PAT Testing for London Landlords, HMOs and Businesses
Every portable electrical appliance you supply with a let or use at work, inspected and tested, labelled and recorded on an itemised register. A register is not a legal requirement, but it is the clearest record that the checks were made.
RISK-BASED, NO FIXED LEGAL INTERVAL
PAT
Every portable electrical appliance you supply with a let or use at work, inspected and tested, labelled and recorded on an itemised register. A register is not a legal requirement, but it is the clearest record that the checks were made.
QUICK ANSWERS
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
No law requires PAT testing, or a PAT certificate, by name. The law requires electrical equipment to be kept safe. In workplaces, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require equipment that could cause injury to be maintained in a safe condition, and inspection and testing is one way of doing that. Where a rented property is licensed, such as a licensed HMO, a mandatory licence condition requires the licence holder to keep the appliances they supply safe and to give the council a declaration on their safety on demand. Your licence may set further conditions, so check it.
What does it cost?
From £49.99 for up to 10 appliances. More than 10 appliances is quoted rather than priced online.
How often should appliances be tested?
There is no fixed legal interval. HSE guidance is that how often equipment needs inspecting and testing depends on the type of equipment and the environment it is used in. Your licence or insurer may set its own requirement, so check those too.
Which appliances need testing?
Portable appliances you supply and plug in: kettles, washing machines, fridges, microwaves, lamps, vacuum cleaners and extension leads. Hard-wired cookers and extractor fans are outside this service, and the tenant's own belongings are not included.
What a PAT actually records.
Most faults are found by looking, not by instrument. The formal visual inspection covers the casing, the cable, the plug, the fuse rating and any sign of overheating, and it accounts for the majority of failures.
The deliverable is an itemised register: make, model, location and result for every appliance. There is no legal requirement to label tested equipment or to keep records, but a register is good practice: it shows which appliances were checked, when, and with what result.
LEGAL BASIS
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and the mandatory licence conditions in Schedule 4 to the Housing Act 2004
No legislation requires PAT testing by name. In workplaces, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment that could cause injury to be maintained in a safe condition; HSE guidance is that how often it is inspected and tested depends on the type of equipment and the environment it is used in. Where a rented property is licensed under Part 2 or Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004, including a licensed HMO, a mandatory licence condition requires the licence holder to keep the electrical appliances they make available in a safe condition and to give the local housing authority a declaration on their safety on demand.
Who this is for, and the properties it applies to.
SUITABLE PROPERTY TYPES
- Residential property
- Commercial property
CATEGORY
Electrical Safety Services
TYPICAL ATTENDANCE
under an hour for a typical furnished flat
The inspection, in the order it happens.
Typical attendance: under an hour for a typical furnished flat.
Register built
Every appliance listed with make, model and location, so the record is itemised rather than a count.
Formal visual inspection
Casing, cable, plug, fuse rating and signs of overheating. Most faults are found here rather than by instrument.
Earth continuity
On Class I appliances, confirming the earth path is intact.
Insulation resistance
Confirming live parts are properly separated from anything touchable.
Functional check
The appliance operated to confirm it works as intended.
Label and record
Each item labelled with its result and date, and the register issued.
PAT Testing tiers, with the unit of sale on every line.
Tiers are priced by what is actually being inspected. Every line can be booked directly.
| TIER | UNIT OF SALE | PRICE | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 appliances | Up to 10 appliances | £49.99 | Book PAT Testing, Up to 10 appliances |
| 11+ appliances | 11+ appliances | Quoted on request | Quote PAT Testing, 11+ appliances |
The price covers up to 10 portable appliances and the itemised register. More than 10 appliances is quoted rather than priced online. Repairs and replacements of any appliance that fails are not included.
Asked about PAT Testing.
No law requires a PAT certificate, and there is no legal requirement to label tested appliances or to keep records. You receive an itemised register listing every appliance tested and its result, which is good practice and the clearest record that the checks were made.
Not by name. If the HMO is licensed, a mandatory licence condition under the Housing Act 2004 requires the licence holder to keep the electrical appliances they supply in a safe condition and to give the council a declaration on their safety on demand. Inspection and testing is one way to support that declaration. Your licence may set further conditions, so check it.
Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, employers must make sure electrical equipment that could cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. The law does not say how, or how often. HSE guidance is that it depends on the type of equipment and the environment it is used in.
If you supply no portable appliances, there is nothing for this service to test. Hard-wired cookers and extractor fans are outside this service. If an unfurnished let still includes a plug-in appliance, such as a fridge or washing machine, that appliance is covered.
They are not part of this service. If the engineer sees something obviously dangerous, we will tell you.
It is labelled and recorded as failed on the register, and the engineer advises you on it so you can decide whether to repair or replace it. Repairs and replacements are not included in the price.
HSE guidance is that new equipment should be supplied in a safe condition and not require a formal portable appliance inspection or test. Add it to the register and include it at the next visit.
An EICR covers the fixed installation: the wiring, the consumer unit and the accessories. PAT testing covers the portable appliances you supply. They are separate checks, and a furnished let often has both.
PAT Testing in London.
Serving Central London and nearby postcodes. One engineer network and one renewal calendar. Where the qualifications overlap, several services can be covered in a single visit.
Usually booked in the same visit.
EICR
Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
Gas Safety Certificate
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
Commercial EICR
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Book a PAT anywhere in London.
Weekday morning and afternoon appointments.