Electrical Safety Certificates for Newark Landlords - EICR or PAT Testing?

Published August 2026 | Electrical Safety Certificates for Landlords

You're a landlord in Newark and you need to get your electrical certificates sorted before a new tenancy starts. You've heard the term EICR thrown around, but someone else has mentioned PAT testing - and now you're not sure if you need one, the other, or both. Are they interchangeable? Do they cover the same things? And if you can only afford one right now, which one actually matters for legal compliance?

These are two distinct types of electrical inspection, covering completely different parts of your property. Getting clear on the difference will save you money, time, and - in some cases - a very uncomfortable conversation with your local council.

Option A - The EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)

An EICR is an inspection of a property's fixed electrical installation. That means the wiring in the walls, the consumer unit (fuse board), the sockets, light fittings, switches, and the earthing and bonding arrangements. It does not cover anything that plugs in.

What does an EICR inspection involve?

An EICR is a thorough, systematic inspection carried out by a qualified electrician. Our engineers work through the installation circuit by circuit, testing insulation resistance, continuity, polarity, and earth fault loop impedance. They're checking that the fixed wiring is safe, correctly installed, and not deteriorated to a point where it poses a risk. At the end, the report assigns codes to any issues found - C1 (danger present), C2 (potential danger), C3 (improvement recommended), and FI (further investigation required).

For a typical two or three bedroom terraced house - the kind that makes up a large proportion of rental stock in Newark and the surrounding Nottinghamshire area - an EICR typically takes between two and four hours. Larger or older properties with more complex installations can take longer.

Is an EICR a legal requirement?

Yes, for landlords in England it is. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 made EICRs a legal obligation for all private rented properties. You must have a valid EICR in place before a new tenancy begins, and you must renew it at least every five years. You're also required to provide a copy to your tenant within 28 days of the inspection, and to your local authority within seven days if they request it.

Failing to comply can result in a financial penalty of up to 30,000 pounds. This is not a grey area - it's a fixed statutory requirement.

How much does an EICR cost in Newark?

Pricing varies depending on the size and age of the property. For a one bedroom flat in Newark, you're typically looking at between 100 and 150 pounds. A two or three bedroom house commonly falls in the range of 150 to 250 pounds. Larger properties, or those with older wiring that requires more testing time, can reach 300 to 400 pounds. If the inspection reveals C1 or C2 faults, any remedial work is quoted and charged separately.

Pros of the EICR

It fulfils your legal obligation as a landlord. It gives you a detailed picture of the condition of your fixed installation. It identifies risks you might not be aware of - particularly in older Newark properties where the wiring predates modern standards. A satisfactory report is also a strong selling point to prospective tenants.

Cons of the EICR

The main downside is that a failed inspection - anything coded C1 or C2 - requires remedial work before the report can be signed off. Depending on what's found, that can add significant cost and time. Our engineers commonly find issues in properties built before the 1980s: deteriorated rubber-insulated cables, missing earth bonds to gas and water pipes, or consumer units that don't meet current standards. None of this is the electrician's fault - it's just the reality of ageing stock.

Option B - PAT Testing (Portable Appliance Testing)

PAT testing covers electrical appliances that have a plug. Kettles, toasters, washing machines, televisions, lamps, extension leads, electric heaters - anything that connects to a socket. It does not cover the wiring in the walls, the consumer unit, or any fixed installation.

What does PAT testing involve?

A PAT test involves visual inspection of each appliance and its lead, followed by electrical testing using a PAT tester. The tester checks insulation resistance, earth continuity, and leakage current. Each item that passes is labelled with a PAT sticker showing the date and the next test due date. Items that fail are either taken out of service, repaired, or replaced.

The speed depends on how many items need testing. A furnished one bedroom flat might take 45 minutes. A larger property with a full kitchen and multiple rooms of furniture could take two hours or more. Testers typically price by the item or by a day rate.

Is PAT testing a legal requirement for landlords?

This is where many landlords get confused. PAT testing is not a statutory legal requirement for residential landlords in England. There is no equivalent of the EICR regulations that mandates periodic PAT testing. However, the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Landlord and Tenant Act both create a general duty to ensure that appliances supplied as part of a tenancy are safe. In practice, this means that if you provide appliances and one causes harm, you could face liability without evidence of testing.

Some letting agents in Nottinghamshire include PAT testing as a standard condition of their managed service. If yours does, you don't have a choice - but this is a contractual requirement rather than a legal one.

How much does PAT testing cost?

PAT testing is typically priced at between 1 and 3 pounds per item, often with a minimum call-out charge of around 50 to 75 pounds. A furnished property with 20 to 30 appliances would commonly cost between 75 and 120 pounds in total. Some electricians offer combined EICR and PAT testing packages, which can offer better value if you need both.

Pros of PAT testing

It provides documented evidence that your supplied appliances were checked and in safe condition at the start of the tenancy. That documentation matters if there's ever a dispute or an insurance claim. It also flags ageing or damaged appliances before they cause problems - our engineers often identify cracked plugs, frayed leads, and appliances that have clearly overheated at some point.

Cons of PAT testing

If you let your property unfurnished - which is common with longer-term lets in Newark - PAT testing has very limited relevance. There's also no universal standard for how frequently PAT testing needs to be redone in a residential setting. Some landlords do it annually, others every two to three years, and both approaches are defensible depending on the appliances and tenants involved.

EICR vs PAT Testing - a Side-by-Side Comparison

Here's how the two sit against each other on the things that matter most to Newark landlords:

What it covers: EICR covers fixed wiring and installation. PAT testing covers plug-in appliances only.

