CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installers) was replaced by Gas Safe Register on 1 April 2009. Anyone still saying they are "CORGI registered" in 2026 is either massively out of touch or misleading you. Here is what actually matters.

Why the change happened

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) put the gas engineer registration contract out to tender in 2008. Capita won the contract. CORGI lost. From 1 April 2009, Gas Safe took over. Same technical standards, different administrator.

What Gas Safe does

  • Registers every gas engineer legally allowed to work on gas appliances in the UK
  • Assesses their technical competence (renewed every 5 years)
  • Publishes a searchable register
  • Investigates complaints and unsafe work
  • Can prosecute unregistered engineers

Legal requirement

Working on gas appliances without Gas Safe registration is a criminal offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Penalties include unlimited fines and up to 6 months in prison. It is not optional.

How to verify your engineer

Every Gas Safe engineer carries an ID card. Look at:

  • Front: Photo, name, registration number, expiry date. Check the photo matches the person.
  • Back: Categories of work they are qualified for. Boilers (CENWAT), cookers (COOKGAS), fires (CFGAS) are all separate. An engineer certified for cookers cannot service your boiler.

Cross-check at gassaferegister.co.uk using the registration number.

What if they say "CORGI registered"

In 2026 this is a red flag. It means either:

  • They stopped keeping their registration current in 2009 and are working illegally, or
  • They are pretending to be registered

Either way, do not let them touch your gas. It is your safety and, legally, you are the "responsible person" on the property.

Common Gas Safe categories

  • CENWAT: central heating and hot water (boilers)
  • COOKGAS: domestic cookers
  • CKR1: LPG cookers
  • CFGAS: gas fires and space heaters
  • CPA1: combustion performance analysis
  • WAT1: warm air heaters

Reporting an unsafe or unregistered engineer

Call Gas Safe on 0800 408 5500 or report online. They investigate every complaint and can prosecute.