Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
You have probably been told that PAT testing is a legal requirement and must be done every year. Neither is true. There is no statutory annual test — but there is a duty to keep equipment safe, and there are plenty of contracts that do insist on it.
Below: what the law actually says, how often different equipment needs attention, and when a test is the right answer even though nothing compels it.
What the law actually requires
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that electrical equipment which has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. What they do not do is equally important:
- they do not require inspection or testing of appliances
- they do not set any interval, annual or otherwise
- they do not require labels on equipment
- they do not require records to be kept
That is the Health and Safety Executive’s own position, stated plainly in its portable appliance testing guidance. The obligation is to maintain equipment safely; how you demonstrate that is a matter of risk assessment.
How often equipment should be checked
Since there is no fixed interval, frequency follows the equipment and the environment. The principle is that the more likely a defect is, and the greater the harm it would cause, the more often it should be looked at.
| Environment | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Construction sites, workshops, equipment subject to movement or damage | Frequent user checks plus regular formal inspection and testing |
| Commercial premises — offices, shops, hospitality | Periodic inspection and testing, usually annual by custom and contract |
| Low-risk environments — offices, hotels, holiday lets | User checks and visual inspection are often sufficient |
| New equipment | Visual check only; no formal test needed |
Where you do test, the record is worth keeping even though nothing compels it. A written record is the easiest way to show that a maintenance scheme exists if an insurer, a client or an inspector asks.
When a test is still the right answer
None of the above means PAT testing is pointless. It means the driver is usually commercial rather than statutory:
- Insurance conditions. Many policies require portable appliance testing at a stated interval. That is a contractual obligation, and breaching it can affect a claim.
- Commercial tenancies. Landlords and tenants frequently agree testing obligations in the lease.
- Corporate and public sector clients. Procurement often requires evidence of a testing regime.
- Holiday lets and HMOs. Higher occupancy and more appliances mean more scope for damage.
- Furnished lets. Appliances you provide form part of what you are letting, and a record supports your position if something goes wrong.
Where a contract asks for annual testing, annual testing is what you need — regardless of what the regulations do or do not require.
PAT testing is not an EICR
These are two different inspections and neither substitutes for the other:
| PAT testing | EICR | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Appliances you plug in | The fixed installation: wiring, sockets, consumer unit |
| Statutory duty | None specific; maintenance duty applies | Yes, for rented property in England, every five years |
| Who needs it | Depends on contract and risk | Landlords, by law |
If you are a landlord and have been sold a PAT test as a legal requirement, the duty that actually applies is the five-year EICR for the fixed wiring. PAT testing may still be worth having, but on its own merits.
Booked alongside the rest
PAT testing, an gas safety certificate, an EICR and a floor plan can usually be arranged on one visit. Booking them together avoids repeated access arrangements and repeated call-out costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
Not in the way it is usually described. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment that could cause injury to be maintained in a safe condition, but they do not require inspection or testing, do not set any interval, and do not require annual testing.
Do I have to test appliances every year?
No. There is no statutory annual interval. How often equipment should be checked depends on the type of equipment and the environment it is used in, so a power tool on a building site warrants far more frequent attention than a lamp in an office.
Do I need to keep PAT records or label appliances?
There is no legal requirement to label appliances or to keep records. Both are useful management tools, and a record will help you demonstrate that a maintenance scheme exists if you are asked to.
Does a new appliance need testing?
No. New equipment should arrive in a safe condition and does not need a formal inspection or test. A simple visual check that it has not been damaged in transit is worthwhile.
Do I need an electrician to do PAT testing?
Not necessarily. The person carrying out the work must be competent for it. In many low-risk environments a trained member of staff can carry out visual inspections, though testing requires the right equipment and knowledge.
Then why do letting agents and insurers ask for it?
Because they can. A contractual requirement or an insurance condition is independent of statute, and many commercial tenancies, corporate clients and insurers specify an interval. If a contract asks for annual testing, annual testing is what you need.
Does PAT testing cover the fixed wiring?
No. PAT testing covers appliances you plug in. The fixed installation - wiring, sockets, light fittings and the consumer unit - is covered by an EICR, which is a separate inspection on a five-year cycle for rented property.
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Sources: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, reg 4; HSE, Portable appliance testing: frequently asked questions. This page reflects the position in October 2026 and is general information rather than legal advice.