The short answer
No — PAT testing is not legally required for every appliance; there is no statutory rule that every portable appliance must be tested at fixed intervals (we estimate around 1 in 3 workplaces choose regular testing programmes).
However, duty holders must ensure electrical equipment is safe. That safety can be achieved by a proportionate combination of user checks, formal visual inspections and, where justified by risk, portable appliance testing. Compliance depends on inspection, maintenance and sensible risk assessment, not on PAT testing as a standalone obligation.
We recommend a documented programme that sets out: who does user checks, the frequency of visual inspections, and when electrical testing is needed. Higher‑risk items — for example, hand tools on construction sites, appliances in demanding industrial environments or equipment used frequently — normally need closer attention than low‑risk office devices such as desktop PCs and printers.
Keep records to show the rationale for your approach, inspection and test results, remedial actions taken and periodic review. That evidence demonstrates you’ve managed risk proportionately and met your legal duties under health and safety law.
What the law actually says
UK law does not specify fixed intervals for PAT testing; instead, duties under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require dutyholders (such as employers and landlords) to maintain electrical systems and equipment so far as is reasonably practicable to prevent danger. PAT testing is a recognised inspection method but is not itself a legal requirement or a statutory certificate; what the law requires is that maintenance and inspection arrangements be suitable and proportionate to the equipment, environment, frequency of use and foreseeable risk, with prompt repair or removal of unsafe items and records that demonstrate a risk‑based approach.
Who does need it, and why
Employers, landlords and businesses that provide electrical equipment for others to use need a proportionate inspection and maintenance system because they have legal duties to prevent electrical danger. This includes workplaces, rented homes, schools, community groups and charity organisations where staff, tenants, volunteers or visitors may use supplied appliances.
For employers, duties arise under health and safety law: equipment must be maintained so it doesn’t create risk. Landlord obligations require electrical installations to be safe, while portable appliances supplied with a tenancy should also be checked and maintained where necessary. We recommend keeping an asset list, recording visual checks, removing damaged items from service and retaining evidence of repairs or testing. PAT testing can support this system, particularly for frequently moved or heavily used equipment, but it isn't the legal duty itself.
How often, and who decides
There’s no fixed legal interval for PAT testing: the responsible person decides the frequency through a risk assessment, based on the equipment type, its condition, how it’s used and the environment. We recommend recording the reasoning, inspection results and any remedial action, so you can demonstrate proportionate electrical safety management.
| Risk factor | Inspection frequency |
|---|---|
| Office computer | Visual checks between formal inspections |
| Handheld tools | More frequent inspection and testing |
| Construction equipment | Close, documented monitoring |
The Responsible party—typically an employer, landlord or dutyholder—must guarantee equipment remains safe. We don’t rely on labels alone: damaged leads, unsuitable locations, heavy use and previous faults justify shorter intervals. Conversely, low-risk, rarely moved equipment may need less frequent formal testing. Review your assessment whenever equipment, work practices or premises change.
What it costs
Risk also affects cost: higher-volume or higher-risk equipment needs more inspection time and clearer records. We price PAT compliance from £1.50 per item, subject to an £80 minimum visit. This cost breakdown helps you budget for proportionate evidence, rather than treating testing as an automatic legal duty.
| Job | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| PAT testing | From £1.50/item | Testing, records, VAT |
| Minimum visit | £80 | Attendance and certification |
| Fault finding | £80/hour | Labour and testing |
| Emergency work | £120/hour | First hour minimum |
All quoted prices include parts, labour, testing, certification and VAT where applicable. They don’t include plaster repairs, decoration, asbestos removal, DNO supply-upgrade charges, or scaffold and access equipment. We'll confirm a fixed price in writing before work begins, so your bill won't exceed the quote.
What we do instead when it is not required
Where PAT testing isn’t proportionate, we can help you use a documented risk assessment, routine visual checks and targeted testing for higher‑risk appliances instead. The Electricity at Work Regulations require employers and dutyholders to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition; they do not prescribe fixed PAT testing intervals.
We’ll identify portable appliance risks from the environment, frequency of use, user type, appliance class, age and previous defects. A formal visual inspection can reveal damaged plugs, leads, casings, loose connections, overheating or unsuitable extension leads before they are likely to become hazards.
We’ll also help you keep clear records of inspections, defects found, remedial work and decisions made. Ultimately the duty to keep equipment safe rests with the employer or responsible person; where a risk assessment indicates testing is appropriate, we’ll recommend focused checks and provide evidence of the work completed.