PAT Testing London for Homes, HMOs and Businesses
Arrange inspection and testing for supplied or workplace electrical equipment across London. Send the address, premises use, approximate appliance count, previous records, deadline and access restrictions so the enquiry can be matched to the right scope and appointment.
Start with the equipment list, its use and the reason for the record
A useful PAT enquiry begins with the assets, not a guessed certificate interval. A furnished flat with a small set of landlord appliances, an HMO with equipment in bedrooms and common parts, an office with hundreds of mostly static IT items and a workshop with frequently moved tools do not present the same job. The quote and inspection plan should reflect the real inventory.
Explain why the record is needed. It may support a workplace maintenance programme, a managing agent's file, an HMO or local-authority request, an insurer condition, a client contract, a handover or an internal audit. Sharing the actual wording helps avoid an appointment that produces the wrong evidence or excludes assets expected by the recipient.
Send these details first
- Full site address and postcode
- Premises use, floors, rooms or operating areas
- Approximate number and types of electrical items
- Who owns or controls the equipment
- Previous schedule, labels or fault records
- Occupied areas, access windows and shutdown rules
- Recipient, reason and evidence deadline
PAT testing combines visual examination with appropriate electrical tests
The phrase “portable appliance testing” is widely used, but the practical subject is electrical equipment in service. Depending on the agreed scope, this can include portable, movable, hand-held or transportable equipment, extension leads and some larger plug-connected items. The decision should follow the equipment and how it is used rather than the size of the plug or whether a green label is already attached.
Visual examination is not a formality. It can reveal a cracked case, heat damage, exposed conductors, an incorrect fuse, a loose cable grip, a damaged plug, makeshift repairs or an unsuitable lead that a meter alone cannot identify. Where electrical testing is appropriate, the checks must suit the equipment's construction and protection arrangements. Not every test is suitable for every item.
The outcome is evidence about condition at the time of inspection. It is not a permanent guarantee. Equipment can be damaged after the visit, so users should still report faults, stop using obviously unsafe items and follow the maintenance system between formal inspections.
Define responsibility before personal and supplied equipment are mixed together
The person requesting the work should set a clear boundary around assets they own, provide, hire or control. That prevents a report from implying responsibility for every plug-in item found on the premises.
Employers and business owners
List company equipment, shared kitchen items, extension leads, cleaning equipment and any higher-risk tools. Explain whether the record supports the electrical maintenance system, a client audit or an insurer request.
Landlords, agents and HMO managers
Separate landlord-supplied appliances from tenants' possessions. Include common-part items, furnished-room equipment and white goods only where they fall within the agreed responsibility and access can be arranged.
Shops, hospitality and public premises
Identify equipment used by staff, customers or contractors, particularly items moved, cleaned or exposed to heat, moisture or heavy use. Plan around trading hours and equipment that cannot be unplugged without approval.
Facilities and portfolio teams
Provide site references, asset tags, room names and the required reporting format. Keep each address and responsible entity distinct so records can be retrieved and faults tracked across the portfolio.
UK law requires safe maintenance, not a universal annual PAT certificate
For work equipment, regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires systems to be maintained, so far as reasonably practicable, to prevent danger. The Regulations do not prescribe one test called PAT, a fixed interval or an annual certificate for every item. HSE therefore advises a risk-based maintenance regime that can combine user checks, formal visual inspection and electrical testing where needed.
Separate requirements can still affect the brief. A local licence, insurer, managing agent, client contract, sector policy or property handover may request a current schedule or particular group of assets. Treat that wording as part of the scope, but do not present a private condition as though it were a blanket statutory rule for everyone.
A competent visit should follow the agreed inventory and record limitations
The site contact should confirm which assets are included, where they are located and which items cannot be isolated. The person carrying out the work can then trace the inventory, examine each available item and select appropriate tests. An item hidden in a locked room or left operating because shutdown was refused should not quietly appear as tested.
- 1
Confirm the boundary
Check the address, responsible party, asset list, room references, exclusions and the reason the evidence is being prepared.
- 2
Examine accessible equipment
Review plugs, flexible cables, cases, connectors, fuse arrangements, signs of misuse and the suitability of the item for its environment.
- 3
Select appropriate tests
Use suitable instruments and test methods for the equipment class and construction; do not apply one routine to every item regardless of design.
- 4
Record results and action
Identify passed, failed, inaccessible, missing or excluded assets and explain the immediate action expected for unsafe equipment.
Use risk and evidence instead of automatically repeating last year's date
A sensible review considers how likely an item is to deteriorate and how serious the result could be. Previous records matter because repeated good results in a controlled setting may justify a different approach from frequent failures or hard use. The dutyholder should review the programme when equipment, occupants, environment or operating practices change.
Movement and handling
Hand-held tools, cleaners, kettles and extension leads are moved and flexed more than desktop monitors. Leads pulled across floors or stored roughly deserve closer attention.
Environment
Moisture, dust, heat, outdoor work, workshops, kitchens and public access can raise the chance of damage compared with clean, dry and controlled office space.
Construction and use
Equipment class, earthing arrangements, cable type, supply, user competence and the consequences of failure affect the appropriate inspection and test plan.
History and change
Use previous results, repairs, reported faults, new layouts, different users and manufacturer information to review the next interval rather than copying a label mechanically.
A useful PAT report identifies the assets, outcomes and gaps
Ask what evidence will be supplied before the appointment. A workable schedule should connect each result to an identifiable asset and location. Depending on the agreed service, it may include the item description, asset number, equipment class, visual outcome, electrical-test results, overall status, test date, tester details, comments and any recommended review information.
Check the exceptions as carefully as the passes. Missing items, duplicate asset numbers, inaccessible rooms, equipment left operating, items with no safe isolation route and assets outside the quotation should be visible. A report that records only passes can give a misleading picture when part of the inventory was unavailable.
