How do I find a qualified contractor?

The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting acts as the regulatory body for electrical safety matters in the UK . Over 10,500 contractors have approved status, and there is likely to be one operating in your area. You can locate an Approved Contractor by searching the Roll of Approved Contractors using your postcode, or by searching for a specific name. Alternatively, you can verify whether an electrician in your area is sufficiently competent to carry out work by searching the on line register of the Local Authority Building Control.

What questions should I ask before work starts?

Quantify how many appliances need to be inspected and tested. Establish a time frame and cost quote for the work. Contractors will typically be able to test 15-25 appliances per hour, depending on the environment and access issues.

• Does the contractor employ fully trained and qualified electricians? It is preferable for employees to hold a City and Guilds certificate in Portable Appliance Testing.
• Is the contractor enrolled with the NICEIC or the Institution of Electrical Technology (IET) - the industry body that advises the government on PAT testing policy?
• Does the contractor have public liability insurance?
• Will you receive a guarantee for the work, a certificate of Electrical Safety and an inspection report?
• What is covered by your quote? Is any necessary remedial action included in the price?

How much will it cost?

Specialist equipment is needed to carry out electrical appliance testing A DIY approach may seem attractive, and it certainly does no harm to carry out visual inspections yourself, but it can be a false economy.

A PAT tester can be hired for approximately £50-70 per week, which would allow you to test the appliances in a household quite adequately. If you have many electrical items or run a business from your property (and thus have a statutory duty to protect employees from potential injury), then a DIY approach is less suitable. Testing may be needed every three months on some items, so you would need to fund the cost of hiring or buying PAT Testing Equipment (£350 - £900 to buy) and attending a PAT course (typical fee of £250 + VAT). Add to this the time taken to actually carry out the testing and you could be looking at double the cost of employing a contractor.

A customer with 400 electrical items would expect to pay around £1000 annually for electrical testing. Many companies offer on-line or over-the-phone quotes. Pick a PAT tester that meets your needs – some will be happy to carry out testing for a single household while others offer lower prices but require a minimum volume of appliances.

The cost of remedial action – if a dangerous or faulty appliance is discovered – may add to this cost. The problem most frequently discovered by an electrician, however, is a loose connection. While this can lead to electrical fires or electric shock, it is also very quick and easy to put right, and will barely increase costs.