How often is PAT testing required?
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There is no legal requirement to PAT test every year. The law requires electrical equipment to be maintained so that it is safe, and HSE suggests risk-based intervals: in offices and similar low-risk places, some items need no testing at all, while earthed equipment such as kettles may need a combined inspection and test every one to two years. The exception is social housing in England, where landlords must have the electrical equipment they provide to tenants checked at least every 5 years.
For social tenancies granted before 1 December 2025 the first check has to be done before 1 November 2026.
What to do, and how often
| Task | How often | Who | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal visual inspection Applies to: Earthed (Class I) equipment in low-risk environments | Every 6 months to 1 yearA range, not a single fixed interval | Trained member of staff or competent person | Guidance HSE's INDG236 Table 1 suggests a formal visual inspection every 6 months to 1 year for earthed (Class I) equipment such as kettles, some floor cleaners and irons. SourcesS5S3 |
| Combined inspection and test (PAT) Applies to: Earthed (Class I) equipment in low-risk environments | Every 1 to 2 yearsA range, not a single fixed interval | Competent person with suitable test equipment | Guidance HSE's INDG236 Table 1 suggests a combined inspection and test every 1 to 2 years for earthed (Class I) equipment such as kettles, some floor cleaners and irons. SourcesS5S4 |
| Formal visual inspection (no test needed) Applies to: Hand-held double insulated (Class II) equipment | Every 6 months to 1 yearA range, not a single fixed interval | Trained member of staff or competent person | Guidance HSE's INDG236 Table 1 suggests a formal visual inspection every 6 months to 1 year for hand-held double insulated equipment, with no portable appliance test. SourcesS5S6 |
| Formal visual inspection (no test needed if double insulated; otherwise test up to every 5 years) Applies to: Desktop computers, screens, photocopiers and double insulated equipment that is not hand-held | Every 2 to 4 yearsA range, not a single fixed interval | Trained member of staff or competent person | Guidance HSE's INDG236 Table 1 suggests a formal visual inspection every 2 to 4 years for desktop computers, screens, photocopiers and other equipment that is rarely moved. SourcesS5S3 |
| Formal visual inspection and, where the equipment is earthed, combined inspection and test Applies to: Cables, leads, plugs and mains extension leads | Every 6 months to 5 yearsA range, not a single fixed interval | Trained member of staff or competent person | Guidance HSE's INDG236 Table 1 suggests visual inspection every 6 months to 4 years and testing every 1 to 5 years for cables, leads, plugs and extension leads, depending on the equipment they serve. SourcesS5S3S4 |
| Check (visual inspection, testing or both) each item of electrical equipment the landlord provides Applies to: Social housing in England: electrical equipment provided by the landlord under the tenancy | Every 5 yearsMaximum of 5 years, or earlier if the previous record sets an earlier date | Registered provider of social housing, using a qualified person | Law Regulation 3B of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 requires registered providers of social housing to have the electrical equipment they provide under a tenancy checked at intervals of no more than 5 years, or sooner if the last record says so. SourcesS8S9S10 |
Where a row says who or what it applies to, the task is for that case only.
The law
Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires electrical equipment to be maintained so as to prevent danger. HSE states that the regulations do not make inspection or testing of appliances a legal requirement and do not require it to be done annually. The exception is social housing in England: regulation 3B of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 requires registered providers to have electrical equipment they provide under a tenancy checked by a qualified person at intervals of no more than 5 years.
The standard
The IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (fifth edition), which Home Office fire safety guidance refers to. HSE's INDG236 and HSG107 give the regulator's guidance.
Records to keep
- A written maintenance plan showing the interval chosen for each type of equipment
- Records of formal visual inspections and tests (HSE says these are useful but not legally required)
- Labels on tested equipment (useful but not legally required)
- Records of faulty equipment removed from use
- For social landlords: the in-service inspection and testing record for each item of equipment provided, showing the next check date
Notes
The intervals are HSE's suggested initial intervals for low-risk environments such as offices, shops and parts of hotels and care homes. Equipment used in harsher places, such as construction sites and workshops, needs more frequent checks. HSE advises adjusting the interval up or down as results come in.
Battery-operated and extra low voltage equipment needs no inspection or testing under HSE's table. The social housing duty covers equipment the landlord supplies, such as cookers and fridges, not tenants' own appliances. For social tenancies granted before 1 December 2025 the first check has to be done before 1 November 2026.
