How often does PAT testing need to be done?
The short answer
UK law does not set a fixed PAT testing interval. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment to be maintained so it is safe — how often you test to prove that is a risk decision. The IET Code of Practice (the industry standard that testers work to) recommends intervals based on the type of equipment and how harshly it is used.
In practice, most low-risk office environments settle on testing every 12 to 24 months, most rental and holiday accommodation tests annually (often aligned with changeovers or insurance renewals), and harsh environments like workshops and construction test more frequently — sometimes every 3 to 6 months for portable tools.
Typical intervals by environment
Offices and low-risk commercial premises: IT equipment and rarely-moved appliances are commonly tested every 24 months, with handheld and frequently-moved items every 12 months. Formal visual inspections in between are recommended.
Rental properties and HMOs: annual testing is the norm, and many HMO licences require it explicitly. Testing at each change of tenancy is a sensible alternative for high-turnover properties.
Holiday lets: annual testing before the season starts is standard practice, and most booking platforms and insurers expect current certificates.
Hospitality kitchens, workshops, and industrial sites: equipment takes more abuse, so 6 to 12 months is typical, dropping to 3 to 6 months for site tools and extension leads in heavy use.
Why "risk-based" beats a calendar rule
A kettle in a staff room and an angle grinder on a construction site fail in very different ways and at very different rates. A blanket annual rule over-tests some equipment and dangerously under-tests other equipment. A good testing partner will classify your appliances and set intervals per category — then remind you when each falls due, which is exactly what our dashboard does automatically.
What happens if you leave it too long
An out-of-date test record does not itself make you non-compliant, but if an appliance causes an injury or fire and you cannot show a maintenance regime, you are exposed — under the Electricity at Work Regulations, in civil claims, and with your insurer, who may treat missing evidence of maintenance as grounds to reduce or refuse a payout. The cost of staying current is small compared to defending its absence.
Quick answers
Is annual PAT testing a legal requirement?
No law names a fixed interval. The legal duty is to maintain electrical equipment safely; annual testing is simply the most common way businesses and landlords evidence that duty for typical environments.
Do brand-new appliances need testing?
New equipment should be safe from the factory, so a full test is not usually needed immediately — but it should be visually checked and added to your register so it gets picked up in the next cycle.
Who decides the right interval for my premises?
Ultimately you, as the duty holder — but a competent tester will recommend intervals per equipment category based on the IET Code of Practice, and document the reasoning.
Relevant services & areas
Booking or compliance questions for your premises? These pages go deeper on what we test locally.
Local service areas
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