How do I check a gas engineer is on the Gas Safe Register?
The short answer
Ask to see the engineer's Gas Safe ID card. Check the photo, licence number, expiry date and security hologram on the front, then turn it over to confirm they are qualified for your type of appliance. Finally, search the licence number on the Gas Safe Register website or call 0800 408 5500.
Key points
- By law, anyone working on gas in your home must be on the Gas Safe Register.
- The front of the card shows the photo, licence number, start and expiry dates and a hologram.
- The back shows which types of gas work the engineer is qualified to do.
- You can search the register online or call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.
Why the register matters
Gas Safe Register is the official list of businesses and engineers legally allowed to work on gas appliances in Great Britain. Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, it is illegal for anyone who is not registered to fit, repair or service a gas boiler, fire or cooker. Poor gas work can cause fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, so this is the one check you should never skip.
What to check on the front of the card
- Photo. Does it match the person at your door?
- Licence number. A unique number you can check on the register.
- Start and expiry dates. The card must be in date.
- Security hologram. A genuine card has one.
- Business name. The engineer should work for the business you booked.
What to check on the back
The back of the card lists the categories of gas work the engineer is currently qualified for, such as boilers, cookers, fires or meters. An engineer qualified for cookers is not automatically qualified to work on your boiler. If your appliance type is not listed, ask them to stop and book someone who is.
Landlords booking a gas safety certificate should make sure the engineer is qualified for every appliance in the flat.
How to search the register
- Go to the Gas Safe Register website and choose the option to check an engineer.
- Enter the licence number from the card, or the business registration number from the quote.
- Confirm the name and the qualifications shown match the card.
- If you cannot get online, call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.
When we built our ranked table of Glasgow gas engineers, we gave the highest registration score only to firms we could confirm directly on the register.
If something is not right
Do not let the work start. If you think someone has already done illegal gas work in your home, or a landlord has used an unregistered fitter, report it to Gas Safe Register. If you smell gas, leave the property, do not use switches, and call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999.
If you are booking a service, our guide on how often to service a boiler explains what a proper service includes.
Questions
Is a plumber automatically Gas Safe registered?
No. Plumbing and gas are separate. Many plumbers are also Gas Safe registered, but you must check, especially before any work on a boiler, fire or cooker.
Does Gas Safe registration cover the business or the engineer?
Both. The business is registered, and each engineer holds a personal ID card showing what they are qualified to do.
What replaced CORGI?
Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as the official gas registration body in 2009. A CORGI logo on its own is out of date.
Can I check a gas engineer after the job?
Yes, and you should if you did not check beforehand. If the engineer was not registered, report it and have the work checked by a registered engineer.
Sources
- Gas Safe Register (opens in a new tab)
- nidirect: Gas Safe Register ID card guidance (opens in a new tab)
- Checkatrade: how to tell if your gas engineer is working legally (opens in a new tab)
- legislation.gov.uk: Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (opens in a new tab)
This guide is general information about Glasgow and Scotland, checked on 3 November 2026. Prices and rules change, so confirm anything important with the organisation named before you act.
