EICR or PAT testing — which one do you need?
EICR covers the fixed wiring; PAT covers plug-in appliances. What each actually inspects, who needs which, and how often.
These get confused constantly, and the confusion costs landlords money — either paying for the wrong thing or believing they are covered when they are not.
An EICR inspects the fixed installation: the board, the cabling, the sockets, the earthing. PAT testing inspects portable appliances that plug into it. They are different jobs with different certificates, and a landlord typically needs the first and sometimes the second.
- EICR: fixed wiring, boards, circuits, earthing and accessories
- PAT: plug-in appliances such as kettles, lamps and tools
- Rented dwellings in Wales require a valid EICR
- PAT applies where the landlord or employer supplies the appliances
What an EICR actually covers
Circuit-by-circuit testing with recorded readings, plus visual inspection of accessories and the consumer unit. Findings are coded C1, C2, C3 or FI, and only C1 and C2 make a report unsatisfactory. You get a document you can hand to a tenant, an agent or an insurer.
What PAT covers
Inspection and testing of appliances that plug in. In a furnished let this means the appliances you supply — the fridge, the washing machine, lamps. It does not touch the fixed installation, and a PAT certificate does not satisfy an EICR requirement.
Which you need
Landlords of Welsh rented dwellings need a valid EICR on a five-yearly cycle. If you supply appliances, appliance testing is a sensible part of demonstrating the property is safe. Employers have separate duties for equipment provided at work.
Common questions
Does an EICR include the appliances?
No. It covers the fixed installation only.
How often is each needed?
EICR at least every five years for rented dwellings; appliance testing frequency depends on the appliance and setting.
Can both be done in one visit?
Yes, and it saves a second call-out.
Get a fixed price
Landlord and not sure what you're covered for? Send the address and we'll tell you exactly which certificates apply.