Just got the keys?
Here's what to learn first.
Nobody teaches you this stuff. These 5 skills will cover 90% of what goes wrong in your first year.
Do this in your first week
Before anything breaks, make sure you know where the important things are.
Find your stopcock
Turn it off and back on so you know it works. Location: usually under the kitchen sink.
Find your fusebox
Know which switch controls which circuit. Label them if they aren't already.
Find your gas meter and shut-off
Outside the house or in a meter cupboard. You need to know where it is before an emergency.
Check the boiler pressure
Should read 1–1.5 bar. If it's lower, top it up via the filling loop before winter.
Test smoke and CO alarms
Press the test button. Replace batteries if they chirp. Buy a CO alarm if there isn't one.
The 5 most important guides to learn first
In order of how soon you'll need them.
Change a lightbulb
You'll need this within weeks. Takes 5 minutes and costs £5–15.
Bleed a radiator
Do this every October. Cold radiators in winter cost you money every day.
Unblock a drain
Happens in every home. Free to fix yourself, £60–120 to call a plumber.
Fix a dripping tap
A dripping tap wastes 5,500 litres a year and drives you mad at night.
Fill a hole in a wall
Every renter leaves holes. Every owner makes them. Essential skill.
What to do when something breaks
1. Don't panic. Most household problems look worse than they are.
2. Search this site first. If it's a common problem, we have a guide for it.
3. Isolate the problem. Water leak? Turn off the stopcock. Electrical? Turn off at the fusebox.
4. Assess before acting. Is it a DIY job or does it need a professional? Our FAQ covers where the line is.
5. Call a professional when in doubt — especially for gas, structural work, or anything you're not confident with.