The Two Main Pieces of the Puzzle
EICR
The Electrical Installation Condition Report looks at the fixed wiring. That includes circuits, sockets, consumer unit and earthing. In many rented settings an EICR is expected at least every five years or sooner if the report recommends it. Holiday lets are often treated in a similar way by insurers and managing agents.
PAT Testing
Portable Appliance Testing focuses on items with plugs such as kettles, toasters, lamps and some heaters. There is no single legal interval for all holiday lets but regular checks are widely seen as good practice where guests use a lot of appliances.
What to Expect from an EICR
An EICR is carried out by a qualified electrician. They will inspect and test parts of the installation, then grade observations with codes that show what is urgent and what should be improved.
- Checks that protective devices and earthing are suitable for the way the property is used.
- Identification of damaged accessories such as cracked sockets or loose light fittings.
- Advice where old equipment such as fuse boxes or borrowed supplies no longer meet current expectations.
Your report will also state when the next inspection is recommended. Many owners choose to line this up with other safety work to reduce disruption.
Portable Appliances and Everyday Use
In a holiday let, guests move items, plug in their own devices and may not treat appliances as carefully as they would at home. A mix of PAT testing and simple visual checks keeps this manageable:
- Routine PAT testing for high use items such as kettles, toasters, irons and portable heaters in line with your electrician's advice.
- Regular visual checks at changeover for damage, scorch marks, trapped cables or unsafe multi plug adaptors.
- Removing unnecessary appliances that rarely get used but still need checking and replacing.
Extra attention for certain items
Hot tubs, garden lighting, outside sockets, EV charge points and electric heating systems often need closer electrical review. Speak to your electrician and insurer about what they expect for these.
Things We Often See in Devon Properties
Older cottages, coastal air and frequent guest changeovers create a few recurring themes across Okehampton, Dartmoor, Exeter, Torbay and the surrounding areas.
- Sockets and switches that have been over painted or loosened over time during redecoration.
- Consumer units upgraded in one part of the property while outbuildings or extensions remain on older arrangements.
- Extension leads used as a permanent solution in bedrooms and living rooms rather than installing extra sockets.
- Labels and documentation for previous EICR or PAT work stored only in a folder on site, with no digital copy for reference.
Simple Habits for Owners and Keyholders
You do not need to test the wiring yourself but small routines can make each professional visit more effective.
- Keep the front of the consumer unit clear and free of storage so it is easy to reach in an emergency.
- Note any repeated tripping of circuits in a log rather than resetting without thought. Share this with your electrician.
- Ask cleaners or keyholders to flag any damaged lamps, plugs or loose fittings at changeover so they can be replaced quickly.
- Store electrical certificates in a single digital folder alongside gas and fire safety records so the picture is always up to date.
Where Acacia Property Care Fits In
I do not carry out electrical installation work or PAT testing myself. That must be done by a competent electrician. My role is to make sure electrical safety does not sit in a separate pile from gas, fire and water hygiene.
As part of my wider Compliance Audit and ongoing oversight I help coordinate visits, gather certificates in one place and identify where information is missing or out of date. That way owners get a single, clear view of risk rather than separate pieces of paper.
If you would like electrical safety to be reviewed as part of a joined up picture that also covers CP12, fire precautions and general guest safety, my Holiday Let Compliance Audit service is often the best starting point.
Not sure if your holiday let is actually covered?
If you're unsure what's current (CP12, EICR, alarms, basic fire info), start with a quick compliance check. You'll get a clear status summary and the next actions in priority order.
Download the Free Compliance ChecklistLocal Dartmoor & Devon properties only. No hard sell — just a clear view of where you stand.