Portable Appliance Inspection and Testing
PAT Testing Certificate
Arrange appliance inspection and testing for rental properties, offices, shops, hospitality venues and managed premises.
Send the postcode, appliance count and types, property use, access arrangements and deadline. We will confirm the appropriate visit scope and the records required.
The quick answer
What is PAT testing?
PAT testing is the familiar name for examining electrical appliances and equipment to help determine whether they are safe to continue using. A sensible maintenance programme can combine simple user checks, formal visual inspection and electrical tests chosen for the equipment and risk.
The words “PAT certificate” usually describe the itemised report or record supplied after the visit. It records the agreed items and results at that time; it is not a universal statutory certificate, does not guarantee future condition and does not replace an EICR for the fixed electrical installation.
PAT testing costs
PAT testing starting prices
The prices below are based on the confirmed number of agreed items at one accessible location. Send the appliance list before booking so leads, chargers, extensions, multi-part equipment and any specialist access can be scoped correctly.
| PAT testing band | Starting price | Quantity | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAT testing — up to 5 items | From £95 | Up to five agreed items | Inspection and testing as appropriate for up to five agreed electrical items, with the completed PAT testing record or certificate. |
| PAT testing — up to 10 itemsCurrent offer | From £120 | Up to ten agreed items | Current offer for inspection and testing as appropriate for up to ten agreed electrical items, with the completed PAT testing record or certificate. |
| PAT testing — more than 10 items | From £12 each | Each item | From £12 per item when more than ten items are included in the confirmed appliance list and visit scope. |
Confirm the item count
Send a list or photographs
Detachable leads, chargers, extension leads and multi-part equipment can need separate identification or testing. We will confirm how the agreed scope is counted.
Failed or damaged items
Repairs are quoted separately
Unsafe equipment should be taken out of use. Repair, replacement, disposal and any later retest are not included unless stated in writing.
More than ten items
From £12 per item
The per-item rate applies when the confirmed visit contains more than ten items. Location, access and equipment type still affect the final quotation.
The inspection and testing route
What happens during a PAT testing visit?
The appropriate checks depend on the equipment class, construction, condition, use and environment. Not every item receives an identical electrical test.
Match the appliance to the agreed list and record the information needed for the maintenance file.
Look for damage, unsafe repairs, loose parts, unsuitable plugs, cable defects and signs of overheating or misuse.
Carry out electrical tests suited to the equipment and circumstances, using suitable instruments and methods.
Document the result and explain equipment that needs withdrawal, repair, replacement or further investigation.
Risk-based maintenance
How often should portable electrical equipment be checked?
HSE says frequency depends on the equipment and the environment in which it is used. A power tool moved around a construction site has a different risk profile from a monitor sitting undisturbed in a low-risk office.
Equipment and construction
Consider the appliance type, class, lead, plug, earth arrangements and whether it is handheld, moved or stationary.
Use and environment
Frequent movement, heavy use, public access, wet, dusty or harsh conditions can justify more frequent attention.
History and evidence
Fault reports, visual inspections, previous results, manufacturer information and competent advice help refine the interval.
HSE guidance describes a maintenance system using user checks, formal visual inspections and combined inspection and testing where appropriate. Suggested intervals are starting points, not universal legal deadlines. The dutyholder should review the programme when faults or operating conditions change.
Prepare for the visit
A clear appliance list makes pricing and attendance easier
List each appliance and where it will be available. Arrange access to locked rooms, tenant areas, desks, kitchens, plant spaces or storage cupboards within the agreed scope. Equipment should be available and capable of being safely disconnected where the test requires it.
Tell us about trading hours, IT shutdown restrictions, sensitive equipment, parking, induction or security arrangements before the booking. Fixed, built-in or hard-wired equipment can need a different isolation and testing route.
Booking process
From appliance list to completed record
Send the scope
Share the postcode, appliance count and types, access, site use and deadline.
Confirm the price
We check how items are counted, the likely testing route and any access or shutdown constraints.
Testing visit
The competent person carries out the agreed inspection and tests and records the results.
Receive the record
The completed results are provided, with failed or questionable items identified for action.
Rental properties
Landlords must keep supplied electrical equipment safe
GOV.UK states that landlords must make sure electrical equipment they supply is safely installed and maintained. The exact check, record and interval depend on the nation, landlord type, property, equipment, tenancy, licensing scheme and risk.
Private landlords
Use a risk-based maintenance approach and check any applicable tenancy, HMO or selective-licensing conditions, insurer requirements and local-authority guidance.
