Homeowners Warned Of Risk From Unregistered Gas Work As Prosecutions Rise

The Health and Safety Executive has recorded a rise in prosecutions for illegal gas work, with 17 convictions since the start of 2025, and is warning households and businesses about the life threatening risks from unregistered engineers. The announcement comes during Gas Safety Week and includes details of recent prosecutions and practical checks the public should use before permitting anyone to work on gas appliances.

The Health and Safety Executive has issued a warning to families, homeowners and businesses after publishing figures that show 17 people convicted for carrying out gas work without registration since the start of 2025. HSE released the figures during Gas Safety Week, which runs from 14 to 20 September 2026, noting that there were three convictions in 2022 23 and four in 2023 24.

HSE emphasises that unqualified gas work can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Over the past five years the regulator has investigated and prosecuted dozens of people for working on gas appliances without being on the Gas Safe Register. Gas Safety Week brings together the gas industry, local authorities and landlords to promote simple safety checks and proper servicing.

Recent prosecutions illustrate the risks regulators encounter. One advertised under fake names and used a forged Gas Safe logo while doing gas work at five homes in the north east and elsewhere. He had previously been registered until 1 February 2024 but continued to carry out work after his registration ended. The court imposed an eight month custodial sentence suspended for two years and found his work to be sub standard and dangerous.

Two further cases show the immediate harm illegal gas work can cause. A man was jailed for 12 months after installing a boiler for a 90 year old homeowner without being registered, issuing a fraudulent gas safety certificate and ignoring an inspector notice that the installation was immediately dangerous. Another man received a 12 month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay costs after his installation caused three leaks that left a family without heating or hot water for six weeks. Both pleaded guilty to breaches of the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998.

HSE advises the public to verify an engineer is on the Gas Safe Register before allowing them to work on gas appliances by checking the register online, calling 0800 408 5500 or asking to see the engineer's Gas Safe ID card. HSEs Principal Inspector for Gas Safety, Steve Critchlow, who has more than 30 years experience and provides technical evidence in coronial and prosecution cases, is using Gas Safety Week to warn people to check credentials and to report suspected rogue traders so HSE can investigate and take enforcement action.

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