PAT testing checks the plug-in appliances a landlord supplies, such as kettles, fridges and washing machines. No law sets a PAT interval for private landlords, but the appliances you supply must be safe, and HMO licence conditions may set an interval. EliteShires Property Services tests, labels and records supplied appliances in Harrow from £50, with the certificate and asset register issued on the day.
You supply appliances with a let property and you need to be able to show they were checked and safe, usually because an HMO licence requires it, or because an agent has asked, or because you would rather not find out the hard way. No law sets a PAT interval for private landlords, but the duty to supply safe appliances is real.
PAT testing is widely misunderstood. There is no statutory requirement for private landlords to PAT test on a fixed schedule. There is a duty to make sure the electrical appliances you supply are safe, and testing is the practical way to show you have discharged it. For a furnished let or an HMO, that distinction matters less than the evidence.
PAT Testing at a glance
| Who it is for | Landlords supplying appliances, HMO licence holders |
|---|---|
| Legal interval | None set by law for private landlords; check HMO licence conditions |
| What you get | Labels, asset register and certificate on the day |
| Tenants' own items | Not tested unless the tenant asks |
| Price | From £50 for a typical small flat |
What PAT testing with us includes
- Visual inspection of every appliance you supply
- Earth continuity and insulation resistance testing where applicable
- A pass or fail and a dated label on each item
- An asset register listing every item and its result
- Plug, fuse and lead repairs carried out on the spot where sensible
- A certificate for your records
What is the landlord's legal duty?
The appliances you supply with a let property must be safe. That comes from consumer protection law, under which goods supplied to consumers in the course of a business must be safe (trading standards apply this to furnished lettings), and from the general duty of care a landlord owes to tenants. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 are often quoted, but they govern manufacturers, importers and distributors placing equipment on the market rather than setting a testing schedule for landlords. The five-yearly check of supplied appliances in the 2020 electrical safety regulations applies to social landlords, not private ones. No regulation says "PAT test annually". What a test gives you is documented evidence, per appliance, that it was checked and found safe on a given date, which is exactly what you want if a tenant is ever injured by something you supplied.
What gets tested?
Anything you supply that plugs in: kettle, toaster, microwave, washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge and freezer, oven where it is plugged rather than hard-wired, vacuum, lamps, extension leads. Each item gets a visual inspection, earth continuity and insulation resistance testing where applicable, a pass or fail, and a dated label.