Short answer: No. Connecting a gas hob is gas work, and in Great Britain gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Gas Safe Register also says it is illegal for an unregistered person to fit a gas appliance and then have a registered engineer check it afterwards. You can prepare the space, but not make the gas connection.
The rule in one paragraph
A gas hob is a gas appliance, and connecting it to the supply is gas work. In Great Britain that work must be done by someone on the Gas Safe Register. Gas Safe Register’s home improvement advice goes further: it is illegal for someone who is not registered to fit a gas appliance and then have the work checked by a registered engineer. Both people would be breaking the law. So “I’ll fit it and get someone to sign it off” is not an option.
Being registered is also tied to the type of appliance. The Gas Safe ID card lists work categories on the back. For hobs and ovens you need the “Cooker” category. For range cookers you need “Range Cookers”. Our guide on checking a gas engineer on the Gas Safe Register shows what to look for.
Why people ask
Hobs look simple. Many come with a short connection pipe, and online videos make it look like a ten minute job. In north London the question usually comes up during a kitchen refit, when the fitter has finished the units and the worktop and there is a hob sitting in its box.
The parts that make it gas work are the ones you cannot see from the worktop:
- The connection must be made with the right fittings for that hob and that pipe.
- The whole installation must be tested for gas tightness afterwards.
- Burner pressures and flame picture need checking on the new hob.
- Any other gas appliances, such as the boiler, need relighting and checking after the gas has been off.
A leak at a fitting under a worktop can sit unnoticed in a closed cupboard. That is the real risk.
What you can do yourself
| Job | Can you do it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Measure and cut the worktop opening | Yes | Follow the hob template and the manufacturer’s clearances |
| Fit units and the worktop | Yes | Leave access to the gas pipe below |
| Place the hob in the opening | Yes, without connecting | Do not touch or loosen the gas pipe |
| Connect the hob to the gas pipe | No | Gas Safe registered engineer only |
| Test for leaks and commission | No | Gas Safe registered engineer only |
| Disconnect the old gas hob | No | Gas Safe guidance says only a registered engineer |
| Wire the ignition spark supply | Electrician or engineer, depending on the job | Most gas hobs need a small electrical supply for ignition |
If your old hob needs removing first, that is gas work too. Our guide to gas cooker disconnection covers it.
Rules that matter more in flats
Many homes in Camden and Tower Hamlets are flats. Tower Hamlets says 81% of its households live in purpose built flats. Gas Safe’s cooker guide sets out some points that apply to cooking appliances:
- Brand new gas cookers fitted in flats must have a flame supervision device. This cuts the gas to a burner if the flame goes out.
- Freestanding cookers with a high level grill need at least 610 mm of clear space above the grill, unless the instructions say otherwise.
- Freestanding cookers need 20 mm clearance to the units on each side, or as the instructions say.
For built in hobs, the manufacturer’s instructions set the clearances to walls, shelves and extractor hoods. An engineer will check these before connecting, and may refuse to connect if the hob is too close to something that could catch fire.
In a converted Victorian flat in Camden, Kentish Town or Gospel Oak, the gas meter may be in a basement or shared cupboard. The engineer needs to turn the supply off there, so tell them where it is when you book.
Landlords
If you let a flat and provide the hob, it is part of your landlord gas duties. HSE says all maintenance and repairs must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and a new hob should be included in the next annual check. HSE also allows a one off flexibility of up to two months to line up a new appliance’s first check with the rest of the property. The landlord gas safety certificate page explains the yearly record.
What a professional fit involves
- The engineer checks the hob type, the gas type (natural gas or LPG) and the position against the instructions.
- The gas is isolated.
- The hob is connected with suitable fittings.
- The installation is tested for tightness.
- Each burner is lit and the flame picture checked: crisp and blue, not floppy and yellow.
- Other appliances are relit and checked.
- You are shown how the controls and any safety cut out work.
Booking
London Gas Engineers fits gas hobs and cookers across north and east London as part of our gas cooker and hob installation service. Send us the make and model of the hob, a photo of the space below the worktop and the postcode, and we will confirm the price once we have seen what is there.
Quick questions
Can my kitchen fitter connect the hob?
Only if the fitter is personally Gas Safe registered and their ID card shows the Cooker category. Many kitchen fitters are not, so ask to see the card and check it on the Gas Safe Register website before they touch the gas.
Do I get a certificate for a new gas hob?
Gas Safe Register says the Building Regulations do not require a new gas hob or oven to be notified. An engineer may choose to notify it, in which case you receive a Declaration of Safety, but that is optional. Flued range cookers are the exception and should be notified.
Can I fit the hob into the worktop and leave the gas connection to an engineer?
You can do the carpentry and place the hob, as long as nobody touches the gas pipe or makes any connection. The engineer still needs to check the hob is installed to the manufacturer's instructions before connecting and testing it.
Last updated 23 October 2026. Written for homes in London. Rules can change, so check the linked sources for the latest position.