Gas Safe Register: How to Check Your London Engineer and What to Look For
Gas Safe registration is the only legal requirement for gas work in the UK. Here is how to verify any engineer in seconds and what to check on their ID card.
Every year in the UK, people are injured or killed by gas work carried out by unregistered individuals. In London, where pressure to find quick and cheap trades can be intense, the temptation to accept a low quote without checking credentials is a genuine safety risk. Verifying Gas Safe registration takes under one minute and should be non-negotiable before any gas work begins in your home.
What the Gas Safe Register Is
The Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI registration in 2009 as the official UK list of engineers legally permitted to work on gas appliances. Registration is mandatory — it is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out gas work on a domestic property. The register is maintained by a body appointed by the Health and Safety Executive and covers England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Being on the Gas Safe Register means the engineer has demonstrated competence in gas safety to the required standard and holds valid insurance. The register is renewed annually, so an engineer who was registered last year may not be registered today.
How to Check in Under One Minute
Go to the Gas Safe Register website at gassaferegister.co.uk and use the "Check a Business or Engineer" search tool. You can search by the engineer name, company name, or their Gas Safe registration number. The search returns the current registration status, the date it was last renewed, and the specific gas appliances the engineer is qualified to work on.
You can also call 0800 408 5500 to verify by phone if you prefer.
Reading the Gas Safe ID Card
Every registered engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card. You have the right to ask to see it before they begin any work, and any legitimate engineer will hand it over without hesitation. Here is what to check:
- The holographic Gas Safe logo — this cannot be replicated convincingly by counterfeit cards
- The expiry date — cards are renewed annually, check it has not lapsed
- The photograph — confirm it matches the person in front of you
- The licence number — matches what is on the register website
- The back of the card — this is the critical section
Understanding the Back of the Card
The reverse of the Gas Safe card lists the specific appliance categories the engineer is qualified on. These are coded as letters and numbers. Common categories include:
- CCN1: Central heating boilers (the most common)
- CPA1: Domestic cookers
- CENWAT: Central heating and water heaters
- MET1: Meters and associated pipework
An engineer carrying out boiler installation or servicing must hold CCN1 or CENWAT. If the card does not list the relevant category, they are not legally permitted to carry out that work regardless of whether their overall registration is current.
If an Engineer Cannot Produce a Card
Politely but firmly do not allow work to begin. "I left it in the van" is not an acceptable response — licensed engineers keep their card accessible at all times during work. If they cannot or will not produce a valid card, contact Gas Safe Register to report the individual and find a registered alternative. This is not an overreaction — it is the minimum standard for protecting your household.
Reporting Illegal Gas Work
If you suspect gas work has been carried out in your property by an unregistered person — by a previous owner or an unknown tradesperson — contact Gas Safe Register to arrange an inspection. In London, the consequences of undiscovered illegal gas work in the property you purchase can be severe, and many mortgage surveys do not cover gas installation compliance in detail.