THE ANSWER, FIRST
Maintain a safe fixed electrical installation. Agree a suitable inspection scope and timing with a competent electrical professional; do not assume the rules for rented homes settle a workplace’s needs.
Check the sourceJump to a section
Who is responsibleYour next stepsBefore spending moneyWhat you can do yourselfPutting it into practiceRecords to keepWhen to reviewCommon questionsOfficial sourcesWho is responsible?
People responsible for the safety of electrical installations at work. Rented homes can have separate statutory inspection requirements.
Maintain the electrical installation so it remains safe. Competent inspection and testing help establish its condition and identify defects.
START HERE
Your next three steps
- 1
Identify who is responsible for the fixed installation.
- 2
Find the latest installation records and inspection reports.
- 3
Ask a competent electrical contractor to advise on inspection scope and timing.
BEFORE YOU PAY
Make sure you’re buying the right job
- Find the previous report, circuit information and unresolved observations.
- Agree which areas and circuits are included and any access or shutdown restrictions.
- Separate the inspection price from the cost of remedial work and explain who authorises repairs.
Watch out: Do not apply a residential rental inspection interval to every commercial premises. PAT testing does not inspect the whole fixed installation.
Compare the whole cost of two quotesWhat can you do yourself?
You can locate records, identify the party responsible and prepare access. Do not treat that administrative work as competence to inspect an installation or undertake electrical repairs.
When to get competent help
Use a competent electrical professional for inspection, testing and technical interpretation. Ask them to explain any limitations and findings in terms you can act on.
Organise the inspection around access and operations
Before you commission work
Provide available installation records and previous findings. Identify who controls shared electrical areas and which operations could be affected by a shutdown. Agree how the electrician will obtain access and who on site can authorise operational arrangements. Make unresolved scope questions visible before the visit.
Follow through on the result
Ask the inspector to explain findings and limitations in terms the responsible manager can act on. Keep remedial proposals linked to the original observations so quotes can be compared. Record the evidence supplied after repairs, and ask the competent provider whether further inspection or testing is needed to close the finding.
Compare costs and decide what to buy
Use these buying guides to prepare your brief, check exclusions and compare the whole price.
Keep a useful record
Aim for information that helps the next person make a sound decision.
- Installation information and the inspection report.
- The inspection scope and any agreed limitations.
- A record of action on observations and the reasoning for the next review.
When to review it
Set inspection and maintenance arrangements for the installation and its risks. Check any specific premises rules and previous inspection recommendations.
Ask a supplier to distinguish a legal deadline, a recommendation based on risk and a condition in your contract or insurance. They are not interchangeable.
Questions to put to a provider
- Which areas and circuits will be inspected?
- What limitations will appear in the report?
- How will urgent defects be explained and made safe?
Common questions
Does PAT testing replace an EICR?
No. The fixed installation and portable equipment are different parts of electrical safety. Ask what each service actually covers.
Is every business required to have an EICR every five years?
Do not apply a residential letting rule as a universal commercial requirement. The installation, use, risks, relevant premises rules and previous findings affect the arrangements.
Check the official sources
Read the current guidance for the place where you operate. A link is not an endorsement of this website by the regulator.
Source-checked guidance. Specialist editorial sign-off is pending; this is not an assessment of your business. It does not cover every specialist activity or replace competent, case-specific advice.
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