How to Find a Gas Safe Registered Engineer in London
Only Gas Safe registered engineers are legally permitted to work on gas appliances in the UK. This guide explains how to verify registration, what to ask, and how to avoid rogue traders.
Why Registration Matters
Gas work in the UK is legally restricted to engineers on the Gas Safe Register. Working on a gas appliance without registration is a criminal offence. Using an unregistered engineer can also void your home insurance, invalidate appliance warranties, and leave you liable if anything goes wrong.
How to Check the Gas Safe Register
The Gas Safe Register is the official list of qualified gas engineers in the UK. You can search it at gassaferegister.co.uk by entering an engineer's name, their licence number, or their company name. This confirms whether they are currently registered.
What to Check on the ID Card
Every Gas Safe registered engineer carries an ID card. Before any gas work starts, ask to see it and check:
- Front: the engineer's name, photo, registration number and expiry date
- Back: the appliance types they are qualified to work on (domestic gas, commercial gas, LPG, etc.)
Qualification codes on the back are important — an engineer registered for domestic gas boilers is not necessarily qualified to work on commercial catering equipment.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
- Are you on the Gas Safe Register and can you provide your registration number?
- Are you qualified for domestic gas appliances?
- Will you provide a written quote before starting work?
- Will you issue a gas safety certificate (CP12) after completing the inspection?
Red Flags to Avoid
- Any engineer who refuses to show their ID card
- Quotes that seem unusually cheap — often a sign of upselling scams
- Pressure to agree to immediate expensive work without a written quote
- Cash-only payments with no paperwork
- No fixed business address or traceable online presence
Reviews and Verified Platforms
Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Which Trusted Traders all require member businesses to hold relevant qualifications. Reviews on these platforms are verified by the platform, which adds a layer of accountability that general Google reviews do not provide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check if an engineer is Gas Safe registered online?
Yes — the Gas Safe Register website at gassaferegister.co.uk allows you to search by engineer name, licence number or company. You can also call 0800 408 5500 to verify.
What qualifications should a boiler engineer have?
For domestic gas boilers the engineer needs ACS (Accredited Certification Scheme) qualifications, typically CCN1 (core domestic) plus the relevant appliance qualification (CENWAT for boilers). These should be reflected in their Gas Safe registration.
Does Gas Safe cover LPG appliances?
Gas Safe covers LPG as well as natural gas but engineers must hold specific LPG qualifications. Always check the back of the engineer's ID card confirms the appliance type and gas type you need.
Is a Gas Safe certificate the same as a gas safety certificate?
No. Gas Safe is the registration body. A gas safety certificate (also called a CP12) is the annual inspection record issued after a landlord gas safety check. An engineer must be Gas Safe registered to issue a CP12.