Although it is not a legal requirement to officially PAT Test your equipment if you are a landlord in England and Wales it is however considered as an essential procedure to ensure the safety of your tenants when using any portable appliances that you supply. It is a legal requirement to ensure that the electric system in the home are all safe including any appliances.
It is worth checking with your local council whether it is a legal requirement as this can be different depending on the area where your rented property is located. In Newcastle the City Council require all landlords to perform PAT testing on all supplied appliances in the property.
Why should a Landlord carry out PAT Testing if it is not a legal requirement?
It all comes down to a duty of care to you tenants and peace of mind to yourself, safe in the knowledge that your tenants are using equipment that have been deemed safe to use. In 2019, almost 54% of fires in the home were caused by faulty electrics, whether this be an electric socket, a faulty kettle or badly fitted light fitting. Almost 26% of those accidental fires were caused by portable appliances that were deemed to be faulty.
With those figures alone, if you can stop one of these devastating accidents by simply carrying out an annual PAT testing check, you are doing your bit as a responsible landlord.
If your tenant is injured by an appliance that you supply but has been approved as being safe and you have record of this, you can show that you have done everything you can to ensure their safety.
What portable appliance does a Landlord need to have PAT Tested?
No electrical knowledge is required to determine what constitutes as a portable appliance. Generally speaking, any product with a plug and can be easily moved qualifies for an electrical test. This includes; Toasters, kettles, televisions, portable stereos, lamps, hoovers, coffees machines and smart speakers.
Appliances like washing machines, tumbler dryers, dishwashers and fridges should also be tested as they are not considered as fixed products and they all contain a plug
Other items like a heated towel rail also fall into the category for PAT testing for landlords as they usually have a plug too.
How often should a Landlord have their property PAT Tested
Where as there is no official recommendation to how often electrical appliances should be pat tested but it is good practice as a responsible landlord to carry our PAT testing once every 2 years or when a new tenant moves in.
We would recommend having larger appliances like fridges, washing machines and dishwasher checked every four years as these items are not moved around as much as say a kettle, hoover or toaster.
If you would like more information please get in touch with a professional PAT Tester at Sense PAT Testing now.
