Family-run · Greater ManchesterIFSM · NFRAR · FPA0161 694 8177
PAT Testing

PAT testing for landlords and businesses in Greater Manchester.

Honest, risk-based PAT testing — because there is no law that says you must test every appliance every year. We tell you what you actually need, test it properly, and give you a clear certificate.

The PAT testing myth — and what the law actually says

Looking for PAT testing in Manchester? Before you book, here is something most firms will not tell you: you have probably been told PAT testing is “a legal requirement every year.” It is not — and any firm telling you otherwise is selling you certainty that does not exist.

There is no law that says you must PAT test every appliance every year. The duty under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is to keep electrical equipment safe — the HSE is explicit that how you do that should be risk-based, not a blanket annual ritual.

Here is the honest picture:

  • No regulation names “PAT” or sets an annual interval — the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment to be maintained so as to prevent danger. They do not specify how, or how often.
  • The HSE says frequency should be risk-based — a power tool on a building site needs checking far more often than a lamp in an office. The duty holder decides the interval based on the equipment and its environment, guided by the IET Code of Practice.
  • PAT is the practical way to prove you have met the duty — a clear, dated record that the equipment you supply was inspected, tested and found safe. That is its real value.

So PAT testing is genuinely useful — it is simply not the rigid annual legal obligation it is often sold as. We will tell you what is sensible for your situation and no more.

When it matters

When PAT testing does matter

Risk-based does not mean optional. There are clear situations where testing is the right call:

  • HMO landlords — many local-authority HMO licence conditions require landlords to keep supplied appliances in safe working order, and PAT is the simplest way to evidence it. Greater Manchester councils differ — check your borough’s scheme.
  • Furnished lets — where you supply the appliances — washing machine, fridge, kettle, microwave — you have a duty to make sure they are safe. PAT gives you a record that you did.
  • Businesses and workplaces — employers must maintain work equipment under the Electricity at Work Regulations. PAT is the accepted way to demonstrate it to insurers and the HSE.
  • At the start of a tenancy — a clean PAT record removes any argument about the condition of supplied appliances later.
What we do

What PAT testing covers

Portable appliance testing is an inspection and test of electrical equipment that is not part of the fixed installation — anything that plugs into a socket. Each item gets:

  • A visual inspection — plug, cable, casing and connections checked for damage. Most faults are found here.
  • Electrical testing — earth continuity, insulation resistance and polarity, using calibrated test equipment, where appropriate to the item.
  • A pass or fail label — each appliance labelled and recorded.
  • A certificate and asset list — a full record of every item tested, the result and the date.

If an item fails, we label it, take it out of use and tell you straight away so it can be repaired or replaced. New appliances do not normally need a full test before first use — they are supplied to a safety standard — though a quick visual check is always sensible.

Why Fire Sure

Honest advice, and one visit for EICR and PAT

We are a family-run, Greater Manchester based electrical and fire-safety compliance firm. We would rather give you honest advice than oversell.

  • NICEIC registered.
  • IFSM — Institution of Fire Safety Managers membership.
  • NFRAR — National Fire Risk Assessors Register.
  • FPA — Fire Protection Association membership.
  • Public liability insurance.
  • Over 20 years in the rental market — working with Greater Manchester landlords, letting agents and businesses.
  • Honest, risk-based advice — we test what you need, not what makes us the most money.
  • One visit for EICR and PAT — we can do both together and save you a separate appointment.
The Managed Compliance Plan

One provider owns your whole schedule.

On a recurring contract we keep your supplied-appliance checks on a sensible, risk-based schedule — and bundle PAT with your EICR so it is one visit, one provider, and one less thing to remember when your HMO licence asks for it.

  • Appoint Fire Sure as your provider for the year — we own the schedule.
  • We book every service proactively, before it falls due.
  • Each service invoiced at a fixed yearly price, as delivered.
  • No monthly subscription. No upfront fee.
Our guarantee

"We schedule and certify your property before its due date, every year — or that service is free."

Small print: provided we have access and the property is on the plan.

Areas we cover

PAT testing across Greater Manchester & the North West

We carry out PAT testing across Greater Manchester and the North West, including:

  • Manchester
  • Salford
  • Wythenshawe
  • Stockport
  • Bolton
  • Bury
  • Oldham
  • Rochdale
  • Trafford
  • Tameside
  • Wigan
  • Altrincham

Not sure whether we cover you? — if it is within reach of our base, we will be there.

Questions, answered

PAT testing — your questions

There is no law that names PAT testing or requires it annually. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment to be maintained to prevent danger, and the HSE says how you achieve that should be risk-based. PAT testing is the most practical way to meet and evidence that duty — but it is a sensible safety measure, not a fixed annual legal obligation.

Book your free compliance audit

We map every
due date.

The audit maps every property's certificates and due dates — so you can see exactly where you stand. One accountable provider for the whole fire-and-electrical picture.

Or call us today0161 694 8177

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