Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
No law states that portable appliances must be tested at a fixed interval. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment used at work to be maintained to prevent danger, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations add similar duties. Inspection and testing is a practical way of showing that equipment is being maintained, and many insurers and licensing schemes ask for records.
A risk-based schedule
The IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment recommends setting frequencies according to the type of equipment and the environment it is used in. As a starting point:
- Offices and low-risk workplaces: formal inspection and testing every 2–4 years for most equipment, with more frequent user checks.
- Hotels, hospitality and public-facing equipment: every 1–2 years.
- Construction sites (110V equipment): every 3 months.
- Rental properties: before each new tenancy is a common approach for appliances the landlord supplies.
Equipment that is moved often, handled roughly or used outdoors needs checking more often than a desktop monitor that never moves.
Do landlords need PAT testing?
Private landlords in England are not legally required to PAT test, but they must make sure appliances they supply are safe. Testing provides evidence of that, and it is often a condition of HMO licences. Social landlords now have a duty to test equipment they provide. See landlord requirements.
What you receive
Every item we test is labelled and recorded on an asset register showing the result, the next test date and any failures. Prices start from £1.30 per item. See PAT testing for details.