London PAT Testing: Facts and FAQs
London PAT Testing is one of the most important, and frequently misunderstood, aspects of Health and Safety for Landlords and Businesses in our capital. There have been several widely spread, and widely held, beliefs that have sprung up due to simple misinformation. This has led to the heavily recommended PAT Test morphing into a legal requirement in the minds of some people. This is simply not true, and it is time that some myths and common questions were finally laid to rest regarding the PAT Test.
Am I legally required to have London PAT Testing?
The simple and short answer is no. You are not now, nor have you ever been, legally obligated to have London PAT Testing carried out in your rental accommodation or in your workplace. What is true is that they are heavily recommended by everyone in the industry and provide the most comprehensive assessment of your portable electrical appliances you can have. They are so well known for being the best that they have been misrepresented as a legal requirement because they might as well be so. You are required to have electrical safety inspections by law but no specific assessment is referenced.
London PAT Testing is only needed once on your appliances.
This is a completely false statement and should be ignored for the health and wellbeing of all of your tenants of employees. Think about the amount of times an appliance is used in a day, week or month. Now consider the fact that appliances, like everything else, wear away and become more prone to breaking as a result. Common sense dictates that you should have regular London PAT Testing to make sure that appliances which have become unsafe due to faults having developed over time are not being used. This applies especially for second hand appliances which did not have a safety sticker somewhere on the appliance when you purchased it. PAT Testing every 12 to 18 months is recommended.
Why do I need to hire someone to complete a PAT Test? I can do one myself.
Again, this is simply not true. The law requires that any and all electrical safety tests are performed by people who are competent in electrical safety and understand what they are looking for. This is to protect both the people doing the inspections, and the people who will live with the appliances after the inspection. London PAT Testing uses the expertise of fully trained and qualified PAT Testers to make sure you, and those around you, are kept safe from harm.
How can I get an electrical PAT Test?
You can get London PAT Testing by filling in our online form. My London Tradesmen will contact companies on your behalf and return to you with up to 3 of the best quotes available to you. From these quotes you will gain the information you need to make a decision regarding which tradesman to employ to complete London PAT Testing in your property.
All of the tradesmen we provide quotes from have received up to date training and are registered with all the necessary bodies. We only recommend trustworthy and reputable tradesmen to our customers.