When it comes to gas safety, getting the right people for the job isn’t simply good practice. It’s essential.
That’s why one of the key messages during Gas Safety Week 2026 is to avoid illegal gas workers and always use a Gas Safe registered engineer who is appropriately qualified for the work being carried out.
For homeowners, landlords and businesses, that means knowing who is working on gas appliances and installations and checking their credentials.
But for developers, there’s a wider lesson too.
Safe and successful gas infrastructure depends on having the right expertise involved throughout a project, from early planning and coordination through to installation and connection.
Competence shouldn't be assumed
It can be easy to assume that somebody carrying out gas work has the appropriate qualifications, particularly if they appear experienced or have been recommended.
But assumptions have no place when safety is involved.
The scale of the issue demonstrates why checks matter. Gas Safe Register received 1,048 reports regarding unregistered fitters in 2023/24. During the same reporting period, 457 site investigations into unregistered gas work were undertaken, with 924 defects attributed to unregistered fitters.
Those figures reinforce a simple but important message: don’t assume. Check.
Anyone carrying out gas work must be Gas Safe registered and hold the relevant qualifications to demonstrate their competence. It’s also important to check that an engineer is qualified for the particular type of gas work being undertaken.
For developers, the consequences can extend beyond the immediate work
On a development, utility infrastructure rarely exists in isolation.
Gas connections and infrastructure need to fit within a wider programme involving multiple contractors, utilities, construction phases and deadlines. Work that isn’t completed correctly can therefore have consequences beyond the individual task.
Poor-quality or non-compliant work can introduce serious safety risks while potentially resulting in remedial works, disruption, additional costs and delays elsewhere in the programme.
And recent enforcement action shows why simply taking someone’s credentials at face value isn’t enough.
In February 2026, the Health and Safety Executive prosecuted an individual who had never been Gas Safe registered after dangerous gas work put a 90-year-old homeowner at risk. The engineer had been sent to install a boiler by a contracted company after claiming he was qualified, but HSE found the company had made no attempt to verify his Gas Safe registration before sending him to undertake the work.
It’s a particularly important reminder for organisations appointing contractors: competence should be verified, not assumed.
The hidden cost of cutting corners
When development programmes are under pressure, finding ways to save time or money can understandably be tempting.
But gas infrastructure isn’t an area where corners should ever be cut.
Gas Safe Register’s Decade Review found that, among respondents who believed gas safety had worsened, 79% cited customers trying to save money or get work done cheaply, while 63% pointed to more illegal gas fitters as a reason.
Choosing the cheapest or quickest option isn’t necessarily choosing the right one.
A shortcut that appears to save time or money at one stage of a project could ultimately result in remedial work and additional costs, disruption to construction programmes, delays to project milestones, increased safety and compliance risks, and reputational consequences for those involved.
Working with experienced professionals and trusted partners provides greater confidence that requirements have been considered properly from the beginning.
Safe infrastructure starts before anyone arrives on site
Gas safety isn’t only about what happens when an engineer begins work.
Good utility delivery starts much earlier.
It means understanding a development’s requirements, planning infrastructure correctly, identifying responsibilities, coordinating different stakeholders and ensuring the right people are carrying out the right work at the right time.
That combination of planning, competence and accountability helps create infrastructure that isn’t simply connected, but delivered safely and correctly.
The right utility partner matters too
At CSG Utilities, we believe successful utility delivery is about more than simply getting a service to site.
It’s about having the right expertise around the table from the outset, understanding the requirements of the development and coordinating effectively with everyone involved in bringing that infrastructure forward.
For developers, that means greater visibility, clearer accountability and confidence that utility requirements are being managed with safety and compliance in mind.
Because when you’re dealing with essential infrastructure, the right expertise matters.
Take no chances with gas safety
Gas Safety Week is an important reminder for everyone, from homeowners and landlords to businesses and developers, that gas work should never be left to chance.
If you’re having gas work carried out, always check that the engineer is Gas Safe registered and appropriately qualified for the work they’re undertaking.
And when you’re planning utilities for a new development, choose partners who put competence, coordination and compliance at the heart of delivery.
Planning a development?
Talk to CSG Utilities about how we can support your utility requirements from initial planning through to connection.
