Do Landlords Need PAT Testing? What the Law Says in 2026

Private landlords in England are not explicitly required by law to carry out PAT (portable appliance) testing, but they are responsible for making sure any electrical appliances they supply are safe, and PAT testing is the most practical way to prove it. Social landlords now have a specific duty to check the equipment they provide, many HMO licences require PAT testing, and businesses must maintain their equipment under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Here's a clear breakdown of what applies to you, and what good practice looks like.

What is PAT testing?

PAT testing is the inspection and testing of electrical equipment that plugs into a socket, such as kettles, toasters, microwaves, washing machines, fridges, lamps, extension leads and heaters. It usually involves:

• A visual inspection of the plug, cable and casing for damage, overheating and incorrect fuses
• Electrical tests, such as earth continuity and insulation resistance, depending on the class of appliance
• Labelling each item with a pass or fail result and recording the details

PAT testing is separate from an EICR. An EICR covers the fixed wiring, sockets, lights and consumer unit. PAT testing covers the appliances that plug into them. Landlords usually need to think about both.

Private landlords: the legal position

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require private landlords to have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years. Those regulations do not include a specific requirement to PAT test appliances.

That doesn't mean appliances are outside a landlord's responsibility. Landlords have general obligations to ensure the property and anything they provide in it is safe. If a tenant is injured by a faulty appliance you supplied, being able to show it was recently inspected and tested is strong evidence that you took reasonable steps.

For that reason, PAT testing is widely regarded as best practice, particularly for furnished and part-furnished lets. Many letting agents also ask for it as part of their compliance pack. For a full overview of your duties, see our guide to landlord electrical safety regulations.

Social landlords: a new equipment duty

The rules are firmer for social housing. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 bring social landlords into the electrical safety regime. As well as five-yearly inspection of the fixed installation, social landlords must ensure that electrical equipment they provide is safe, with PAT-style checks at least every five years.

The duties apply to new social tenancies from 1 December 2025. For existing social tenancies granted before that date, they apply from 1 May 2026, and all installations must have been inspected by 1 November 2026. Housing associations and councils planning their programmes should read our guide to the social housing EICR deadline.

HMO landlords

If you let a house in multiple occupation, check your HMO licence conditions carefully. Many councils include a requirement to have landlord-supplied electrical appliances tested, often annually, and to produce records on request. Shared kitchens in HMOs tend to see heavy use of appliances by several households, so regular testing makes practical sense even where it is not a licence condition.

HMOs also need five-yearly EICRs of the fixed installation, and some licences ask for evidence of this. Our guide to HMO EICRs in London covers the details.

Businesses and commercial premises

For employers, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems and equipment to be maintained, so far as reasonably practicable, to prevent danger. The regulations don't use the words "PAT testing", but a programme of inspection and testing is the most common way businesses meet this duty and demonstrate it to insurers and enforcing authorities.

This applies to offices, shops, restaurants, salons, warehouses, schools and any other workplace with portable equipment. It can also apply to landlords who provide equipment in common areas, such as a vacuum cleaner used by cleaning staff in a block of flats. Business owners should also keep the fixed wiring inspected through a commercial EICR, usually every five years.

How often should appliances be tested?

There is no single fixed interval set in law. The IET's guidance on in-service inspection and testing takes a risk-based approach: equipment that is moved often, used heavily or used in harsher conditions needs checking more frequently than equipment that stays put in a low-risk environment.

In practice, sensible approaches for rented property include:

• Private lets: test at each change of tenancy, and consider periodic checks during long tenancies
• HMOs: follow your licence conditions, which often specify annual testing
• Social housing: at least every five years, in line with the new equipment duty, with shorter intervals where risk suggests
• Workplaces: based on a risk assessment of the equipment and environment

Between formal tests, landlords and tenants can carry out simple user checks: looking for damaged cables, cracked plugs, scorch marks and loose connections.

Which appliances should a landlord test?

Test any electrical item you provide as part of the tenancy. Typical examples include:

• Kettles, toasters, microwaves and other kitchen appliances
• Washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges and freezers that plug in
• Portable heaters, fans and lamps
• Vacuum cleaners and irons
• Extension leads supplied with the property

You aren't responsible for testing tenants' own appliances. Keeping the number of supplied items to a minimum, and removing anything old or worn, reduces both risk and cost.

What happens if an appliance fails?

A failed item should be taken out of use immediately. Some faults, like a damaged plug or wrong fuse, can be repaired and retested on the spot. Others mean the appliance needs replacing. You'll receive a record showing each item tested, its result and any action taken, which you should keep with your other safety certificates.

Book PAT testing in London

Polarity Electrics provides PAT testing for landlords, letting agents, HMOs, housing providers and businesses across London and the Home Counties. Our landlord portal and bulk booking make it easy to combine PAT testing with your EICR in a single visit, with renewal reminders so nothing slips. Visit our PAT testing London page, call 0203 908 4790 or book online.