Electrics and gas
Who does HSE say should work on a domestic gas appliance?
HSE says gas work should be done by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. A surveyor looking at a boiler is not that engineer, even if they are a member of RICS. The home survey does not include a gas tightness test, a flue gas analysis or a landlord gas safety record.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
The limit is deliberate. A visual survey can see a boiler, a flame-failure device it cannot test, and a flue terminal on the wall. It cannot say the appliance is safe. Gas Safe Register is the official list HSE points people to. An engineer’s qualification is also for classes of work, so “Gas Safe” on a van is not proof they are qualified for this LPG cooker or this commercial-size boiler. Ask for the right competence if you instruct them.
If the survey says the boiler was not tested, that is a limitation, not a clean bill of health and not a condemnation. The next step, if you need one before exchange, is a Gas Safe engineer with a written scope. Costs vary. RICS does not publish a national boiler-service price in the consumer guide, so do not borrow one from a forum.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Which appliances did you see, and which did you not test?
- Are you recommending a Gas Safe inspection, or only recording that services were not tested?
- Did you see anything, such as scorching or a damaged flue, that should be looked at before the appliance is used?
What are the typical next steps?
- If you need a safety check before exchange, instruct a Gas Safe engineer. Do not ask the surveyor to “just have a quick look” on the phone.
- Ask the seller for service records and read the dates. A record is history, not a guarantee, unless it says so.
- Do not light a suspect appliance on a second viewing to see if it runs.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Is a service in the last year the same as a tightness test?
Not unless the paperwork says those tests were done. Read the page. A stamp in a book is not a full list of tests.
Can a plumber who is not Gas Safe service the boiler?
HSE’s position is that gas work belongs with a Gas Safe registered engineer. Do not hire around that because a quote is cheaper.