One third of UK adults have admitted not checking if the engineer working on their home’s gas appliances is doing so legally by being on the Gas Safe Register.
According to latest research figures by the registration body, it has completed 2,000 illegal gas work investigations in the space of three years. More than two thirds, 69%, were found to be unsafe – meaning the people living in the properties investigated were in potential danger from faulty gas work.
In 28% of cases, respondents believed they had correctly verified that their gas engineer was on the Gas Safe Register by noticing a logo on the engineer’s website or uniform. Others simply asked the engineer, 13%, rather than checking with the Gas Safe Register directly.
Findings also revealed a lack of understanding and an assumption that all engineers are registered, among 40%.
Some of those who let in an engineer without checking their registration information blamed being in a rush, 15%, or forgetting to ask, among 18%. ‘British politeness’ also stopped 14% of adults checking if their engineer was on the Gas Safe Register as they claimed they were too embarrassed to ask, a statement added.
Jonathan Samuel, CEO of Gas Safe Register, said: “Anyone working on gas appliances who is not on the Gas Safe Register is doing so illegally. Gas appliances can be dangerous if they’re not looked after, so it’s important to ensure they are serviced or fixed by someone who is legally registered and qualified to do so.”
In comparison, 18% of homeowners said they checked meter readers’ ID before letting them into their home, while 14% had consumed a drink given to them by a stranger and 11% admitted using an unlicensed mini cab without checking whether it was legitimate.