When moving into your first flat, start by covering the needs that are genuinely unmet: keeping food fresh if there’s no fridge, cooking if the property doesn’t offer a suitable option, then doing your laundry at home if no other practical solution is available. Check what’s included, the dimensions and the connections you’ll need before ordering. You can leave other appliances until later, depending on your habits and the space available.
If the property doesn’t have a fridge or adequate cooking facilities, and you regularly prepare your own meals, check these essentials before considering appliances that are less important to your day-to-day life.
If a launderette, shared washing machine or help from someone you know isn’t easily available, a washing machine may become a priority. However, its location, connections and capacity must suit both your home and your needs.
In a kitchenette or a cramped bathroom, measure the space and clearance needed before choosing a compact model. A narrow or shallow design doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the capacity will be right for you.
First, make a list of the appliances already there. Then prioritise your purchases based on how you eat, your access to laundry facilities and the space you can actually use. A dishwasher and specialist cooking appliances can wait if you can manage without them day to day.
| Need | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Store food and prepare meals | Check which appliances are already provided, then check the dimensions and door opening of the fridge you’re considering. | Without refrigeration, I want to be able to store food and prepare meals as soon as I move in. Around 33 % of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Do your laundry at home | Check the water supply, waste outlet, location and capacity needed for your laundry. | If I can’t easily use another machine, doing my laundry at home becomes essential. Around 27 % of consumers put this need first. |
| Have basic cooking facilities | Check what’s already installed, along with the space and power supply required for your chosen appliance. | I cook regularly, but don’t want to buy several appliances if one option can cover my everyday needs. Around 20 % of consumers prioritise these basic cooking facilities. |
| Choose appliances to suit a small home | Measure access routes, the space available and clearances; compare the actual capacity of compact models. | When space is tight, I need to choose appliances that will fit and leave the rest until later. Around 20 % of consumers prioritise the space appliances take up. |
When comparing new appliances in a category covered by energy labelling, compare the information on their energy labels rather than judging their consumption by a single letter. ADEME also recommends choosing a washing machine capacity that reflects your actual needs. It says 7 kg is enough most of the time, but this isn’t a rule for every household.
Once you’ve chosen a category, new appliances, professionally refurbished models and items bought second-hand from private sellers all require different checks. According to the DGCCRF, a refurbished product must have undergone functionality tests and, where necessary, repairs. When buying from a private seller, check the appliance and its specifications especially carefully: the statutory consumer guarantee of conformity that applies to sales from businesses to consumers does not cover these transactions.
If there’s already a fridge, hob or washing machine, buying another could be unnecessary. On the other hand, an appliance may not be usable if there isn’t enough space or the right connection.
Make a list of what’s provided, then measure the space, access routes and clearances you’ll need before deciding what to prioritise.
According to the DGCCRF, refurbishment involves functionality tests and, where necessary, repairs. The name of the new model alone doesn’t tell you the condition of the individual appliance being sold.
Ask for the exact model number and a description of its technical and cosmetic condition, as well as the warranty terms that apply to the sale.
In France, the statutory consumer guarantee of conformity that applies when a business sells to a consumer does not cover sales between private individuals. This doesn’t rule out other remedies that may be relevant, including the guarantee against hidden defects provided for by the French Civil Code.
Test the appliance if possible, check its identity and condition, and keep your correspondence and proof of purchase.
If your purchase is replacing an existing appliance, you’ll need to arrange for the old one to be taken away. The DGCCRF reminds distributors of their obligation to take back an equivalent used appliance free of charge, subject to the applicable conditions.
Before delivery, ask what collection arrangements apply to your order and your old appliance.
Bosch’s range of small fridges may be worth considering if you have limited space for refrigeration.
Beko top-loading washing machines are worth considering if the width available is a key factor in your choice.
Electrolux’s slim front-loading washing machine range is worth a look if depth is your main constraint.
These appliances cover refrigeration, laundry at home and cooking needs when your home doesn’t already have a suitable option. Before deciding what to buy first, compare each format with your available space and the appliances provided.
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Worth considering if your home doesn’t have a fridge and you want to store both fresh and frozen food.
The product name lists 153 L for the fridge, 74 L for the freezer, a width of 54 cm, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the full dimensions and the clearance needed for installation.
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Worth considering if you need to do your laundry at home and are looking for a top-loading machine.
The product name lists a 6 kg capacity, 1 400 rpm, a B energy rating and Wi-Fi. Check that the capacity suits your needs, and allow enough clearance to open the lid and connect the machine.
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Worth considering if you need refrigeration in a small kitchen and 92 L is enough for your needs.
The product name mentions a freezer compartment and an E energy rating. Check the full dimensions and the freezer compartment’s capacity before choosing this size.
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Worth considering if your kitchen doesn’t have a hob and has a suitable space for a built-in appliance.
The product name lists four zones and nine power levels. Have the cut-out and electrical requirements for your planned installation checked. This hob isn’t a solution for cooking on the move.
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Worth considering if you need a worktop cooking option rather than a built-in hob.
This single-zone model is listed at 1 500 W and has adjustable temperature settings. Check its dimensions and electrical supply requirements. A single zone limits how many things you can cook at once. Avoid touching hot surfaces during use.
Start by making a list of the appliances provided with your home, then measure the spaces, access routes and clearances. Check the connections you’ll need before choosing an appliance type or size.
No. Compare labels for new appliances in the categories covered, taking into account the indicators specific to each category. According to the labelling rules set out by Your Europe, these requirements don’t apply to second-hand products.
According to the DGCCRF, a refurbished appliance is a second-hand item that has been tested to check it works and, where necessary, repaired or restored before being resold. Check that the description of its technical and cosmetic condition applies to the specific appliance on offer.
In France, according to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer. It doesn’t apply to a sale between private individuals; the guarantee against hidden defects under the French Civil Code is a separate regime.
Ask the retailer about collection arrangements before delivery. The DGCCRF reminds retailers that free take-back of an equivalent used appliance when you buy a new one applies under the conditions set for the distributors concerned.