Riverside House by UTDM

Everything was good, and the location worked well, with markets nearby like Tesco and others. The room I chose was fine, but it was for one person and there were two of us.

I've loved living at Riverside House for the past two years, last year and this one. The staff and facilities are hard to beat. Whenever there's a problem, the team finds a quick fix, and they're so welcoming and friendly that you can always go to them for a chat. The cinema room is great for a cozy night with friends, and I use the well equipped gym downstairs nearly every day. There's a nice communal area for meeting friends and celebrating, and the parties the staff put on have always been really fun. The location is great too, only 10 minutes from the city Centre, with a bus stop just outside and five different buses that go there.

The location is the best part, right by the river and close to campus. I visited last year and was really impressed by the new sitting room area, a lovely space that's fun for events. I also love the astro space when it's sunny.

I've been here a year and already booked for a second. The rooms are cozy, there's enough kitchen space for everyone's things, and the communal area is nice. Shops are close, buses go straight to manchester city centre, and the shower has great pressure and loads of room, though it could use shelves. The recent management change felt rocky, but it's good that a cheaper room option is available now. A big hassle is having no hoovers or mops in each flat. If you're on a higher floor, you have to go to reception to borrow cleaning supplies, and there are only a few for the whole building. Students forget to return them, so they may not be there. Reception is now closed all weekend, which makes cleaning even harder if you work during the week or have classes past closing time. Nearly all the other student halls I've heard about provide a hoover for every flat, so this seems like an easy fix. The windows are also almost impossible to clean on the outside. Dirt builds up and bugs, especially hoards of spiders, get in. I've tried spider repellent, cleaned as much as I can and kept the window shut, but none of that has helped. In summer the rooms can get as hot as an attic, so keeping it closed isn't a good solution either. I remove up to three spiders from my room every night, and the kitchen is practically overrun too. Cleaning the windows at least termly would help with the insects and make residents' stay better. The view is one of the building's biggest selling points, but there's not much to enjoy when the window is covered in webs and mud. For reference, I'm on the second floor overlooking the river. Apart from those major issues and a few smaller gripes, I've enjoyed living here. The staff are wonderful and easy to talk to, and they often hold gatherings and events so residents can get together and meet people outside their cluster. I'd recommend it for the safe, comfortable atmosphere.