How Much Does PAT Testing Cost in London?

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) involves checking that electrical equipment in the home, at work and in commercial and leisure establishments is safe to use.

Average Costs for PAT Tests in London

PAT testing prices depend on the location of the property in which the items to be tested are, together with how many electrical appliances there are. For instance, you’ll pay more to have electrical equipment tested in the capital than elsewhere in the UK. But, at the same time, most firms will give you a discount on the number of bulk items you put forward for pat testing.

PAT testing costs will also depend on whether any parts need to be repaired or replaced.

Most companies will charge a minimum fee regardless of how many items you ask to be tested.

Per Test

It’s usual for most companies to charge a flat rate for a bunch of electrical appliances (eg 15) and then charge a reduction for additional PAT tests to be carried out. Individually PAT testing costs are, on average:

• PAT testing cost London: around £3 per item
• PAT testing cost UK: around £1 per item

Electrician Hourly and Day Rates

It is typical for an electrician to carry out portable appliance testing. And, it may be that the particular PAT testing company you choose charges by the hour. In which case you can expect a bill of anything from £40 to £60 per hour. The latter price is pat testing prices in London. Day rates for pat tests can range from £200 (UK-wide) to £250 per day in London.

Costs for Landlords

Landlords who let out property to tenants are under a legal requirement to ensure that any electrical equipment is safe. This means items they supply to tenants on their property, such as microwaves, toasters, kettles etc must be PAT tested.

It’s typical for landlords to receive bulk PAT test deals with 10 items charged for £50 and 20 items for £60, 30 for £70 etc. This is especially true in Houses of Multiple Occupation where up to seven or eight people can be found living in the same property, and where there will be a large number of electrical items requiring professional testing. In this case, it’s often more cost-effective for a landlord to be charged for PAT testing per day rather than by the number of items to be checked for electrical safety.

Additional Costs

It’s not just the testing of the electrical equipment itself that you may have to find yourself paying for. Landlords, in particular, and owners of commercial properties will require a PAT testing certificate to prove items have been professionally checked. This can come in at a cost of anything from £110 to £130.

It may be that once checked it is found that the electrical equipment in question is too dangerous or old to repair and a replacement kettle, toaster etc must be found. In extreme cases, the whole property may need rewiring. That could come in at a cost of anything from £4,000 to £5,500.

Factors That Affect Costs

The location of the property where the items are to be tested is one of the biggest factors when it comes to costs. That’s because PAT testing in London will always cost more than elsewhere in the UK, simply because of the cost of living in the capital. But there are other factors too, such as:

Number of Items to be Tested

The more items that need PAT tests, the lower the cost per item. However, a lot of electrical appliances will mean more time the engineer will need to spend at your property and if they are charging an hourly rate then this will certainly bump up the cost.

Item Types

A portable appliance is a piece of equipment which weighs less than 18kg and can be moved around. If it plugs into the electrical system then it will need a PAT test to ensure that electrical equipment is safe.

Electrical equipment is defined by class. For instance, items found in Class One are fridges, toasters, microwaves and electrical heaters. In other words, items which are used regularly, many times a day, and which are earthed. As such, they can cause the most serious injuries.

Class Two items are hairdryers, TVs and computers. Those which fall into Class Three are mobile and laptop chargers.

Appliance Complexity

The larger the item, the longer a PAT test is likely to take. As such, you can expect to pay more for portable appliance testing if you have fridge freezers, cookers etc to be checked.

Additional Work Required

If the engineer has to repair faulty electrical equipment for it to pass an electrical safety PAT test then this is going to take far longer than a straight pass. That will mean a bigger bill for labour time as well as any replacement parts.

The PAT Test Process

The first thing an engineer doing a PAT test will check with the equipment is the plug. They have to check that the casing is still intact and there are no loose wires. This comes under the category of a visual inspection.

Next, they will take the plug apart and look at the fuse to ensure it’s the right size for the item. They can then look to ensure the wiring is correct. After that, it’s a case of checking that the connections are secure and there aren’t bare wires hanging out. They will also look for discolouration on the plug or wires as this can be a sign that there is overheating.

A final visual inspection is done on the cable and any casing.

Physical testing will then be carried out. This includes an earth continuity test, an insulation resistance test and, finally, a functional check.

It’s then time for the engineer to declare the item either passed or failed. In either case, a sticker will be applied to the item and a PAT testing certificate issued. The latter will show what the testing comprised of and whether any issues need addressing.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for PAT Testing

Landlords must have portable appliance testing carried out. So too do owners of commercial premises as this would fall under The Electricity of Work Regulations and Health and Safety Act, 1989. This means they have a legal requirement to ensure that electrical equipment is safe for their employees to use.

Appliances that Require PAT Testing

Any electrical appliance which plugs in and has been used already will need PAT testing. Only new items don’t require PAT testing since it is assumed they will already have been tested for electrical safety before sale.

PAT Testing Frequency

It’s typical for owners of commercial premises and landlords to have their electrical items undergo PAT tests on an annual basis. Annual testing isn’t a legal requirement, it’s just that it’s easier to remember if it’s carried out at the same time every year. On the whole, though, the frequency of testing really depends on what the equipment is and where it is ie industrial equipment and that is commercial kitchens should certainly be checked every six months for electrical safety. Office equipment and lamps etc in shops don’t have the same urgency for testing.

PAT Testing Certificates

A PAT testing certificate is used by landlords to show tenants the electrical equipment is safe. It is also used by owners and managers of commercial equipment for Health and Safety purposes.

DIY Vs Hiring a Professional

If you are a competent person ie someone who feels confident testing equipment because you have experience in electrical work and know what the results mean, then you can carry out PAT tests in a DIY capacity.

However, most people feel it is safer to bring in a professional to do the job. Electricity can be dangerous after all and, in some cases, poorly wired or malfunctioning equipment can prove fatal.

Finding an Electrician

To find an electrician that carries out PAT testing you can ask around friends, neighbours and colleagues to find out if there is anyone they can recommend.

In the absence of this, you can also look at online directories or review sites (although, bear in mind, in the case of the latter reviews can’t always be verified).

Speak to several electricians who carry out portable appliance testing, and can fit into your schedule. That way you can get a good idea of how much on average it should cost you. Ask those electricians if they can provide any guarantees that the items they check will be carried out in line with industry standards. And on that note, do they have much experience in PAT testing? It’s also fine to ask how long they have been PAT testing for and if they are prepared to fix any items to bring them up to a safe level for use.

The Page

Are you looking for a professional electrician to have some electrical appliances PAT tested? If so then you can find a trustworthy tradesperson right here on The Page.

Simply send our team your enquiry. We will look at it and do the research necessary to send you through a curated list of experienced and competent electricians near where you live.

All of the tradesmen listed on The Page have been personally vetted by our team. We have assessed references, looked through portfolios and double-checked qualifications. As such, you can rest assured that when you book a tradesman via The Page you don’t have to worry about their capability, trustworthiness or expertise – because we have already verified that for you.