birmingham.

Types of accommodation in Birmingham

Birmingham housing comes in the form of freestanding homes, row houses (where both sides of a house are connected to other houses, forming a row of homes) and semi-detaching housing (where only one side of the house is connected to another house). When it comes to flats (apartments), there are both low- and high-rise blocks of flats.

There are quite a few historic houses to be found in and around Birmingham, mainly from the Victorian era. These properties tend to feature several bedrooms and are typically spacious. In and around the city centre, many old warehouses have been converted into trendy living spaces.

For younger new arrivals, houseshares can be a great introduction to Birmingham, providing an opportunity to meet other residents and save some money at the same time. Birmingham’s aforementioned larger Victorian houses are particularly well suited to house-sharing.

Finding accommodation in Birmingham

When looking for a place to live in Birmingham, it’s best to cast the net as wide as possible. Online property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla can be useful in getting to know the various areas and price points available, but listings on these websites tend to move quickly.

Hiring an estate agent to do the legwork and advise on the most suitable areas for the prospective tenant’s needs and budget can be a great help.

Useful links

• Rightmove
• Zoopla

Renting accommodation in Birmingham

The rental process in Birmingham is fairly simple and easy to navigate. Generally speaking, the hardest part is finding and securing a place to live due to high demand and plenty of competition.

Leases

A typical lease length is 12 months. New arrivals looking for something more temporary may prefer short-term accommodation, which tends to be more expensive and in even higher demand but offers more flexibility.

Deposits

A deposit, usually equivalent to a month’s rent, is to be paid prior to moving in. The deposit should be accompanied by the first month’s rent, which is paid in advance.

At the end of the lease period, the deposit should be returned in full to the tenant, provided the home is returned in good condition (apart from normal wear and tear).

Utilities

In a fixed-term lease, utilities are typically an extra expense paid for by the tenant. Council tax, as well as electricity, water and gas bills, should be taken into account when planning one’s budget. On the other hand, short-term accommodation typically includes these costs in the rental price.

For more detail, see Setting up Household Utilities in the UK.