Legal requirement: EICR is legally mandatory for all private rented properties in England. PAT testing is not legally mandated but carries a general duty of care obligation.

Frequency: EICR must be renewed every five years as a minimum. PAT testing has no statutory frequency - annual or bi-annual testing is common in practice.

Typical cost for a mid-sized Newark rental: EICR commonly costs between 150 and 250 pounds. PAT testing for a furnished property typically costs between 75 and 150 pounds.

Who can carry it out: An EICR must be conducted by a qualified electrician - someone who is competent and can demonstrate relevant qualifications such as City and Guilds 2391 or equivalent. PAT testing can be carried out by a competent person - in some business settings this can be a trained member of staff, though landlords typically use a qualified electrician for credibility.

What happens if something fails: A failed EICR with C1 or C2 codes requires remedial work before the certificate is issued. A failed PAT item is simply removed from service, repaired, or replaced.

Which is Right for Your Situation

If you're a landlord in Newark with a private rental property, the EICR is non-negotiable. You need one, full stop. The regulations are clear and the penalties for non-compliance are significant. If you don't have a valid EICR, getting one is the first thing to sort.

PAT testing becomes relevant when you start adding appliances into the equation. If you're letting furnished - providing a washing machine, fridge-freezer, cooker, microwave, television, and lamps - then PAT testing is the responsible thing to do, and the documentation protects you. If you're letting unfurnished and only the fixed installation is yours to maintain, then PAT testing adds very little practical value.

There are scenarios where both make sense together. Furnished lets, HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), and properties where the letting agent requires both are the most common situations where our engineers carry out combined inspections in the same visit. This is almost always more cost-effective than booking them separately.

What Newark Landlords Typically Choose and Why

Based on what our engineers see across Newark and the wider Nottinghamshire market, most landlords start with the EICR - because they have to - and then make a call on PAT testing based on whether they're furnishing the property.

Landlords who have recently purchased buy-to-let properties in the older terraced streets around Newark town centre often find that the EICR reveals older wiring that needs updating. Properties built pre-1970 in particular commonly have installations that haven't been touched in decades. Sorting this before tenants move in is the right call, and many landlords use the inspection as a prompt to upgrade the consumer unit at the same time.

Landlords of newer-build properties - particularly those on the newer developments on the edges of Newark - tend to have fewer EICR issues and often choose to combine with PAT testing in one visit, especially for fully furnished lets.

HMO landlords in the area are increasingly opting for annual PAT testing as a matter of course, partly because HMO licences from Newark and Sherwood District Council typically reference electrical safety requirements, and partly because appliance turnover in shared housing is higher and wear happens faster.

The trend we're seeing is that landlords who've been at it for a few years consolidate their inspection schedule - EICR every five years and PAT testing annually or every two years - and book both through the same electrician. It keeps the paperwork tidy and the relationship consistent.

Making Your Decision

Are you letting furnished or unfurnished?

If you're providing appliances as part of the tenancy, PAT testing is worth doing from the outset. It documents that those appliances were in safe working order when the tenancy began, which matters if something goes wrong later. If the property is unfurnished, concentrate your budget and effort on the EICR.

How old is the property's wiring?

If the property was built or last rewired before 1990, budget for the possibility that the EICR will flag issues. Older properties in Newark's historic core can have wiring that's well past its expected service life. Getting the EICR done before you advertise the property gives you time to address any issues without holding up a tenancy start date.

What does your letting agent require?

If you're using a managed letting agent, check their requirements before booking anything. Some Nottinghamshire agents mandate annual PAT testing as a condition of their service. Others are flexible. Knowing this before you instruct an electrician means you can avoid paying for a second visit later.

Are you buying an existing rental or starting fresh?

If you've purchased a property that was already let, ask for the existing EICR and check its expiry date. If it's less than five years old and there have been no major changes to the installation, it may still be valid. If it's been more than five years, or you can't locate the original, you'll need a new one regardless. Never assume a previous landlord's paperwork is in order - we've seen properties in Newark change hands where the EICR was missing entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does an EICR need to be renewed for a rental property in England?

An EICR must be renewed at least every five years for all privately rented properties in England under the 2020 Electrical Safety Standards regulations. Some inspection reports will specify a shorter interval if the electrician judges that the installation requires it - for example, if there are issues flagged as C3 that are being monitored rather than immediately remedied. Always check the recommended next inspection date on your specific report.

Can I use the same electrician for both an EICR and PAT testing?

Yes, and it's usually the most cost-effective approach. Many electricians in the Newark area will carry out both in a single visit, which avoids duplicate call-out charges. When booking, confirm that the electrician is qualified to conduct EICRs specifically - this requires formal electrical qualifications - as not every person offering PAT testing is also qualified to sign off an EICR.

What happens if my EICR comes back with a C1 or C2 code?

A C1 code means there is an immediate danger present - the electrician is obliged to make the installation safe before they leave. A C2 code means there is a potential danger that needs addressing, typically within 28 days. In both cases, you'll need remedial work before the report can be signed off as satisfactory. The remedial work is quoted separately from the inspection fee and is likely to be needed before a new tenant can legally move in.

Is PAT testing legally required for landlords in Newark?

There is no specific statutory regulation requiring landlords in Newark - or anywhere in England - to carry out PAT testing on a set schedule. However, landlords do have a general duty under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to ensure that electrical appliances supplied as part of a tenancy are safe. PAT testing provides documented evidence that you've met that duty. Letting agents in Nottinghamshire may also make it a contractual requirement, so check your management agreement.