Prepare access without disrupting occupants or business-critical equipment
Most avoidable delay comes from an incomplete asset count, unavailable rooms or equipment that nobody is authorised to unplug. Walk through the site before requesting the visit and decide what can be made available. Tell occupants or department leads what access is needed and arrange an escort where security rules apply.
Build the inventory
Use room names and existing asset tags where possible. Separate company, landlord, resident, hired and contractor equipment, and flag items added since the previous report.
Plan isolation
Identify servers, tills, refrigeration, medical or care equipment, alarms and other critical items that cannot be unplugged during normal operation. Agree exclusions or controlled shutdowns in advance.
Arrange entry
Confirm keys, resident permission, reception, loading, parking, induction, permits and lone-working restrictions. Give one site contact authority to resolve access questions.
Share existing evidence
Provide the former schedule, asset changes, repairs and failed-item history. This helps reconcile the new visit and supports a better risk-based maintenance review.
Appliance count is only one part of the price and time required
A small, organised inventory in one accessible room is different from the same number of items spread across several occupied floors. Equipment type, identification, isolation, security, parking, working hours, report format and failed items all affect the visit. Give a realistic count and state whether every item can be found and unplugged.
If you need evidence by a licence renewal, audit, tenancy handover or opening date, include that date before booking. Where the scope is uncertain, photographs, a sample asset list or the previous report can help clarify what is being requested before attendance.
Related routes
HMO PAT testing guideAppliance evidence for HMO management and licensing enquiries Commercial electrical certificateFixed-installation EICR guidance for business premises Emergency lighting testingEscape-lighting inspection, records and access planning Fire alarm certificateFire-alarm inspection and testing enquiry routeSend the postcode before relying on a borough page
We handle PAT testing enquiries across London for individual properties, HMOs, workplaces and managed portfolios. The postcode is the quickest way to confirm routing, likely travel and whether several services can be considered for the same visit.
Send the appliance count and site details
Include the address, premises use, approximate item count, floors or rooms, equipment types, who owns the assets, previous report, deadline and access restrictions. Mention occupied rooms, critical equipment, security requirements and any other certificates needed at the property.
Do not continue using equipment that is visibly damaged, overheating, giving shocks, smelling of burning or exposing live parts. Isolate it safely where possible and seek appropriate electrical advice.
PAT testing FAQs
Is PAT testing a legal requirement in the UK?
UK law does not impose a universal requirement called annual PAT testing. Where workplace electrical-safety law applies, equipment that could cause injury must be maintained in a safe condition. Inspection and testing can form part of that maintenance system, with the approach based on risk. A licence, insurer, client or property-management policy may also request a current record, so check the wording behind the request.
Does every appliance need PAT testing every year?
No. HSE guidance says the frequency and level of checking depend on the equipment, how it is used, the environment, movement, previous results and fault history. A frequently moved cleaner or site tool can need attention sooner than a monitor kept in a dry office. The next review date should follow a risk-based maintenance decision rather than an automatic annual rule.
What equipment can be included in a PAT testing visit?
The agreed inventory may include plug-in or movable equipment such as kettles, microwaves, lamps, extension leads, computers, printers, cleaning equipment, portable tools and landlord-supplied white goods. The person arranging the visit should identify ownership and use so personal belongings, hired equipment, contractor tools and out-of-scope fixed equipment are not recorded as though they belong to the client.
Is PAT testing the same as an EICR?
No. PAT testing concerns electrical equipment in service and normally combines visual inspection with appropriate tests. An EICR assesses the fixed electrical installation, including consumer units, circuits, permanent wiring and accessories. A PAT record cannot replace an EICR, and an EICR does not provide an appliance inventory.
Does brand-new equipment need a PAT test?
HSE guidance says new equipment should be supplied in a safe condition and does not normally need a formal portable-appliance test before first use. A simple visual check is still sensible to identify transit damage, a damaged plug or lead, an unsuitable product or a mismatch with the intended environment. Record purchase dates where this helps manage the inventory.
Who can carry out PAT inspection and testing?
The person must be competent for the task. Basic user checks or some visual inspections can be carried out by a suitably trained person in a low-risk setting. Combined inspection and electrical testing require greater knowledge, suitable test equipment, the ability to use it correctly and the ability to interpret the results. Tell us the premises and equipment type so the correct visit can be considered.
Must every tested appliance have a label?
HSE states that there is no general legal requirement to label inspected or tested equipment or to keep PAT records. Labels and records are nevertheless useful management tools: they identify assets, help users see status, support review dates and demonstrate that a maintenance system exists. A label should not be treated as proof that an item will remain safe regardless of later damage.
What happens when an appliance fails?
An unsafe item should not simply be returned to normal use with a failed label. The responsible person should prevent use, identify the item clearly and decide whether it will be repaired by a competent person, replaced or disposed of. Keep the failed result and later repair or retest evidence together so the asset history is understandable.
How long does a PAT testing appointment take?
Duration depends on the item count and type, how accurately the inventory has been prepared, how widely equipment is spread, whether items can be unplugged, occupied-room access and the number of failed or untraceable assets. Send an approximate count and the building layout before booking. A clear list and an authorised site contact reduce avoidable delays.
What details are needed for a PAT testing quotation?
Send the full address and postcode, premises use, approximate appliance count, floors or rooms, whether the site is occupied, who owns the equipment, previous records, deadline, parking or loading notes, security or induction arrangements and any shutdown restrictions. Mention whether you also need an EICR or another property certificate so the enquiry can be routed correctly.
Request PAT testing for a London property or workplace
Send the postcode, appliance estimate and access notes. We will confirm the next enquiry step without treating every site as an identical annual testing job.