PAT testing questions, answered.

PAT testing is not named in any single law, and there is no law that says you must test appliances at a set interval. What the law does require is that electrical equipment is kept safe. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 place a duty on employers, the self-employed and those in control of premises to maintain electrical equipment so it doesn't cause danger.

In practice, regular in-service inspection and testing (PAT) is the recognised way to meet that duty. Insurers and the IET Code of Practice treat it as the expected standard, which is why most businesses and landlords have it done.

There is no fixed legal interval. The right frequency depends on the type of equipment and the environment it's used in. Higher-risk items that get moved around, like power tools, extension leads and kettles, are tested more often than low-risk, stationary equipment such as a desktop monitor.

As a rough guide, many offices and shops test annually, while construction and hire equipment may be tested every few months. We'll advise the right interval for your premises when we visit, so you're not paying to test things more often than you need.

Our pricing is fixed and all-inclusive: £40 for 1–20 items and £50 for 20–50 items. For larger jobs it's £50 for the first 50 items, then 80p per item up to 200, and 70p per item beyond that.

Every price includes travel, pass/fail stickers on every item, minor repairs such as new plugs and fuses, and a PDF certificate. There are no call-out fees, and nothing added on the day. We're not VAT registered, so there's no VAT on top. (Prices shown are a starting guide; confirm your job when you book.)

Everything you'd expect for a compliant test: travel to your premises, visual inspection and electrical testing of each appliance, a pass or fail sticker on every item, minor repairs (new plugs and fuses fitted on the spot), and a PDF certificate with a full itemised report emailed the same day.

Landlords have a duty to ensure the electrical installation and any appliances they supply are safe. While fixed wiring is covered by the EICR requirements, supplied portable appliances (such as a cooker, washing machine or kettle left for tenants) should be inspected and tested too.

Regulations have been tightening: in-service inspection and testing duties were extended to social landlords, with new tenancies covered from November 2025 and existing tenancies from May 2026. Testing between tenancies is a simple way to keep things safe and compliant.

If an item fails, we fit a 'fail' label and tell you straight away. Many failures are minor, like a worn plug or the wrong fuse, and we fix those on the spot at no extra charge. If an appliance can't be made safe, we'll advise you to take it out of use, and it's recorded on your report.

Most small offices, shops and rental properties are done in a single visit, often within a couple of hours. Larger sites take longer, but we work around you and aim to cause as little disruption as possible. Your certificate is emailed the same day.

We're based in Banbury and cover the surrounding area across Oxfordshire, south Warwickshire and the Northamptonshire border. That includes Bicester, Brackley, Southam, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Chipping Norton, Bloxham, Kidlington and the villages between them. Not sure if you're in range? Just ask.

Yes. We hold the City & Guilds 2377-77 award in in-service inspection and testing, carry £5m public liability insurance, and use calibrated test equipment in line with the IET Code of Practice. You'll get a documented, compliant certificate you can show to your insurer or letting agent.

Yes. We can test in the evening or overnight for offices, shops and venues that can't shut during the day. There's an out-of-hours rate for this, agreed when you book, so just mention it when you get in touch.

Yes. As well as standard PAT testing, we test equipment for events and production companies, and we carry out microwave leakage testing. Tell us what you need when you book and we'll sort it.