Nine in ten homeowners are backing a ban on the sale of boilers to anyone who isn’t Gas Safe registered. The push for tighter restrictions comes as Gas Safety Week gets underway (8–14 September), backed by the Gas Safe Register, which urges households to protect their homes and loved ones by always checking tradesmen credentials.
According to the Gas Safe Register, around 250,000 gas jobs are carried out by unqualified individuals every year, with two-thirds deemed unsafe.
Beyond safety, the issue is also hugely costly, with customers typically facing bills of £400 or more to correct the faults, and tradespeople forced to fight for business against illegal fitters.
Despite the risks, a nationwide survey by ATAG Heating Technology found that one in six homeowners has never checked if their engineer is Gas Safe registered, raising concerns about the lack of public awareness for installer qualifications. A third said they would be more likely to verify credentials if the process were simpler.
A separate survey of Gas Safe installers, also conducted by ATAG, found that 82% are forced to fix unsafe jobs by unqualified fitters at least once every quarter, with nearly half warning that the faults pose a serious carbon monoxide risk.
Social media could be fuelling the problem, with 45% of illegal work promoted online, allowing unqualified traders to advertise with little oversight.
More than six in ten registered engineers believe the most effective solution is to restrict boiler sales to Gas Safe professionals only.
ATAG Heating Technology already refuses to sell boilers to non-registered gas engineers and is now calling on MPs to enforce tighter rules across the industry. It is urging the public and tradespeople who back the ban to sign a letter to Parliament in support of new legislation that would restrict access to gas-critical products and reduce the volume of illegal installations.
Kevin Treanor, Director of ATAG Heating Technology UK, said: “Illegal gas work doesn’t just pose a threat to installers, it endangers the lives of UK residents.
“Our engineers often report showing up to jobs with dangerously installed systems that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, or even explosions, and so seeing the data there in black and white confirms our concerns.
“The fact that over half of installers are never asked to show ID when attending a job shows just how vulnerable the current system is, and that we urgently need tougher safeguards to protect the public and uphold professional standards.
“We are really pleased that UK homeowners feel as strongly about this as we do, and are backing our call for change.”
The campaign has already garnered the support of leading industry bodies, including CORGI Services, who believe tougher restrictions are essential to protect homeowners and have a long track record of supporting carbon monoxide awareness groups.
Deborah Stephenson, Business Development Manager from CORGI Services, said: “CORGI Services stands firmly with ATAG Heating Technology in advocating for stricter regulations on the sale and installation of gas boilers. As the fundraising arm of the CO Research Trust, we wholeheartedly support ATAG’s campaign against illegal gas work.
“The safety of UK residents is paramount, and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly installed systems is both real and preventable. Ensuring that only Gas Safe registered engineers can purchase and install gas-critical products is a crucial step in protecting lives and preventing these potentially deadly tragedies.”
Government figures show that dozens of people lose their lives annually to carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty appliances.
For more information on how to get involved, visit ATAG Heating Technology’s website.
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