Any engineer working on gas appliances in your home for payment must be on the Gas Safe Register. It is the official list of businesses legally allowed to carry out gas work in Great Britain, and checking an engineer takes a couple of minutes.
Here is what to look for and how to check.
Why it matters
Gas work that is done badly can lead to gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. That is why the law requires businesses doing gas work to be registered, and why the register exists. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer should work on gas boilers, fires, cookers and hobs.
Being registered means the engineer has shown they are qualified for the work they do. It does not cover every type of gas work automatically, which is where the ID card comes in.
Ask to see the ID card
Every engineer on the Gas Safe Register carries an ID card with their own unique licence number. RoSPA advises asking to see it, and checking both sides, before any gas work starts. A genuine engineer will not mind being asked.
The front of the card
The front shows the engineer's photo, their licence number, the card's start and expiry dates and a security hologram. Check that the photo matches the person in front of you and that the card has not expired.
The back of the card
The back of the card lists the types of gas appliance the engineer is qualified to work on. Not every gas engineer can work on every gas appliance. Someone qualified for boilers may not be qualified for gas fires or cookers, for example, so check the card covers the job you need doing.
Check the register
You can check any engineer or business on the Gas Safe Register website at GasSafeRegister.co.uk, or by calling the free helpline on 0800 408 5500. On the website you can check an engineer by the licence number on their card, or search by postcode to find registered engineers near you.
Other things worth checking
- Paperwork. After a new boiler is fitted, you should receive a certificate confirming the work complies with Building Regulations. Government guidance says to contact the scheme operator if it has not arrived within 30 days
- Landlord certificates. If you rent, your landlord's gas safety record should be signed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Our guide to the landlord gas safety certificate explains what it should include
- Other qualifications. Some heating work needs more than Gas Safe registration. Unvented hot water cylinders, for example, need the separate G3 qualification
Warning signs
Be wary of anyone who:
- Cannot or will not show a Gas Safe ID card
- Offers a much cheaper price for doing gas work off the books
- Suggests you fit or connect a gas appliance yourself to save money
- Leaves without testing the appliance or explaining what they have done
If you think gas work in your home has been done by someone who is not registered, you can report it to Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500 or through its website. If you are worried an appliance is unsafe, stop using it. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Our carbon monoxide safety guide covers the signs to look out for.
Working with Gary
Gary is a Gas Safe registered engineer and is also G3 certified for unvented cylinders. He is happy to show his ID card on every visit. You deal with him from the first phone call to the finished job, so the person who quotes is the person who does the work.
He fits cookers, hobs and other appliances through his gas appliance installation service, and carries out boiler servicing and landlord gas safety checks across Cheltenham, Quedgeley, Gloucester and nearby. Call 07454 117678 or get in touch.