PAT Testing in Oxford

What PAT testing covers

PAT testing is the inspection and testing of electrical equipment that plugs in: kettles, microwaves, heaters, computers, extension leads and so on. It is separate from an EICR, which covers the fixed wiring. There is no single fixed legal interval for PAT testing; the law requires electrical equipment to be maintained in a safe condition, and inspection and testing is a common way of showing that.

Each item is visually checked for damage, then tested where appropriate. You receive an itemised record showing what was tested and the result, and items that fail are labelled so they aren't used.

Shared houses and letting agents

Oxford has a large number of shared houses, and the appliances supplied with them get heavy use from changing tenants. Landlords and letting agents often arrange PAT testing between tenancies, alongside other checks. Where a property also needs an EICR, both can be booked for the same visit.

Offices and shops

In small offices, most equipment is low risk and needs testing less often than equipment in harsher environments. In shops, cafés and back-of-house areas, items that are moved around, used heavily or exposed to water need checking more frequently. Equipment brought in by staff, such as phone chargers and desk fans, is easy to overlook. It's worth deciding in advance whether personal items are included, so the record covers everything in use on the premises. For multi-site businesses or letting agents with several houses, we can schedule visits property by property and keep the records consistent, so you can see at a glance what was tested where and when it is next due.

Planning a visit

Tell us roughly how many items there are and where they are. For offices we can test around working hours, unplugging each item for a few minutes at a time so disruption is limited. In shared houses, it helps if tenants know we're coming and leave appliances accessible. Failed items are reported to you straight away, with a note of the reason, so you can arrange repair or replacement before the next tenancy starts. Records can be sent electronically for your files.