PAT Testing for Landlords Explained

PAT — properly called in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment — covers the portable appliances a landlord supplies with a let, as distinct from the fixed installation covered by an EICR.

The landlord's duty

There is no law that specifically names "PAT testing", but landlords must ensure that any appliances they provide — for example in a furnished let or in HMO communal areas — are safe. In-service inspection and testing is the recognised way to demonstrate this.

What it covers

• Landlord-supplied appliances such as cookers, fridges, washing machines, microwaves, kettles and lamps.
• Communal equipment in HMOs and blocks.

It does not cover the tenant's own appliances.

Risk-based frequency

Testing frequency is risk-based, not fixed. It depends on the type of appliance, its environment and how heavily it is used — a commercial-style kitchen appliance in an HMO needs more frequent attention than a lamp in a lightly used room.

Fitting it into compliance

Combine appliance checks with the property's wider electrical compliance and keep the records together. For furnished portfolios, tracking appliance testing alongside EICRs avoids gaps — see managing multiple properties.