Who delivers this in the group
Not a group service
This is not delivered by an AMPM Group company. It is listed because building managers need the whole picture.
Questions people ask
Portable appliance testing (PAT): which tasks are legal requirements?
1 task on this page rests on legislation: check (visual inspection, testing or both) each item of electrical equipment the landlord provides (every 5 years; social housing in England: electrical equipment provided by the landlord under the tenancy). The other 5 tasks are recommended by guidance, and are not legal requirements in themselves.
Portable appliance testing (PAT): who should carry out each task?
Trained member of staff or competent person: formal visual inspection; formal visual inspection (no test needed); formal visual inspection (no test needed if double insulated; otherwise test up to every 5 years); formal visual inspection and, where the equipment is earthed, combined inspection and test. Competent person with suitable test equipment: combined inspection and test (PAT). Registered provider of social housing, using a qualified person: check (visual inspection, testing or both) each item of electrical equipment the landlord provides.
Portable appliance testing (PAT): what records should you keep?
Keep these records: a written maintenance plan showing the interval chosen for each type of equipment; records of formal visual inspections and tests (HSE says these are useful but not legally required); labels on tested equipment (useful but not legally required); records of faulty equipment removed from use; for social landlords: the in-service inspection and testing record for each item of equipment provided, showing the next check date.
Portable appliance testing (PAT): which tasks have no fixed interval?
Formal visual inspection: a range, not a single fixed interval. Combined inspection and test (PAT): a range, not a single fixed interval. Formal visual inspection (no test needed): a range, not a single fixed interval. Formal visual inspection (no test needed if double insulated; otherwise test up to every 5 years): a range, not a single fixed interval. Formal visual inspection and, where the equipment is earthed, combined inspection and test: a range, not a single fixed interval.
Sources
Every task and legal statement is supported by at least one source fetched over HTTPS and read on the date shown. Quotes are verbatim and 25 words or fewer. A second, independent verification pass re-fetched every source and re-read the legislation on 5 October 2026. Intervals taken from British Standards were checked against published summaries of those standards by trade bodies and government guidance, because the standards themselves are paid publications.
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger”
Supports: The legal duty to maintain electrical systems so as to prevent danger
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Portable appliance testing (PAT): frequently asked questions ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Page as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“It does not say how this should be done or how often.”
Supports: HSE: the law does not say how or how often
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Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments (INDG236 rev3) ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Published September 2013 · read on
“visually inspected at initial intervals which could be between six months and four years, depending on the type of equipment”
Supports: HSE suggested range for formal visual inspections
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Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments (INDG236 rev3) ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Published September 2013 · read on
“have a portable appliance test (including leads) at initial intervals which could be between one and five years”
Supports: HSE suggested range for portable appliance tests on earthed equipment
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Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments (INDG236 rev3) ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Published September 2013 · read on
“Table 1 Suggested initial intervals for checking portable electrical equipment”
Supports: Table 1 of INDG236 sets out suggested initial intervals by equipment type
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Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments (INDG236 rev3) ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Published September 2013 · read on
“It will not need a portable appliance test”
Supports: Double insulated (Class II) equipment does not need a portable appliance test
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A guide to making your small non-domestic premises safe from fire ↗
Home Office (GOV.UK) · Updated 20 January 2025. Guidance issued under article 50 of the Fire Safety Order · read on
“in accordance with the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment”
Supports: Home Office guidance refers to the IET Code of Practice
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Inserted in 2025; fully in force from 1 May 2026 · read on
“each item of relevant equipment provided in residential premises occupied under a specified tenancy is checked at regular intervals by a qualified person”
Supports: Social landlords' legal duty to have the electrical equipment they provide checked at regular intervals
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Inserted in 2025; fully in force from 1 May 2026 · read on
“at intervals of no more than 5 years”
Supports: Regular intervals means no more than 5 years
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Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance ↗
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK) · Published 1 November 2025 · read on
“Social landlords must also have the electrical equipment that they provide under the tenancy checked by a qualified person at least every 5 years.”
Supports: Government guidance on the five year equipment check for social landlords
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Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance ↗
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK) · Published 1 November 2025 · read on
“Ensure electrical equipment is checked by a qualified person before 1 November 2026.”
Supports: Transitional deadline for social tenancies granted before 1 December 2025