How to Check a Gas or Electrical Certificate Is Genuine

A PDF is easy to edit. A date can be changed, an engineer's details copied from an old certificate, or "satisfactory" ticked where it should not be. Most certificates are honest, but if you are a landlord, letting agent, buyer or tenant relying on one, it is worth a few minutes to check.

Warning signs

• Fonts or alignment that do not match around dates, addresses or results.
• A registration number that does not match the name on the certificate.
• An engineer who does not cover that type of work, such as a Gas Safe engineer not qualified for the appliance listed.
• Readings that are suspiciously round or identical across every circuit or appliance.
• No contact details, or a number that never answers.
• A certificate that came from the landlord or seller, not the contractor. That is not proof of anything, but it is a reason to check.

Step 1: check the engineer is registered

Gas certificates

Every gas engineer working legally in Great Britain must be on the Gas Safe Register. You can check an individual engineer online using the 7-digit licence number on their Gas Safe ID card, or check a business by its registration number or trading name. If you only have a name, email register@gassaferegister.co.uk. Check:

• The business registration number and engineer details on the certificate match the register. Engineer licence numbers change every year, so an older certificate may show a previous card number.
• The engineer is qualified for the type of appliance listed.
• The engineer was registered on the date of the check. The online register shows current status only, so contact Gas Safe Register if you need to confirm a past date.

Electrical certificates

There is no single register of electricians, but most belong to a government-authorised competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. Members can be searched on the Electrical Competent Person register, which covers England and Wales. Not being listed is not proof of a fake, since EICR inspectors do not have to be scheme members, but it is a reason to ask more questions.

Step 2: check the document has not been altered

Registration only proves the engineer exists. It does not prove this document is what they issued. You can:

• Ask the contractor. Ring the number from the register, not the one on the certificate, and confirm the date, address and result.
• Use a built-in check, if the certificate has one.

How CertBox makes this quick

Every certificate issued through CertBox carries a QR code. Scan it to reach the check page, drop the PDF in, and CertBox confirms whether it is a genuine certificate and whether the file has been changed since it was issued. No account is needed.

• Letting agents can check certificates from contractors and landlords without phoning anyone.
• Landlords can confirm a certificate handed over by a previous owner or agent is real.
• Building control and councils can check an electrical certificate on the spot.
• Tenants and buyers can check a certificate themselves in seconds.

Contractors gain too. When their certificates can be checked instantly, nobody needs to ring them to ask "is this one of yours?", and an edited copy fails the check as soon as anyone runs it.

Step 3: check the content makes sense

Even a genuine certificate can be wrong. A quick sense check:

• Address: is it the right property, including the flat number?
• Dates: gas checks are yearly. EICRs for rented homes are usually due within five years, but follow the date on the report.
• Scope: does the CP12 list every gas appliance you know about? Does the EICR note any limits, such as rooms that could not be reached?
• Outcome: is an EICR marked "unsatisfactory"? Any C1, C2 or FI on a rented home means the landlord must arrange remedial or investigative work within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. EICR codes explained.

What to do if you suspect a fake

• Do not rely on it. Treat the property as uncertified and arrange a fresh inspection.
• Report suspected illegal gas work or misuse of an engineer's details to Gas Safe Register (0800 408 5500 or its online form). Report a landlord who fails to provide a valid gas safety record to HSE.
• Report electrical concerns to the scheme the electrician claims to belong to.
• If a tenant's safety is at risk, contact the council's private housing team.

Frequently asked questions

Can I check a certificate from a photo?

You can check the engineer's registration from a photo. To confirm the document has not been altered, you need the original file or a copy the contractor confirms. With CertBox, that is the PDF plus the QR code.

Is a scanned paper certificate valid?

A scan of a genuine signed certificate is fine as a copy. It is just harder to check than a certificate issued digitally.

Does the CertBox check work for every trade?

Yes. Every certificate issued through CertBox has a QR code, whether it is a gas, electrical, fire, plumbing or other certificate.

Sources

Checked against these on 2026-10-20.

• Gas Safe Register: Check an engineer
• Gas Safe Register: Check a business
• Gas Safe Register: Report suspect gas work
• GOV.UK: Competent person schemes
• Electrical Competent Person register: About us
• GOV.UK: Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors, guidance
• HSE: Gas safety record for landlords

Corrected and updated 2026-10-20. This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always refer to the relevant standards and consult qualified professionals for definitive requirements.