PAT testing — keeping portable appliances safe.
Portable Appliance Testing is the visual and electrical inspection of plug-in appliances. There is no "annual PAT" law — the duty under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is to keep equipment safe, with frequency proportionate to risk. Landlords, employers and HMO operators all carry this duty.
Is PAT testing legally required?
There is no law that says "PAT test annually". The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require equipment to be maintained safely; the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places the duty on employers and landlords. PAT is one accepted method to discharge that duty. HSE guidance recommends visual inspection on every use, and combined visual + electrical PAT every 12–24 months for moveable equipment in the workplace and rented properties.
Typical 2026 rate for combined visual + electrical test across UK.
HSE guidance for moveable equipment in offices and rented homes.
Institution of Engineering and Technology — IET Code of Practice 5th ed (2020) is the reference document.
PAT Testing — the terms that matter
Plain-English definitions for the 5 terms you'll see in any quote, certificate or enforcement notice for PAT Testing Requirements.
- Portable Appliance TestingPAT
- The combined visual and electrical inspection of plug-in equipment. Tests insulation resistance, earth bond, and (for Class II) earth leakage.
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989EAWR 1989
- The principal UK statute requiring electrical systems and equipment to be maintained safely. Reg 4(2): "Every electrical system shall be maintained so as to prevent danger".
- Class I ApplianceClass I
- An appliance that relies on earthing for safety — typically anything with metal external parts and a 3-pin plug. Most kitchen appliances, kettles, toasters.
- Class II ApplianceClass II
- A double-insulated appliance with no earth — typically marked with a square-in-square symbol. Most modern hairdryers, drills and chargers.
- IET Code of PracticeIET CoP
- IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (5th ed, 2020). The de facto reference for UK PAT.
How to commission PAT testing for a rental property or office
Five steps from instruction to certificate. Total time: 4h.
01
Inventory appliances
Day 0
List every plug-in appliance you provide — kettles, microwaves, hairdryers, white goods, lamps, extension leads. Tenants' own appliances are not your duty.
02
Pick a competent tester
Day 1–3
IET CoP recommends a competent person — typically a qualified electrician or City & Guilds 2377-trained PAT tester. Ask for proof of training and PAT calibration certificate.
03
Test
Day of visit
Visual inspection (cable, plug, casing, fuse rating) + electrical tests via PAT tester (insulation resistance, earth-bond for Class I, leakage). Each appliance gets a Pass / Fail label with date.
04
Receive register
Day of visit
Tester provides an asset register — every appliance, location, test date, result, retest date. Keep with property file.
05
Diary retests
12–24 months
Schedule the next round before the recommended retest date. Visual inspection between tests is recommended (and simple — look for cable damage, loose plugs, burnt smells).
PAT Testing Requirements. Done compliant.
Every TradeMatch-listed tradesperson covering PAT Testing Requirements carries the relevant scheme registration. Verified at onboarding, re-verified annually, certificates posted to you within 30 days of any notifiable work.
Who needs PAT testing — duty mapping
Side-by-side comparison of the compliant route versus the unregistered shortcut. Most rows trace a straight line from regulation to financial exposure.
| Setting | Legal duty | Typical retest interval |
|---|---|---|
| COMPLIANT — RECOMMENDEDOwner-occupied home | No duty under EAWR | No requirement |
| Privately rented (single household) | EAWR via Housing Act 2004 fitness duty | 12–24 months recommended; many landlords align with EICR cycle |
| HMO | Mandatory licence condition (most councils) | 12 months |
| Workplace / office | EAWR 1989 + HSWA 1974 | 12–24 months for moveable equipment |
| Construction site | EAWR + CDM 2015 + 110 V centre-tap | 3 months for portable tools on site |
| Schools | EAWR + DfE risk guidance | 12 months for staff equipment, 6 months for student-handled |
Source: HSE INDG236 Maintaining Portable Electric Equipment, IET Code of Practice 5th ed.
The questions homeowners ask before they commit.
How often do I need PAT testing?
There's no statutory frequency. The HSE's INDG236 guidance recommends 12–24 months for moveable equipment in offices and rentals, 6 months for handheld tools, 3 months for portable equipment on construction sites. Many landlords align with their 5-year EICR cycle and PAT-test annually as a result.
How much does PAT testing cost in the UK?
Callout fees £40–£100. Per-appliance £1–£3 (often a tiered rate — first 10 appliances £25, next 50 at £1.50 each). A typical 3-bed rental with kettle, microwave, washing machine, fridge, lamps and a few small appliances comes to £60–£90.
Is PAT testing required for landlords?
Not by name in any UK statute, but the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 + the Housing Act 2004 fitness duty + the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2022 collectively require landlord-supplied appliances to be safe. Most agents and councils enforce PAT as the practical way to discharge that duty.
Who can do PAT testing?
A competent person — defined by IET CoP as someone with sufficient technical knowledge, training and experience. In practice that means a qualified electrician or a person who has completed a City & Guilds 2377 (or equivalent) PAT testing course and uses a calibrated tester.
Can I PAT test my own appliances?
Yes — there is no statutory monopoly on the work. But you must be competent (IET CoP) and use a calibrated tester (~£250–£700 for entry-level). For 1–2 appliances the maths rarely works against hiring a tester at £40–£60.
What's the difference between PAT testing and an EICR?
PAT covers plug-in appliances (kettles, lamps, drills). EICR covers fixed wiring (sockets, switches, consumer units, fixed light fittings). Both are needed in a rental — PAT for moveable equipment you supply, EICR for the property's fixed installation.
Going deeper.
PAT testing, no over-spec.
TradeMatch electricians PAT-test rented homes, offices and HMOs to IET CoP — calibrated equipment, proper asset register, no upsell.