PAT testing vs EICR: what's the difference?
Two inspections, two halves of the same system
An EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report — examines the fixed electrical installation: consumer unit, circuits, wiring in the walls, sockets, switches, and fixed lighting. It is carried out by a qualified electrician, typically every five years for rentals and commercial premises.
PAT testing covers portable appliances — everything that plugs into those sockets: kettles, computers, extension leads, tools, white goods. Different scope, different instruments, different intervals, and usually different people.
Which one is legally required?
For private rentals in England, the EICR is explicitly required by the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 — at least every five years, with the report supplied to tenants and, on request, the local authority.
PAT testing is not named in law for anyone (see our guide on the legal position), but it is the accepted evidence for the duty to keep supplied and workplace appliances safe. In short: EICR is the letter of the law for rentals; PAT is how you evidence the rest of your duty.
A passing EICR does not cover your appliances
This is the gap that catches people out. Your wiring can be flawless while the ten-year-old kettle in the kitchen has a perished flex. An appliance fire in a property with a current EICR but no appliance testing record still leaves the duty holder exposed — the EICR simply never looked at the appliance. The two documents together close the loop; each alone certifies only its own half.
Practical scheduling
A common rhythm for rentals and small premises: EICR every five years by your electrician, PAT annually (or at tenancy change) by your testing provider, both filed together with your insurance and licensing documents. Our dashboard stores your PAT history and reminds you before retests fall due, so at least one half of the loop never lapses quietly.
Quick answers
Can the same person do both?
Sometimes — some electricians offer PAT testing too. They are different disciplines though: EICRs require an electrician qualified to inspect installations, while PAT requires competence with appliance testing. Specialist PAT providers are usually faster and cheaper for the appliance half.
Does a new EICR mean I can skip PAT this year?
No — the EICR never examines your appliances, so it neither replaces nor extends an appliance testing cycle.
Which do I need for an HMO licence?
Both, in practice: the EICR is required by regulation, and most HMO licence conditions also require testing of landlord-supplied appliances.
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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