PAT testing for Airbnb and holiday lets

Why holiday lets are higher risk

Guests unfamiliar with your property misuse adapters, overload sockets, and treat appliances harder than a owner-occupier would. High turnover means more wear between inspections. Insurers, booking platforms, and local licensing schemes increasingly expect evidence that supplied appliances were tested recently — especially where fire risk assessments cover electrical equipment.

What to test in a typical let

Everything you supply: kettle, toaster, microwave, hairdryer, iron, TV, lamps, vacuum, washing machine, outdoor hot tub pump if plugged in, and extension leads left for guest use. Test before your first booking of the season and after any major refurbishment. QR labels on appliances let guests or cleaners verify status without calling you.

Timing: annual vs changeover

Annual testing before peak season is the norm for most self-catering properties. Some hosts add visual checks at every changeover — looking for damaged flexes or scorch marks — which complements but does not replace formal testing. If a guest reports an issue, remove the appliance and retest after repair.

Proof for platforms and insurers

Upload your certificate to your compliance folder, share an audit link with your agent, and keep retest dates in a calendar with reminders. When an insurer or council asks for evidence, an itemised register beats a photo of pass stickers every time.

Quick answers

Does Airbnb require PAT testing?

Platform rules vary by region and listing type, but many professional hosts treat annual PAT as standard because insurers and local short-term let schemes expect it.

I only let for 12 weeks a year — do I still need testing?

If you supply appliances, the duty to maintain them safely still applies when the property is let. Annual testing aligned with your opening season is the usual approach.

Can you test several of my cottages in one day?

Yes — we route holiday properties across Devon and Cornwall together. Each property gets its own certificate and dashboard record.

Relevant services & areas

Booking or compliance questions for your premises? These pages go deeper on what we test locally.

By sector

Need it done rather than read about?

Fixed prices from £89 across Devon & Cornwall, certificates in your dashboard within 24 hours.

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Keep reading

How often does PAT testing need to be done?

There is no fixed legal interval for PAT testing — frequency is risk-based. Here are the intervals the IET Code of Practice suggests for offices, rentals, holiday lets, and industrial sites.

Is PAT testing a legal requirement in the UK?

PAT testing is not named in any UK law — but the legal duties it satisfies are very real. What the Electricity at Work Regulations actually require, and who carries the duty.

What does PAT testing cost in the UK?

Per-item pricing, minimum charges, and call-out fees explained — plus what is (and is not) included in a PAT testing quote, and how fixed-price testing compares.