Andover · England
PAT Testing in Andover
Book your PAT Testing in Andover with a vetted professional — clear pricing guidance, certificates delivered digitally, renewal reminders included.
Straight answer
PAT testing checks the plug-in appliances a landlord supplies — kettles, white goods, lamps, extension leads — with a visual inspection plus instrument tests. There's no blanket legal interval in England and Wales; the duty is that supplied equipment is safe, and testing is the standard evidence. HMO licences in Andover commonly require it on a set cycle.
Booking
How it works
We're building coverage in Andover through our national onboarding programme, and we won't pretend otherwise with a fake availability calendar. Send the property details and we'll confirm by email whether we can cover the job, and the price, before anything is committed.
Credentials
Who you're letting in
A meaningful PAT visit leaves evidence: labelled items, a per-item register, tester identity, instrument details. If a quote can't describe that output, it's a sticker service, not a safety check. Competence, calibration and insurance are our three checks before any booking.
The inspection
What the tester actually checks
Each item gets a visual check first — plug, cable, casing, signs of overheating — because most failures are visible. Then instrument tests as appropriate to the appliance class: earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity. Pass items get a dated label; everything lands on a register of results with the tester's details.
Pricing
What PAT testing costs
Two pricing traps to avoid: per-item headline rates that hide a high minimum, and 'free retest' offers priced into inflated failures. We quote the visit and the count up front, and failures are recorded honestly — replacement advice, not a repair upsell.
The law
Why PAT Testing matters for Andover landlords
The duty is outcome-based: supplied appliances must be safe. What turns that into a schedule is context — Scotland's regular-check requirement, HMO licence conditions set by Test Valley Borough Council, and the practical need for evidence if an appliance is ever implicated in an incident. A dated register answers questions that 'it looked fine' can't.
There is no blanket law that says rented homes must be PAT tested. What the law does require is that any electrical appliances the landlord supplies are safe — PAT testing is the standard practical way to evidence that, and it is frequently a condition of HMO licences.
The 5-yearly electrical safety inspection must include appliances provided by the landlord, so appliance testing is effectively part of the statutory regime in Scotland.
Penalties stated are statutory maximums or court-set; Test Valley Borough Council is the local housing authority for Andover.
Renting out in Andover
Letting in Andover: the practical points
In Andover as anywhere, PAT earns its keep at the boundaries: HMO licensing from Test Valley Borough Council, insurance claims, deposit disputes over damaged appliances, and Scotland's regular-check duty where it applies. Cheap, quick, and disproportionately useful when something goes wrong.
FAQ
Before you book: quick answers
Is PAT testing the same as an EICR?
No. The EICR inspects the fixed wiring of the building; PAT covers plug-in appliances. A rental in Andover with landlord-supplied appliances is fully evidenced by having both: EICR for the installation, PAT records for the appliances.
How often should appliances be PAT tested?
Risk-based rather than fixed by law: many landlords test at each change of tenancy or annually, and HMO licence conditions from Test Valley Borough Council may specify an interval. High-use or previously repaired items justify more frequent checks.
Do brand-new appliances need testing?
New items are generally presumed safe on purchase, so many testing regimes record them with a visual check and bring them into the normal cycle at the next round. Keep purchase receipts as part of the evidence trail.
What records should I keep?
A register of appliances with test dates and results, plus the pass labels on the items themselves. Keep the records with your tenancy file — they are your evidence if an appliance is ever implicated in an incident.
How long does PAT testing take?
Only a few minutes per appliance — a typical furnished rental with ten to twenty items is usually completed within an hour, making it easy to combine with other visits such as an EICR or inventory.
Nearby
Nearby coverage: Basingstoke · Winchester · Salisbury · all of Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Tell us the postcode and what needs certifying; we'll handle the rest and keep the renewal on our calendar, not just yours. Check availability in Andover
Sorting your PAT Testing in Andover?
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