@Steve779 There is no obligation to have PAT Testing for Airbnb, in fact there is no law to say that anyone has to have anything PAT Tested at all, or even keep records. In law all you have to do is take reasonable care that your electrical items where staff or customers come in contact with them are safe. eg. secure plugs, good condition flexes, and the right fuse in the plug for the appliance.
Kettles, hoovers, hair dryers are the main culprits and generally fail because of dodgy (worn) flexes,, which can be obvious.
I'm glad you asked, we can bust some myths! Some firms try and tell potential customers that its a legal requirement when it isn't a legal requirement in the first place.
Even when items are tested stickers are not actually required.
Generally you'll get a certificate with a list of the items tested. Then if there is a claim or an accident you have proof that you took reasonable care by getting a competent person to check it all for you.
But you can visually check and inspect your appliances yourself, and you may as well keep a record just in case.
Some organisations have everything tested once a year, thinking this puts the responsibility on someone else if an accident or claim happens, and once a year is an easy one to remember, and easy peace of mind, and someone has to be responsible in an organisation for checking all this stuff, so they call in the test engineer.
A visual check is normally enough, plugs, flex and the item undamaged. And switch it on to make sure it works, but if you are a remote host or a letting agent you may as well get a local engineer to check the electrical items, or rely on your cleaner to check everything.
Going rate in Cornwall for (say) a holiday let with average number of items is still only around £30 these days, up to 20 items, the visual checks take longer than the electrical tests, and generally a fail is due to a frayed or damaged flex or plug, or a wrong fuse fitted (eg 13 amp plug/fuse on bedside lamp and easily fixed for pennies while you have the plug top off).
Contrary to some myths there is no set testing schedule. In theory it's just common sense. Some hand tools would be sensible at 6 or 12 months, more often for site tools or hire tools,some items can be 4 or 5 years. The more an item gets plugged/unplugged and the more portable it is the more often it needs checking, and the person who uses it just has to know (eg a the vacuum cleaner can be checked by the cleaner for flex and plug damage, likewise the iron, kettle, hair dryer).
New appliances don't need checking as they go straight into service from a factory and are compliant.
imho testing is pretty useful for sorting the good from the bad with some of the cheap Chinese electrical stuff and fakes, power supplies, phone chargers etc, but as long as you make sure your Airbnb guests kettles, toasters etc have proper moulded plugs, undamaged leads and are in good condition , and preferably not running on extension leads or double socket adapters you will have taken reasonable care.
Some good FAQs here https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm
