Gas Safe Registered Engineers Explained

We’ve created this guide to help you understand why using a Gas Safe engineer is important for all aspects of gas work (not just boiler installations and repairs).

• What is The Gas Safe Register?
• Gas Safe Registered Engineer Check
• Gas Safe Boiler Servicing & Gas Safety Certificates
• Landlord Gas Safety Responsibilities

What is The Gas Safe Register?

The Gas Safe Register is a registration body and was formed in 2009. This replaced the CORGI registration scheme which has now been discontinued. It ensures that gas work is carried out to certain standard.

It consists of over 120,000 registered businesses and more than 70,000 Gas Safe registered engineers.

Homeowners, tenants and landlords should only ever use a Gas Safe registered engineer to work on gas appliances. Any person that is not on the Gas Safe register and is deemed to have worked on gas appliances is breaking the law.

The register covers the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Guernsey.

It will investigate cases of unsafe gas work such as boiler installations and repairs, fire installation and the installation and repair of cookers. Even those on the register are liable to be reported, through a process called RIDDOR.

The Gas Safe Register does not prosecute unsafe or illegal engineers. However, it does collect information to create a case. Once they feel they have a solid case and need to prosecute, they pass on the information to Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

A recent study of 142,000 homes found that 1 in 6 had an unsafe gas appliance.

Gas Safe Registered Engineer Check

Before you employ an engineer, make sure you check their Gas Safe number. Each engineer should have an ID card which includes personal details and their unique ID number.

Don’t take their word for it. Check their Gas Safe number on the official register.

This is incredibly important. Firstly, you want the peace of mind that work is being completed to a high standard and is left 100% safe.

For landlords, if the engineer is not registered and there is a problem with gas appliances, they could be liable for not carrying out the appropriate checks.

Gas Safe Boiler Servicing & Gas Safety Certificates

Just like installations, a Gas Safe engineer needs to be used for boiler servicing and repairs. You’ll also need to run checks if they are offering to give a residential safety certificate, or a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate (CP12).

Again, you can check their number on the register within a matter of seconds.

As of today, all landlords need to be provided with paperwork for their servicing (a certificate).

However, this is not the case for residential homeowners. So, it’s worth bearing in mind you might have to ask for a Gas Safe certificate from your engineer after they have performed a service and relevant checks.

When the Gas Safe engineer provides you with the certificate, it should look something like this.

What is Included in a Gas Boiler Service

Before you employ a Gas Safe registered engineer for a boiler service, have a quick look through this list. The engineer should cover these points before ticking off your boiler, and giving you the document.

1. Notes regarding the current gas flue setup and any gas appliance that they have checked during their visit.
2. They should provide you with their name and Gas Safe registered number on a signed document once they have completed the checks. They should also write down your details on the form so there’s no confusion about where the checks were carried out.
3. Details of the appliances and flues that they tested, and the results of those tests.
4. In the event, there is a problem. The problem needs to be detailed. If immediate action needs to be taken to make an unsafe appliance safe, they should write this down.

Ask Your Engineer for These Additional Checks with Your Gas Boiler Service

Boiler safety is really the only necessary aspect of a boiler service. But, as an expensive appliance, you want to make sure it’s in good condition, and is likely to stay that way.

Therefore, we suggest asking a gas safe registered engineer to:

1. Make sure the boiler is not losing pressure. If it’s not, ensure it’s operating at the correct pressure.
2. Check gases coming out of the flue. This can be done using their gas analyser.
3. Check the boiler, flue and condensate for any blockages that could put extra pressure on the boiler.
4. Take the case off the boiler and run some quick visual checks. For instance, check to see the pump isn’t leaking.

How Much Does a Gas Safety Boiler Service and Certificate Cost?

Expect to pay…

Gas Boiler Service: £70-100

Gas Safety Certificate: £60-80

Landlord Gas Safety Responsibilities

Landlords need to ensure that their gas appliances and any pipe work is up to standard (installed and checked by registered engineers) before letting out a property. Each property needs to have its own certificate.

This means proper maintenance of:

1. Gas pipework.
2. Gas appliances
3. Flues

A Gas Safe registered engineer will need to come and perform gas safety checks and provide the landlord with a Landlord Gas Safe Certificate (CP12) every 12 months. Tenants have the right to have access to this certificate. They should be given it either:

1. Within 28 days of the safety checks being completed.
2. When they move into the property.

If you have any questions regarding Gas Safety, leave a comment below.