Does a two-person flat share need a Tower Hamlets licence?

No. The council says two people forming two households do not need a licence. While the selective scheme ran, that exemption did not apply in Weavers, Whitechapel, and Spitalfields and Banglatown, but the scheme ended on 30 September 2026. A third sharer from another household brings the flat into additional licensing anywhere in the borough.

Is PAT Testing a legal requirement for landlords in Tower Hamlets?

PAT Testing is not a named legal requirement, but the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 require landlords in Tower Hamlets to ensure all electrical appliances they supply are safe. PAT Testing is the recognised way to demonstrate compliance, and most landlord insurance policies specifically require it for furnished properties.

How much does PAT Testing cost in Tower Hamlets?

PAT Testing in Tower Hamlets starts from £59.99 for up to 10 appliances. 10–15 appliances cost £69.99, and larger portfolios are priced per appliance band up to 50 appliances. The only location-based surcharge is £20 for properties within the London Congestion Charge Zone, and £10 if no free on-site parking is available.

How often should PAT Testing be carried out in Tower Hamlets?

Annually is widely recommended, and at the start of every new tenancy. For HMOs in Tower Hamlets, where appliances are used more intensively and by more people, annual testing is effectively the minimum. Higher-risk properties may benefit from testing every six months.

What does a PAT test involve?

Our engineer visually inspects every portable electrical appliance for damage, then carries out electrical safety tests including earth continuity, insulation resistance and — where applicable — a functional check. Every appliance receives a pass or fail label, and you receive a full asset register listing every item tested and its result.

Do I need to be at the property for PAT Testing?

No. A tenant, keyholder or letting agent can provide access. The engineer needs access to every appliance being tested. We confirm the engineer's arrival window by text in advance.

Accredited PAT Testers · Certificate Within 24 Hours · Tower Hamlets

PAT Testing Tower Hamlets — from £59.99

Portable Appliance Testing for landlords in Tower Hamlets. Accredited testers, fixed pricing, no hidden charges — full asset register and certificate emailed within 24 hours.

Postcodes covered: E14, E1, E3, E2, E1W. Next-day appointments available — book online in under 3 minutes.

from£59.99

Book PAT testing in Tower Hamlets — from £59.99 View pricing

From: £59.99
Appliances: up to 50
Certificate: within 24 hours
Register: full asset register included

What is PAT Testing?

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is the inspection and testing of portable electrical appliances — anything with a plug, from kettles and toasters to washing machines and lamps — to confirm they are safe to use. Our engineer visually inspects each appliance for damage, then carries out electrical safety tests including earth continuity and insulation resistance.

While not a named legal requirement, PAT Testing is the recognised way for landlords in Tower Hamlets to demonstrate they have met their duty of care under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. Most landlord insurance policies specifically require it for furnished lets.

Insurance note: PAT Testing is not a named legal minimum, but landlords in Tower Hamlets should check their buildings and contents insurance policy — many insurers will refuse a claim arising from a faulty appliance if you cannot produce a current PAT certificate.

PAT Testing in Tower Hamlets — local property context

Tower Hamlets has the highest share of post-2000 housing in London: 44.8% of its homes, against 17.9% across the capital. Just 8.8% of households live in terraced houses, and pre-1900 buildings make up 10.7% of the stock, about half the London level. Four in five households live in purpose-built flats, and 3.5% in flats carved out of former warehouses, schools or churches.

Private renting is the borough's largest tenure, at 38.2% of households in 2021 against 30.0% for London, with additional HMO licensing borough-wide until March 2029. Our accredited PAT testers regularly test furnished lets and HMOs across the E14, E1, E3, E2, E1W postcode areas, and carry out PAT Testing across Tower Hamlets for private landlords, letting agents and HMO operators.

Postcodes covered in Tower Hamlets

E14, E1, E3, E2, E1W and surrounding areas. Enter your full postcode during booking to confirm coverage and availability.

PAT testing as proof for a Tower Hamlets licence condition

Every Tower Hamlets property licence includes a condition requiring proof that the electrical appliances and furniture supplied are kept safe. For the appliances, a dated PAT record listing each landlord-supplied item is the clearest proof you can hold.

Keep the furniture evidence in the same file as the PAT record, so one folder answers the whole condition when the licensing team asks. Retest after replacing a kettle, heater or washing machine.

