Can I fit my own boiler?

[Daniel2828]

I have a friend who has offered to fit my new boiler to save on costs. He is competent but is retired and no longer gas safe registered. Is he able to fit most of the components and then a registered gas engineer connects the new boiler to the main gas line to save on costs? Or is this still considered illegal: not recommended?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Might be best to do it the other way around eg gas engineer to fit and install the boiler inc flue and pipe the gas up etc

Then your friend to install the heating and water pipes to the boiler

Note this will probably be more expensive than the gas engineer doing the lot as it won’t appeal to most so they will add cost onto the job

 

[Chuck]

Gas Safe does not permit a scheme member to 'sign off' a boiler installed by anyone but themselves. Nobody with any sense would risk their livelihood to help you save money by doing what you propose.

The word 'competent' has two meanings depending on the context. Your friend might be, 'competent' in the sense that he has the skills required to install a boiler. He is no longer, however, a 'competent person' who is legally allowed to install a boiler for someone else. To be 'competent' in this second sense, he must be a current member of a scheme such as Gas Safe.

So, IMO, @ShaunCorbs's answer is spot on and you were right to check.

 

[Knappers]

I'd guess if the gas man fitted the flue and the gas pipework then it would be ok?
Of course you'd have to find a gas man to do it.
It's not illegal to fit your own boiler but it is illegal for someone to be paid to do it.
(There's some insurance issues too, and not forgetting the risk of death)

 

[Ben-gee]

And if anything goes wrong with it in the short term, the gasman won’t be rushing to help you. And if it comes to it the two will each blame the other one for any problem.

 

[Chuck]

It's not illegal to fit your own boiler but it is illegal for someone to be paid to do it.
(There's some insurance issues too, and not forgetting the risk of death)

Although, I believe, fitting your own boiler – if it is a competent DIY job done by the house owner – is not itself technically a crime, failing to get local authority Building Regulation approval for the new installation is. I've never come across anyone who has managed to get LA approval for their DIY boiler installation but I'm fairly sure it wouldn't be an easy or cheap process.

Failure to comply with the building regulations - Building Regulations - Planning Portal

Details of your responsibilities in regard to building regulations

www.planningportal.co.uk