Gas Safe Register: How to Check an Engineer's Credentials
Using an unregistered gas engineer is illegal and dangerous. Here is how to check a London engineer's Gas Safe registration before allowing any gas work to be carried out.
It is a criminal offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 for anyone other than a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out gas work on domestic gas appliances. Gas Safe replaced CORGI as the official UK gas registration body in 2009, and every engineer legally permitted to work on gas in the UK must be registered and carry a valid Gas Safe ID card. Checking registration before allowing anyone to work on your gas appliances is not just good practice — it is essential for your safety and legal compliance.
How to check on the Gas Safe Register website
The simplest way to verify an engineer is to check the Gas Safe Register online at gassaferegister.co.uk. You can search by the engineer's name, business name or — most reliably — their Gas Safe licence number. The search returns the engineer's registration status, the types of work they are qualified to carry out and the expiry date of their registration.
Asking to see the Gas Safe ID card
Every Gas Safe registered engineer carries a photo ID card. You have every right to ask to see it before any work begins. The card shows:
- The engineer's name and photo
- Their unique Gas Safe licence number
- The type of gas work they are qualified to carry out (shown on the reverse)
- The expiry date of the registration
Check the reverse of the card carefully — not every Gas Safe engineer is qualified for every type of gas work. The card lists the specific appliance types the engineer is qualified to work on (domestic boilers, LPG appliances, commercial catering equipment and so on). An engineer qualified for domestic work only should not be carrying out commercial gas work.
Why does this matter for landlords?
A gas safety certificate issued by an unregistered engineer is worthless. If the engineer is not Gas Safe registered, the inspection they carry out has no legal standing and the certificate cannot be used to meet your statutory obligations as a landlord. More importantly, gas work carried out by unqualified individuals is a genuine risk to life. Carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty gas appliances causes multiple deaths in London every year.
How to find a Gas Safe engineer in London
Use the Gas Safe Register's own find-an-engineer tool at gassaferegister.co.uk/find-an-engineer, or use a trusted local contractor who publishes their Gas Safe registration number. When getting quotes, always ask for the registration number before booking — any legitimate engineer will provide it willingly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an engineer is Gas Safe registered?
Check at gassaferegister.co.uk using the engineer's name or licence number. You can also ask to see their Gas Safe ID card before work begins.
What is the Gas Safe licence number?
A unique identifier on the engineer's Gas Safe ID card. You can use this number to verify the engineer's registration status and qualifications on the Gas Safe Register website.
Can I use CORGI registered engineers?
No — CORGI registration was replaced by Gas Safe in 2009. Any engineer calling themselves CORGI registered is not using current credentials. Only Gas Safe registered engineers are legally permitted to carry out domestic gas work in the UK.
Is it illegal to use an unregistered gas engineer?
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, it is a criminal offence for any person other than a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out work on domestic gas fittings.