Property licensing in Tower Hamlets

Additional Licensing Scheme 2023 Designation
Additional HMO · In force
Applies to:
Homes, including flats, shared by 3 or more people from 2 or more households who share a kitchen or bathroom; resident landlords with more than 2 lodgers; and flats of 5 or more sharers in purpose-built blocks of 3 or more flats
Area:
Whole borough
Period:
1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029
Mandatory HMO licensing
Mandatory HMO · In force
Applies to:
HMOs of 5 or more people from 2 or more households, whatever the number of storeys, and flats of 5 or more sharers in buildings of up to two flats, including flats above or below shops. Each qualifying flat needs its own licence
Area:
Whole borough
Period:
Ongoing (national scheme)
Selective licensing (Weavers, Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Banglatown)
Selective · Expired
Applies to:
Homes let to one household or to 2 sharers. No new applications after 30 September 2026; licences already issued stay valid, with their conditions, until they expire
Area:
Weavers, Whitechapel, and Spitalfields and Banglatown wards
Period:
1 October 2021 to 30 September 2026

Checked October 2026. Schemes and fees change, so confirm the current position on the Tower Hamlets Council licensing page.

Households renting privately: 38.2% (London 30.0%); Census 2021
Households in purpose-built blocks of flats: 80.7% (London 40.3%); Census 2021
Homes built in 2000 or later: 44.8%, the highest share in London (London 17.9%); VOA 2025
Conservation areas: 58; Tower Hamlets Council

Sources

PAT Testing pricing in Tower Hamlets

Fixed pricing by number of appliances. The same prices apply in Tower Hamlets as across all other London boroughs — no London surcharge. The only location-based fee is the £20 Congestion Charge Zone addition for central London properties.

PAT Testing — Tower Hamlets pricing

Description	Price
Up to 10 AppliancesCheapest	£59.99Book
10–15 Appliances	£69.99Book
15–20 Appliances	£79.99Book
20–25 Appliances	£99.99Book
25–30 Appliances	£129.99Book
30–35 Appliances	£169.99Book
35–40 Appliances	£199.99Book
40–45 Appliances	£229.99Book
45–50 Appliances	£259.99Book

Additional charges (where applicable)

Parking charge if no free on-site parking is available: £10
Properties in the London Congestion Charge Zone: £20

Want the full service page? See our full PAT Testing page →

What's included from £59.99

Every PAT Testing visit we carry out in Tower Hamlets covers up to 10 appliances at no extra cost beyond the price shown.

Visual inspection of every portable appliance for damage or wear
Earth continuity and insulation resistance testing
Functional check where applicable
Pass/fail label applied to every appliance tested
Full asset register listing every appliance and its result
Accredited PAT tester — fully qualified and insured
Digital certificate emailed within 24 hours
Faulty appliances flagged with a clear recommendation

PAT Testing Tower Hamlets — frequently asked questions

Other landlord certificates in Tower Hamlets

We also cover these landlord certificates in Tower Hamlets:

EICR

in Tower Hamlets

Gas Safety

in Tower Hamlets

EPC

in Tower Hamlets

FRA

in Tower Hamlets

Commercial EICR

in Tower Hamlets

Electrical Diagnostic

in Tower Hamlets

Fuse Box

in Tower Hamlets

Emergency Lights

in Tower Hamlets

Commercial Gas (CP42)

in Tower Hamlets

Boiler Installation

in Tower Hamlets

Fire Safety Cert

in Tower Hamlets

Fire Alarm Install

in Tower Hamlets

Fire Door Cert

in Tower Hamlets

Extinguisher Testing

in Tower Hamlets

Commercial EPC

in Tower Hamlets

Asbestos Survey

in Tower Hamlets

Legionella

in Tower Hamlets

Managing an HMO in Tower Hamlets? See all HMO compliance certificates →

PAT Testing in nearby boroughs

We cover all 33 London boroughs. See PAT Testing pricing and booking for areas near Tower Hamlets:

PAT Testing Hackney

from £59.99 · N16, E8, E5 …

PAT Testing Newham

from £59.99 · E6, E16, E15 …

PAT Testing Southwark

from £59.99 · SE1, SE15, SE16 …

Book your PAT Testing in Tower Hamlets

Book online in under 3 minutes. An accredited PAT tester confirms your appointment. Certificate emailed within 24 hours.

Next-day appointments across Tower Hamlets and all 33 London boroughs.

Book PAT Testing in Tower Hamlets — from £59.99

Fixed pricing. No hidden charges. Accredited testers. Certificate emailed within 24 hours.