Social landlords in England
Current England guidance includes qualified-person checks at least every five years for electrical equipment provided under the tenancy, with records supplied to tenants and councils when requested.
Agents and portfolios
Keep appliance inventories, access contacts, previous results and action records organised by address so repeat visits can be scoped consistently.
Records, labels and limitations
A PAT report supports the maintenance system
HSE says there is no general legal requirement to label inspected or tested equipment or keep PAT records, although records and labels can be useful management tools. A practical record should make it clear what was included, what result was recorded and what action is needed.
What the record can show
Item identification, description, location, inspection or test result, date and any observation or action recorded during the visit.
What it does not prove
It cannot guarantee that equipment will remain safe after the visit or cover damage, misuse, alteration or deterioration that occurs later.
Separate safety duties
PAT testing does not replace fixed-wiring inspection, fire-risk assessment, gas safety, equipment servicing or manufacturer maintenance.
Coverage
PAT testing enquiries across London and the Home Counties
Upkeepone handles PAT testing enquiries across London, Essex and Kent. Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Sussex are also covered. Attendance depends on the postcode, appliance scope, access and competent-person availability; other areas can be considered by request.
Why book through Upkeepone
A confirmed appliance scope before attendance
- Competent appliance-inspection and testing route
- Transparent item-count starting prices
- Support for landlords, businesses and property managers
- Clear distinction between PAT records and an EICR
- Risk-based interval guidance using official sources
- London and Essex office presence
Common questions
PAT testing certificate FAQs
Straight answers about prices, item counts, inspection and testing, intervals, failed appliances, landlords and what the completed record means. These visible answers match the FAQ structured data on this page.
What is PAT testing?
PAT testing is the common name for examining electrical appliances and equipment to help determine whether they are safe to continue using. The appropriate work can include user checks, a formal visual inspection and electrical tests selected for the equipment and risk.
How much does PAT testing cost?
Current starting prices are £95 for up to five items, £120 for up to ten items and £12 per item where more than ten items are included. The final quotation depends on the confirmed item count, equipment types, location, access and whether specialist isolation or return visits are required.
What is included in the advertised PAT price?
The price covers the agreed visit, inspection and testing appropriate to the confirmed items, plus the completed PAT testing record or certificate. Repairs, replacement parts, specialist access, isolating fixed equipment and a separate return visit are not included unless the written quotation says otherwise.
Is PAT testing a legal requirement every year?
No. HSE explains that the law requires employers to maintain electrical equipment so that it does not cause danger, but it does not prescribe an annual PAT test for every appliance. The maintenance method and interval should be based on risk, equipment type, use, environment and previous results.
How often should appliances be inspected or tested?
There is no single interval suitable for every appliance. Equipment moved frequently, used intensively or exposed to wet, dusty or harsh conditions may need attention more often than low-risk office equipment. The dutyholder should set and review intervals using risk, manufacturer information, faults, inspection results and competent advice.
What happens during a PAT testing visit?
The engineer checks the appliance identity and condition, lead, plug and accessible parts, then carries out the electrical tests appropriate to the equipment class and circumstances. Results are recorded, and any item that appears unsafe should be taken out of use pending suitable repair, replacement or further investigation.
What counts as one item?
The counted item is confirmed from the appliance list before booking. Appliances, detachable leads, extension leads, chargers and multi-part equipment can require separate identification or testing, so send a clear list or photographs if you are unsure how the scope should be counted.
What happens if an appliance fails?
The result and reason are recorded and the item should not be used if it is unsafe. Repair, replacement, disposal and any later retest are separate from the advertised inspection price unless they are expressly included in the written quotation.
Do landlords need PAT testing?
Landlords must ensure electrical equipment they supply is safe. The exact inspection or testing duty depends on the nation, property and landlord type; for example, current England guidance includes specific checks for electrical equipment supplied by social landlords. Private landlords and agents should also consider tenancy, licensing, insurer and local-authority requirements rather than assuming one universal annual interval.
Is a PAT certificate a statutory safety certificate?
PAT records and labels are useful evidence for managing an electrical-equipment maintenance programme, but HSE says there is no general legal requirement to label tested equipment or keep PAT records. The report records the items and results at the time of the visit; it does not guarantee future condition or replace fixed-installation, fire, gas or other safety duties.
Request a PAT testing quote
Send the postcode, appliance count, item types, access and deadline
We will confirm how the items are counted, the likely inspection and testing route, the starting price and any information worth preparing before attendance.
