Bills, meals, mess: sorted week one.

Rent is only part of it. The calculator adds utilities, internet, phone, food, transport, insurance and debts, then shows what's left. In one example, a flat taking 70% of income for rent and bills leaves about 20 a month — meaning a single month's emergency fund would take years to build. A flatshare in the same budget leaves far more room.

Photograph every room including existing damage, take and photograph meter readings, check the inventory, and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Send the condition photos to your landlord or agent in writing the same day — it's the single best protection for your deposit later.

With five simple meals matched to your equipment, tastes and budget — a small rotation you can repeat without a recipe. Then a store cupboard built up over a few shops, and a weekly list based on those meals. If five feels like a lot, start with two and add one every fortnight.

Little and often. Dishes and a ten-minute tidy daily, one weekly slot for floors, bathroom, kitchen and laundry, and a short monthly list for the fridge, oven and descaling. If you share, agree a written rota early — uneven cleaning is one of the most common sources of flatmate friction.

Some things you can handle: a blocked sink, a tripped switch, bleeding a radiator, a washing machine filter. Heating, hot water, leaks, electrical faults and damp are usually the landlord's responsibility — report them in writing with photos. Never attempt gas or electrical repairs: a smell of gas means leaving the property and calling the emergency number immediately.