PAT Testing for Landlords or other Rental Property
PAT Testing for Landlords and managers of rental properties, holiday homes, caravans, etc in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyneside and across the North East of England.
If you have electrical appliances in any property that you rent out for permanent residence, holiday home etc. we can help you.
We will inspect each appliance you have in the property, carry out repairs to the plug, cable etc and test the appliances. We’ll even check the smoke alarm function whilst we’re there. On completion we’ll provide you with a PAT Testing Certificate Report as a PDF document sent by email.
All we need from you is a list of appliances to test and an appointment booked.
We can go into properties with the tenant, you, with keys – whatever option works best for you. We can even make the arrangements with the tenants for you.
PAT Testing Prices for Landlords
Prices for addresses in North Tyneside / Newcastle upon Tyne including up to 5/6 items to test and a microwave emissions test if applicable.
| One property to test | £35.00 |
| Two or more properties to test (back to back appointments) | £30.00 |
| Two or more properties to test in same location (eg apartment block) | £25.00 |
Additional items will be tested at £1.00 each
VAT will be added to all quoted prices
For other areas – contact us for a price
We can also test your Smoke alarms whilst we’re there, saving you a job, for an extra £10.00 for standard size flat/house or £20.00 for an HMO.
Rental Properties | Homes | Holiday Lets | Caravans | Boats
As a landlord, or manager of rental property, it is your job to ensure that electrical equipment provided as part of the tenancy is safe to use at all times; how you do that is up to you – when you do an inspection you should visually check appliances are not damaged; when your cleaner or housekeeper goes in they could check – if you’re doing regular change overs between holiday makers, you should do a visual check every time, and keep a record.
But you also need to get a formal inspection done on a regular basis proportionate to the risk. Some say this should be every few years; most stipulate it should be ever year. Some even suggest every time you change tenant.
If you’re a landlord or agent managing rental properties the best recommendation we can make is that you get your appliances tested every time you change the tenant, or every year – always check with your insurance company.
PAT Testing is the easiest way for landlords to ensure the electrical equipment they provide for tenants and guests to use, is safe to use and fit for purpose. Whether you’re providing a home as a residential let or HMO, or a holiday home for guests, getting electrical equipment inspection and testing carried out can give you peace of mind that your equipment is safe, but will also help you to meet your legal obligations to maintain safe electrical appliances.
We will carry out repairs automatically and provide you with a fully itemised PAT Testing Certificate Report, to help you comply with your obligations.
We will also do all this for you at a pre-agreed fixed price.
Fixed Price PAT Testing for Landlords
Most work we do in rental properties, there is just a small number of appliances to test – usually it’s just integrated appliances and whitegoods, the likes of cookers, washing machines, fridges etc. In bigger locations like holiday lets there are a lot more as you need to supply all the home comforts.
We offer a fixed price for Landlords’ PAT testing, including a set number of items depending on the property size. We also offer discounts for block bookings.
Where appliances are concerned we will carry out the appropriate PAT tests on each appliance, so for example where you supply Microwave ovens, kettles, etc we’ll unplug them, inspect them and test them.
We will carry out minor repairs for free including replacing plugs and fuses if needed.
If an appliance is hard wired or the plug can’t be accessed, we’ll do the best visual inspection we can and check appliances that rely on earth protection for continuity. We recommend these appliances also get a fixed appliance test inline with the EICR.
We will never ever risk damaging your property – so if an appliance is integrated, we won’t risk damaging units or flooring to test it, but do the best test we can in the situation.
Some appliances do not require or fall under the remit of the PAT test; for example, the cooker or the shower on it’s own fuse board circuit should be tested by your electrician when they do the fixed wiring inspection (EICR).
Have you registered your appliances?
A great tip for helping to maintain safety is to register your appliances; when you have done this, if any appliance problem is flagged, a recall, or need for repair you will be notified by the manufacturer. Then appropriate action can be taken.
Some appliances have been known to catch fire due to a common fault – surely its better to be notified in advance, and have an engineer come out to fix it rather than waiting for it to burn down your house! We have witnessed this first hand; seeing the after effects of a dishwasher that caught fire, for a new client (came to us after the fire). When we checked, the ‘recall’ notice had been applied for 2 years, but as the appliance was not registered, the landlord didn’t know.
To register your appliances, even the ones you have had for years visit Register My Appliance.
When you buy new appliances, also complete the manufacturers registration information card or online, to be notified direct too.
You can also check to see if any of your appliances have been recalled via Electrical Safety First – here.
Is it easy to arrange Landlords’ PAT testing?
Yes! There are different ways to do it though and this depends on you. Currently 4 methods are used:
One option is you give us keys – inform your tenants we’re coming on a set date, and we’ll let ourselves in and do what needs to be done then leave
Second option is you tell the tenants we’re coming and they let us in – you’re relying on them being in, which doesn’t always happen – if they ignore you and we can’t get in you will still be charged.
