Although not legally mandated, PAT testing for private landlords is recommended to ensure electrical appliances supplied by the landlord are safe and fault free. However local councils do require PAT testing or Portable Appliance Testing as a non-negotiable criteria prior to granting a HMO license.
The most reliable way to provide evidence of care is to use a fully qualified electrician to conduct PAT testing. EMC Electrical Group are NICEIC approved electricians with years of experience working with landlords of rental properties and HMO’s in Bristol. Working with professionals like us for PAT testing puts you in a better position should you face a legal issue or insurance claim in the future.
What does the law say about PAT testing for Landlords?
Under the landlord and tenant Act 1985, landlords across Bristol do have a duty of care to make sure electrical appliances provided for private tenants are safe. It is recommended to carry out PAT testing at the beginning of a new and duration of a tenancy agreement so maintenance must be considered. A PAT test is a standard method to help prove landlords have also met The Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 2016. For HMO’s, local authority criteria suggest PAT testing every 12 months. We recently had the opportunity to work with a loyal and regular client who owns a rental property on Park Grove in the Henleaze area of Bristol. The landlord takes great pride in providing safe electrical appliances to their tenants, especially as a new family with young children were moving into the property.
How long does PAT testing for landlords take?
PAT testing a traditional 3 bedroom terrace property takes our experienced team between 1-3 hours. The overall time does depend on the number of electrical appliances at the property with each appliance taking a few minutes to test. PAT testing a HMO will take slightly longer as the number of appliances can range from 15 to 100. The landlord at Grove Park arranged the PAT test with us on a Monday morning so that they had the rest of the week to carry out a deep clean and other jobs around the property. We were in and out of the property in under 2 hours, giving the landlord plenty of time to get the property ready for the new family.
What happens during PAT testing?
PAT testing includes visual checks and electrical testing to confirm compliance with safety regulations. Cabling and the appliance are checked to make sure there are no visual damages like cracks or signs of overheating. Fuses are checked to make sure the correct rating is used. Next, electrical testing like insulation resistance tests are conducted to make sure the internal wiring is correctly insulated and stable. Any movable appliances are tested so that includes kitchen appliances like the toaster, microwave and induction hob. Other appliances include the TV, vacuum cleaners and electric fans. Finally, appliances are tagged with a label with either a “pass” or “fail” with the date of testing and when the next PAT test is due.
Contact EMC Electrical Group.
The team work with landlords across Bristol regularly to maintain electrical safety. We know how important it is to keep your property occupied and individuals safe. PAT testing for landlords can be arranged around your busy schedule so give us a call on 0117 422 7222.
