How Often Should PAT Testing Be Done in a Holiday Let?

If you own a holiday let in Devon or Cornwall, you’ll know that PAT testing holiday let appliances is one of those compliance tasks that’s easy to overlook — but important to get right. Here’s everything you need to know about how often you should be testing and why it matters.

Is PAT Testing a Legal Requirement for Holiday Lets?

Holiday lets are treated similarly to commercial premises rather than standard residential rentals. As a holiday let owner you have a duty of care to your guests under the Health and Safety at Work Act and Occupiers Liability Act. While there is no specific law naming PAT testing, providing guests with unsafe electrical equipment and failing to demonstrate regular maintenance could leave you seriously exposed legally and financially.

Many holiday let insurance policies also specifically require evidence of regular electrical safety testing — without it, your policy could be invalidated in the event of a claim.

How Often Should You Test?

The IET Code of Practice recommends the following for holiday accommodation:

• Annual testing — recommended for holiday lets due to the high turnover of guests and frequent use of appliances
• Change of tenancy checks — a visual inspection between lets is good practice
• After any incident — if an appliance is reported as faulty or involved in an incident, it should be tested before use again
• For most PAT testing holiday let owners commission annually, ahead of the peak season.

Given the volume of guests that pass through a typical Devon or Cornwall holiday let across the season, annual testing is the sensible minimum.

What Appliances Need Testing?

As a rule of thumb, if it has a plug and your guests might use it, it needs to be on your PAT testing list. Many holiday let owners in Devon and Cornwall are surprised by how many appliances this covers — a well-equipped cottage can easily have 20 to 30 items that require testing.

All portable electrical appliances provided for guest use should be included:

• Kettles, toasters, microwaves
• TVs, lamps, and entertainment equipment
• Hair dryers and other bathroom appliances
• Power tools or garden equipment provided
• Extension leads and adapters

Protecting Your Investment

A holiday let is a significant investment. Annual PAT testing by a qualified engineer is a small cost compared to the potential consequences of an electrical fault — damage to your property, injury to guests, or an invalidated insurance claim.

How to Choose a PAT Testing Holiday Let Engineer

Not all PAT testing engineers are equal. When arranging PAT testing holiday let owners should look for an engineer who understands the specific demands of short-term rental properties — high appliance turnover, tight changeover schedules, and the need for clear documentation that satisfies both insurers and booking platforms like Airbnb and Sykes Cottages.

Key things to check:

• Full digital certification provided on the day
• Experience with holiday let and commercial properties
• Ability to work around changeover days
• Clear itemised report covering every appliance tested

At Glow Compliance we specialise in PAT and EET testing for holiday lets across Devon and Cornwall. We work around changeover days to cause minimal disruption, and provide full digital certification on the day.

After testing, you’ll receive a full digital certificate listing every appliance tested, the result, and the date of the next recommended test. This is the document your insurer may ask for in the event of a claim, and it demonstrates your duty of care to guests. Glow Compliance provides same-day digital certification for all holiday let PAT tests across Devon and Cornwall.

Contact us today for a free quote tailored to your holiday let.