Overview
- The Health and Safety Executive says 17 people have been convicted for carrying out gas work illegally since the start of 2025, up from three in 2022/23 and four in 2023/24.
- The regulator has highlighted the rise in prosecutions as part of Gas Safety Week and is publicly urging householders to verify any engineer’s Gas Safe registration before permitting work on boilers, cookers or fires.
- A February 2024 case in South Cumbria found an unqualified fitter had installed a combi boiler that caused three gas leaks, left a family without heating and hot water for six weeks, and was judged 'Immediately Dangerous' by inspectors; the installer received a 12-month community order, 200 hours unpaid work and £2,000 costs.
- UK law requires anyone carrying out gas work to be listed on the Gas Safe Register under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and the public can check registration at the Gas Safe website, by calling 0800 408 5500 or by asking to see an engineer’s Gas Safe ID card.
- HSE says the enforcement surge reflects a stepped-up effort to deter rogue traders and protect households ahead of winter, with the regulator continuing to investigate and prosecute unsafe, unregistered gas work.