EICR vs PAT Testing for Landlords in England

Electricians sometimes quote for an EICR and PAT testing together, as if they're a package deal. They're not. An EICR is a legal requirement for an in-scope private tenancy in England; PAT testing is recommended best practice in most cases but is not a statutory obligation for standard private tenancies.

What Each Test Actually Covers

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) inspects the fixed electrical installation — the wiring behind the walls, the consumer unit, circuit breakers, RCDs, socket outlets, light fittings, switches, earthing, and bonding. This is what SI 2020/312 mandates at least every five years for in-scope private rented tenancies in England.

PAT testing (Portable Appliance Testing, formally called In-Service Inspection and Testing) checks moveable appliances — fridges, washing machines, kettles, microwaves, toasters, and any other plug-in equipment the landlord supplies with the property.

The two tests have completely different scopes. An EICR doesn't cover portable appliances. PAT testing doesn't assess fixed wiring.

Is PAT Testing Legally Required?

For standard private residential tenancies in England, PAT testing is not a statutory requirement under SI 2020/312. The regulations cover fixed electrical installations only.

However, there are situations where PAT testing becomes mandatory or strongly expected:

• HMO licensing conditions — some local authority licensing schemes require PAT testing of landlord-supplied appliances; check the licence conditions for your property
• Social housing — SI 2025/1043 introduced mandatory five-year equipment checks for social landlords
• Furnished lettings with supplied appliances — the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 impose broader repair and fitness duties, but they do not make PAT testing a blanket statutory requirement for every furnished private tenancy

Even where PAT testing isn't legally required, it's sensible risk management. Separate landlord repair and fitness duties still apply to a rented property.

Common Confusion Points

"My electrician says I need both." Many electricians offer combined EICR + PAT packages because it's commercially efficient — they're already on site. That doesn't make PAT a legal requirement for your property type. Check your local licensing conditions before paying for services you may not need.

"PAT testing covers me for electrical safety compliance." It absolutely doesn't. PAT testing does not satisfy your EICR obligation. A landlord with current PAT records but no valid EICR is in breach of SI 2020/312 and faces civil penalties up to £40,000 per breach.

"The EICR covers my appliances." The opposite problem — an EICR assesses fixed wiring only. If you supply appliances with the tenancy, you need a separate safety check for those.

What About EICR vs EIC?

An EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) is issued when a new electrical installation is completed — a full rewire, new build, or consumer unit replacement. An EIC satisfies your landlord EICR obligation for the first five years from its issue date. After that, you need a periodic EICR.

A MEIWC (Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate) covers small alterations — adding a socket, replacing a damaged fitting, or completing remedial work flagged on an EICR. It documents the specific work done but doesn't replace a full EICR.

For the full breakdown of how these certificates fit into the five-year compliance cycle, the Electrical Safety (EICR) Compliance Guide maps each certificate type to the specific situations where you need it.

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