Third option is you give us the tenant contact numbers and we’ll make arrangements directly with them
Fourth, you or your manager take us to each property to let us in.
Do we have a preference? The keys option is the best option every time.
PAT testing for Landlords FAQs
If you own or manage property that you let to other people, whether its short term like Air B n B or a long term rental agreement, you need to make sure electrical equipment you provide is safe to use.
PAT testing, is a great was to keep your tenants safe, as it checks electrical appliances are safe.
Regular PAT Tests in your property will reduce the risk of electric shock to users, but also protect your property from electrical fires.
Contact us today to arrange your Landlords PAT testing.
Does a landlord need to do PAT testing?
To make sure electrical equipment is safe, a landlord, like any other business owner, needs to get the electrical appliances provided as part of the tenancy agreement, tested, to make sure they are safe.
They need testing before the tenancy begins, and then should be rechecked at regular intervals throughout the term of the tenancy – it is usual for these checks to be done annually.
Regular PATs will help to reduce the chances of a damaged appliance not being spotted, and thus reduce the risk of fires or electric shock.
This page is intended to provide guidance to Landlords who rent out property that includes electrical appliances. If you know what you need to do and want to arrange your PAT testing, please contact us here.
Do I need to PAT test my tenant’s equipment?
As the landlord you only need to test the equipment you provide, as you have a duty of care to your tenant.
You do not have to test your tenants equipment, but for peace of mind for your own insurance etc you may want to make sure the tenant is using genuine appliances, and correctly.
We come across a lot of situations where the appliances the tenant has don’t meet British Standards. For example, foreign students often bring their 2-pin laptop leads and then use the wrong adaptor or plug straight into our sockets, which can be very dangerous.
How often do I need to get equipment tested?
It depends on the circumstances; you should always get equipment tested at the start of a tenancy before the tenant moves in. Then you need to get equipment checked again, ideally by the same person, within an acceptable time period to minimise risk. In most cases this is done annually, but if you change tenant sooner you’ll need to get a new test done then.
If you find the tenant becomes long term, you may be able to increase the intervals between tests, if the risk allows.
I have an HMO, do I need to get equipment tested for that?
Yes; the same rules apply.
However, some councils have specific rules on HMO’s which may regulate how often you get appliances checked.
Do you charge more for HMO PAT Testing?
Arranging HMO PAT testing is no different to any other rental property, unless you supply equipment in bedrooms. In normal rentals its usually only communal appliances that are provided but in an HMO there are sometimes things like wall mounted televisions. If that is you then we’re going to need access to every room.
What it costs for HMO PAT testing depends on how many appliances are needed, if they are in bedrooms and what the access situation is.
Do we do PAT and EICR?
Yes, we can manage both your fixed wiring and appliance inspections.
Is PAT testing a legal requirement for landlords?
The Housing Act 2004 (England and Wales) includes the requirement for a risk assessment for residential rental properties. This requires an assessment of all potential hazards that may be present in a residential property, and ‘to provide a safe and healthy environment for any potential occupiers or visitors’. From an electrical perspective this includes the electrical installation and equipment provided in the property. The condition of associated leads and plugs of equipment should also be taken into account in the assessment, if they are provided as part of the rental property.
Guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) indicates that when accommodation is re-let, the electrical equipment will be classed as being supplied to that tenant for the first time and should therefore be rechecked.
So, before the start of each new let of a residential property the electrical equipment supplied with it (e.g., fridge, washing machine, kettle, TV, etc.) should be PAT tested.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 require electrical equipment to be safe when first supplied, e.g. it should carry a genuine “CE” mark. This means it satisfies European safety requirements and so when new, will be safe to use.
These regulations also apply if equipment is supplied as part of a hire agreement, sold second hand and if supplied in the course of business, thus including the safety of electrical equipment that is supplied as part of furnished accommodation (treated as hired/leased).
The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 is important for companies that hire or supply equipment as part of a contract for good and services. Within a hire agreement, goods supplied under the contract must be electrically safe for use.
Newcastle City Council says it is a legal requirement that Newcastle Landlords have a property license; the compliance guidance for licensing (March 2020) stipulates that:
- All electrical appliances are tested on an annual basis and at the commencement of each tenancy.
- A Portable Appliance Test (PAT) Certificate should be provided to verify this.
The licence holder must ensure that all portable electrical appliances i.e. those items supplied by a plug e.g. kettles, toasters, washing machines, fridges etc provided by the landlord are in a safe condition.
Read the Property Licensing guide to compliance here
The guidance also requires the landlord to provide satisfactory periodic inspection reports for the electrical installation of the property for the license application; the “EICR” should be repeated every 5 years.
Landlords Electrical Certificates
We can also do your Electrical Installation Certificate Report Inspection; possibly not at the same time as different engineers do the two jobs, but we can organise it for you. The EICR is an essential part of a landlords’ Electrical Certificate. More information on the Electrical Installation Certificate Report for Landlords is available here.
For further, impartial advice find information for Landlords on the Landlord Zone website