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Author: Andy

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Small Business

I am aware that small business have issues with contractor access and parking as they try to get their electrical equipment tested to ensure good safety for themselves and staff.

So AEW realises that a mobile PAT testing service using public transport negates the problem of contractors who cannot get parked in the area.

Types of issues for small business

  • The need to get electrical equipment tested to ensure good electrical safety for staff and visitors.
  • Landlords requirements that these tests be completed to comply with rental agreement.
  • Proper documentation for a good audit trail. Click here for an example.

How to complete a pat asset register of electrical equipment

Why do I need to do this.

It’s good practise and helps with audit trails to list and itemise the electrical equipment the business is responsible for. Click here for a blank asset form

How do I identify these items.

Basically any electrical equipment the the business owns or rents.

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Asset Register

How to create a Asset Register

You may ask why do I need one and what does it do. An asset register is basically an audit document. This itemises the equipment you are responsible for and proves to any authority that you are managing the testing of your electrical appliances. Click here for a example from AEW

Creating an asset register can do the following

  • It helps as an audit trail.
  • It demonstrates that you are a responsible owner.
  • It documents the equipment for any possible insurance claim.
  • It costs nothing to put together.

Repair register

A repair register proves you are getting your equipment checked and more importantly demonstrates that any future issue are dealt with

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Landlords Checklist for a Change of Tenant

Change of Tenant

A landlords checklist on a change of tenant can be helpful in documenting safety checks and is a good aid for audit purposes. Property owners must provide proof that their properties have been properly maintained to the licensing authorities specification.

It Won’t Happen to Me

I hear the comment of “It won’t happen to me” but believe me it only takes an incident where a ex tenant or a Police /Fire officer report to the Council. That’s when Due Diligence kicks in and they order to see any and all current and past maintenance records.

Frequent Questions & Answers

image of a tick list for a landlords change of tenant checklist
Checklist
Do I need this I hear you say

Officials and regulators require proof that checks are being done and more importantly logged. So, a landlords checklist for a change of tenant procedures can help prevent any future issues and save on time and money.

What’s involved

Various safety checks that you as a landlord can easily do and log. AEW has developed a landlords checklist for a change of tenant where you can download here.
So, what does the checklist consist of ? .
Below is a detailed list of safety checks Q&A.

Fire Protection
Detectors operation and status

By pushing the test button on one you confirm the other fire alarms activate.
Logging the expiry replacement date shows you are highlighting when they need to be replaced. It also helps to know when they need replaced.
Recording the battery replacement proves you are maintaining them. Landlords find it frustrating they have to pay a third party for this task to be done.

C02 Protection
Detector operation and status

By pushing the test button on one you confirm the unit is working.
The CO2 sensors either indicate an expiry or require replacement on specified dates.
Recording the battery replacement proves you are maintaining them.

Electrical Safety
Consumer Unit RCD tests

Testing these quarterly helps stop the mechanism sticking. On a 5 yearly EICR RCD’s get a full operational check.

Water protection
Legionella checks

With a simple British Standard thermometer and the stopwatch on your phone you can ensure the hot & cold water outlets are at the right temperature.
This is also a good time to remove the shower head and hose and place them in a bucket with a bleach solution to stop any harmful bacterial build up.
image of shower head & hose

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PAT Testing Intervals

PAT Testing Intervals

PAT testing intervals in the Code of Practise of the 5th edition states “There is no specified timescales in law, or in the CoP of inspection and testing of electrical equipment. Formally PAT testing.

Image of a UK PAT tester for pat testing intervals
pat tester

The Housing Act (Scotland) 2006, 2014

With regards to private rentals in the Act a Landlord in a tenancy must ensure that the rented property meets the “repairing standard ” at

  • The start of the tenancy
  • All times during the tenancy , where the the landlord is made aware of possible defects

Types of rentals

Listed below is the types of rentals and the requirement of PAT testing intervals.

Short Term Lets

The City of Edinburgh Council requires an annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate. For more information click here for CEC website requirements.

Houses of Multiple Occupation

The City of Edinburgh Council requires an annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate. For more information click here for CEC website requirements.

General Rental Properties

In this case the landlord can risk assess the PAT Testing interval. So, with long term tenants where the property is in good condition the landlord could schedule the testing for every 18 to 24 months. However if there is a steady turnover of tenants then it may be prudent to test annually

Good Practise

It is good practise to register any electrical equipment with the manufacturer in case of any safety recalls. So, it helps if the landlord stores in a folder the equipment make, model & serial number in case of any recalls. You can also check the electrical safety first website for any equipment that has been recalled.

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Fixed Appliance Testing

Fixed Appliance Testing

Image of a storage heater
Storage heater

 

 

Getting inquiries about clarification on Fixed Appliance Testing and why does it matter. Landlords and letting agents are asking why this has to be done and how does affect PAT testing.

Image of wall convector heater
Wall heater

First of all is the terminology of Portable Appliance Testing. Although it is commonly known as PAT testing it is actually under the 5th edition of the Code of Practise of In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need to test Fixed Appliances

In a rented property it was found that the electrical installation is tested via an Electrical Condition Report. Portable Appliances or PAT testing it was found Fixed appliances were not getting checked.

So, How does fixed appliance come under Portable Appliance Testing

Although we still use the terminology of PAT Testing it is actually under the ISITEE CoP 5th edition that now includes fixed appliances.

So, what is classed as a fixed appliance

Cooker / Electric oven
Electric & Gas hobs
Storage & Wall heaters
Basically any electrical equipment hard wired into the electrical installation

Do I need to get these checked

Basically Yes . Testing fixed appliances completes the circle of electrical testing for a rented property.

Can as a landlord letting agent just ignore this and stick to portable appliances

Basically No. You are obliged to get this equipment tested,

Why test a fixed appliance

Electrical equipment testing essentially is completed to ensure that if it develops a fault then the unit will trip a fuse / breaker or RCD via an earth or overload fault. So, let’s take the example of say an electric oven. If it develops a fault where the unit trips a fuse or breaker. But if the oven does not have a good earth connection then the metal casing could become live. So, testing it ensures any fault has a safe path to earth.