First Flat Checklist: Everything You Need for Your First Rented Flat

Moving from a room in a shared house to your own flat is a big step up, and so is the shopping list. In a shared house a lot of things are just “there”. In a flat, the vacuum, ironing board and even the light bulbs are suddenly your problem. Here’s what you’ll need, in the order you’ll need it.

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Furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished?

• Furnished: usually includes beds, a sofa, wardrobes, a table and white goods. You bring bedding, kitchenware and small appliances.
• Part-furnished: usually includes white goods (cooker, fridge freezer, often a washing machine) and maybe some furniture.
• Unfurnished: often just a cooker, sometimes with white goods. Ask before you view.

Get a written inventory so you know which appliances belong to the landlord. If they provide it, they’re usually responsible for repairing it.

Day one survival box

Pack this separately so you’re not digging through boxes on your first night:

• Bedding (sheets, duvet, pillows) and a towel
• Phone charger and an extension lead
• Toilet roll, hand soap and a few bin bags
• A kettle, mugs, teabags or coffee, and some long-life milk
• A small screwdriver set for flat-pack and fiddly plugs
• Spare light bulbs – check whether your fittings are bayonet (B22) or screw (E27)

Kitchen

• Saucepans, a frying pan and a baking tray
• Dinner set and cutlery
• Knife set, chopping boards and a utensil set
• Toaster and, if one isn’t provided, a microwave
• Air fryer – a popular, cheaper-to-run alternative to using the full oven for one or two people
• Kitchen bin with recycling section

Cleaning and laundry

• Vacuum cleaner – cordless is easier in a small flat
• Mop and bucket
• Iron and ironing board
• Clothes airer – open a window or use a dehumidifier when drying indoors
• Cleaning caddy with the basics: multi-surface spray, bathroom cleaner, cloths and sponges

Living room and bedroom

• Floor lamp – landlord ceiling lights are often harsh
• Thermal curtains if the existing ones are thin
• Rug – protects the landlord’s carpet or floor, and your deposit
• Draught excluders for front and internal doors

Safety

• Test the smoke alarms on move-in day and report any faults. Your landlord must provide a smoke alarm on every storey, and a CO alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance such as a gas boiler.
• A kitchen fire blanket is a cheap extra for your own peace of mind.
• Find out where the stopcock, fuse box and gas meter are, before you need them.

Bills and admin in week one

• Take meter readings with photos on the day you move in.
• Set up gas and electricity, water, broadband and council tax. If you live alone, you may be entitled to a 25% single person discount on council tax.
• Get a TV licence if you watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer.
• Get contents insurance.
• Check your deposit is protected and that you’ve received your gas safety record, EICR and EPC. Our guide to what landlords must provide explains each one.

Still flat hunting? See the latest flats to rent in Leicester.