Choosing a studio flat and setting up your first home

Decide before you start viewing

The most common mistake when looking for your first place alone is to view several flats with no criteria and end up choosing the last one you saw, or the one with the nicest photos. Before you go out, set the amount you can pay each month, counting not just the rent but service charges and utility bills as well. Then write down just three conditions you will not compromise on, picked from things like commute time, natural light, noise, safety and which floor it is on. With ten conditions every flat looks slightly lacking and you cannot decide; with three, comparing becomes easy.

What to actually try on a viewing

A viewing is your chance to check what photos cannot show. Turn on the tap and the shower at the same time to judge water pressure and how long hot water takes, and see whether the basin and floor drain empty properly. The corners of the wallpaper, the area under window frames, and the inside and back of built-in wardrobes are where mould and condensation marks hide. If the walls were redecorated very recently, it is fair to ask why. Close all the windows and stand still for a moment to hear how much comes through from outside and next door.

• Run two outlets at once to test pressure
• Check drains for speed and smell
• Look for mould in corners, frames and behind wardrobes
• Listen for noise with windows shut
• Count sockets, note where they are, check phone signal

Go back at a different time

A neighbourhood by day and by night are different places. Once you find a flat you like, visit again after dark or during the morning commute. Check whether the walk home is well lit and busy, and whether anything nearby stays noisy late at night. Taking public transport at rush hour shows how far reality differs from the journey time on a map. Ask where and how rubbish and recycling go out and where parcels are left, because you will deal with these every single day.

Ask what the charges and appliances include

With service charges, what they cover matters more than the amount. The same sum might include internet and water in one building and only communal cleaning in another. Ask whether electricity, gas and water are billed separately and roughly what heating cost last winter, so you can work out a realistic monthly budget. Switch on any included appliances such as the fridge, washing machine or air conditioner, and confirm who pays for repairs if they break. Deposits and the tenancy agreement have their own checks, so read the guide on what to verify before signing a lease as well.

Start with three days' worth

You need less on moving day than you think. Trying to buy everything at once often means duplicating appliances the flat already has, or buying things you turn out not to need. Get only what will see you through three days, then fill the gaps in the order they annoy you. Curtains tend to be delayed because you need to measure the windows, but you want privacy and protection from early light from the first night, so bring something temporary to cover them.

• Bedding and towels
• Toilet paper, soap and detergent
• The local council's rubbish bags
• An extension lead and phone charger
• A cup, cutlery and a few dishes
• A temporary window covering

What to buy next, and how to choose

Buy large furniture only after measuring the room, and measure the front door and hallway too so it can actually get in. For the kitchen, one pot, one frying pan, a knife and a chopping board are enough to begin with, based on what you really cook. Before buying anything, ask whether something you already own could do the job, so you do not end up with several items for the same purpose. When buying second-hand, test it in person, and check fabric items such as mattresses and sofas for stains and smells.

Records to make on day one

Before unpacking, take photos and video of scratches, dents, stains and anything broken on the walls and floors, and keep them with the date visible. Sending them to the landlord or building manager by text makes it far less likely you will argue later about whether a defect was already there. Photograph the electricity, gas and water meter readings, and change the door lock code straight away. On the first day, also check that the smoke alarm works, where the fire extinguisher is and which way the emergency exit lies.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people regret most are signing after seeing only one or two places, and skipping checks because the landlord or agent is rushing them. Many people look only at floor area and forget storage, so belongings pile up on the floor later. When you like a flat its flaws are hard to see, so note the same points for every place you view and compare them side by side afterwards. If decisions about the contract or deposit feel difficult, it is safer to rely on official guidance or a professional.