CORGI vs Gas Safe Register in London: What Changed and Why It Matters

CORGI to Gas Safe Register: A History

Many London homeowners still ask for a "CORGI registered" plumber, unaware that CORGI was replaced as the official gas registration body over fifteen years ago. Understanding what changed — and why it matters — helps you make better decisions when hiring anyone to work on gas in your property.

CORGI: The Original Registration Body (1970–2009)

The Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) was appointed by the Health and Safety Executive as the body responsible for maintaining the register of competent gas engineers in Great Britain from 1991, following the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994. Before 1991, there was no mandatory registration — any person could legally work on gas installations.

Under CORGI, gas engineers registered as a business or as individuals and were assessed for competency in specific appliance categories. CORGI carried out audit inspections and, in theory, removed incompetent engineers from the register. In practice, enforcement was criticised as inconsistent, and several high-profile incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning raised questions about the rigour of the system.

CORGI's contract as the appointed body was not renewed by the HSE. The contract was retendered and awarded to a new body.

Gas Safe Register: April 2009 Onwards

Gas Safe Register took over as the official gas registration body on 1 April 2009. It is appointed by the HSE under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and is a legal requirement — not a voluntary scheme. Every business and individual who works on gas in Great Britain must be on the Gas Safe Register.

The key differences from CORGI include:

• Competence-based qualification — engineers must demonstrate competency in each specific appliance type they are qualified to work on. A gas engineer qualified for domestic boilers is not automatically qualified to work on LPG appliances or gas fires.
• Annual reassessment — registration is renewed annually and requires evidence of continuing competence
• Photo ID card — every registered engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card showing their registration number, expiry date, and the specific appliance categories they are qualified for
• Increased enforcement powers — Gas Safe Register inspectors can attend gas incident scenes and have closer working relationships with the HSE enforcement regime

Why CORGI Certificates Are No Longer Valid

Since April 2009, only Gas Safe Register membership is legally recognised. A business or individual displaying CORGI logos is either using outdated marketing material or deliberately misleading customers. CORGI itself continues to exist as a training and certification organisation in other trade areas (plumbing, electrics), but it has no legal standing in gas work.

How to Verify a Gas Engineer in London

Before allowing any engineer to work on gas in your London property:

1. Ask to see their Gas Safe Register ID card. It includes a photo, registration number, and expiry date.
2. Verify the registration on the Gas Safe Register website (gassaferegister.co.uk) or call 0800 408 5500. Enter the registration number to confirm it is current and that the engineer is qualified for the specific work required.
3. Check that the appliance type listed on their card matches the work — for example, a boiler installation requires the "Central Heating Boiler" category.

It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out gas work in a London property. If work is carried out without Gas Safe registration, building control must be notified, the work is potentially unsafe, and insurance — including buildings and contents — may be invalidated. The Gas Safe Register hotline can be used to report suspected illegal gas work.