Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Guidance

As a landlord, it’s your legal responsibility to make sure that all electrical appliances in your property are safe to use. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is the best way to ensure this, helping you identify any electrical faults or hazards in your portable appliances.

On this page, you’ll find all the PAT testing guidance you need to keep your tenants safe and stay on top of your legal obligations.

We’ll cover:

• What PAT testing is and why it’s important
• Landlord PAT testing legal requirements in England
• Who can carry out a PAT test
• How to conduct a PAT test
• What to do if an appliance fails the PAT test

Portable Appliance Testing, or PAT testing as it’s more commonly known, involves examining all portable electrical appliances in your property to ensure they are safe to use. PAT testing is important because it helps prevent electrical accidents and ensures you are complying with your landlord safety obligations.

PAT testing can be carried out by the landlord or by a qualified electrician. The test begins with a visual inspection to assess the physical condition of the appliances, then various tests are carried out to check that each appliance is in proper working order.

Although PAT testing specifically is not required by law, UK law does state that electrical equipment must be maintained to prevent danger. PAT testing has become the most common way to fulfil this legal obligation because it’s a practical and relatively straightforward way to assess the safety of portable electrical devices.

Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that all electrical installations and appliances in their properties are in safe working order. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 specifies that electrical equipment provided for tenants must be deemed safe at the start of the tenancy and maintained throughout. Although PAT testing is not explicitly required, it’s a common method to ensure these requirements are met.

One situation where a PAT test can be legally required is when it is included as a condition of a property licence. This can be a selective, mandatory or additional licence.

The introduction of The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 further emphasises landlords’ obligations to keep electrical installations in safe working order throughout the tenancy.

To learn more about your electrical safety obligations, please see our guide to landlord electrical safety inspections.

No - in most cases, a PAT test can be carried out by the landlord without the need for a qualified electrician. However, if an appliance is particularly dangerous to check or you do not feel comfortable assessing it, you might consider hiring a qualified electrician to perform the inspection.

There are benefits to having a qualified electrician carry out PAT tests for you, especially if you’re looking for peace of mind that your appliances are definitely safe and your legal obligations have been fulfilled. Should any legal issues arise, having PAT tests performed by registered professionals can serve as evidence of due diligence and compliance with safety regulations.

The NRLA is partnered with Safe2, property safety and compliance experts who can organise professional PAT tests for you completely hassle-free. NRLA members receive a 5% discount!

Start by performing a visual inspection to identify any obvious damage to the appliance, its plug, or its lead.
Keep an eye out for:

• Fraying, cuts, or heavy scuffing to the lead
• Damage to the plug such as bent pins
• Tape applied to the lead to join leads together
• Visible wires where the lead joins the plug
• Loose parts or screws
• Signs of overheating, such as burn marks or staining on the plug
• Equipment being stored in dusty or wet environments
• Cables trapped under furniture or in floor boxes

All of these are immediate signs that the appliance is not safe and should be repaired or replaced to prevent electrical accidents.

Next, electrical tests should be carried out using a PAT tester machine. These tests should include earth continuity, lead polarity, and insulation resistance checks to make sure everything is operating correctly and not posing any hazards.

PAT tester machines can be expensive, which is why you might consider using a qualified electrician to carry out the tests for you. You should work out whether it will be more cost-effective for you to buy your own PAT tester machine or hire an electrician, bearing in mind it’s recommended that you carry out PAT tests on all appliances at least once a year.

Finally, make sure you accurately record the results of the PAT test. It’s crucial to maintain a record of safety compliance so that you can plan future safety checks and have evidence of due diligence in case any legal issues arise.

You’ll need to decide whether the appliances have ‘Passed’ or ‘Failed’ the PAT test. A ‘Pass’ indicates that the appliance has met the required safety standards and is safe to use. It’s best practice to label appliances that pass the PAT test with a ‘Passed’ sticker that also shows the date the test was performed and when the next test is due.

If an appliance has not met the safety standards and could pose a risk, you should give it a ‘Fail’. The risk may have been identified at the visual inspection stage, or when electrical tests were carried out.
What should you do if an appliance fails the PAT test?

If any appliances fail the PAT test, it’s important you address the issue immediately. Remove failed appliances from service until they are either repaired or replaced. Under no circumstances should you allow tenants to continue using appliances that have failed the PAT test.

While there are no hard and fast rules on this, the HSE has produced guidance on the suggested frequency of inspections and testing for different appliances.

Generally speaking, it’s best practice to perform a PAT test every 6-12 months to ensure you’re staying on top of your safety obligations.

No - new appliances should be safe to use and so would not normally require portable appliance testing. However, the HSE does recommend you verify that any new appliances are not damaged through a visual inspection of the equipment before use.

While PAT testing itself isn't a legal requirement for landlords, failing to comply with best practices by not carrying out regular PAT testing could leave you liable for negligence if an electrical fault causes damage or injury to a tenant. This could lead to legal action and financial penalties if an incident occurs.

Usually yes. However, if you have the equipment to test the appliances and you feel knowledgeable enough to perform the check yourself you can do so.