Installing or replacing a gas hob requires a Gas Safe registered engineer, as gas fitting work on domestic premises must by law be carried out by a competent person holding current registration. Understanding the cost components helps homeowners budget for a new hob installation.

Gas Safe Registration Requirement

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, all gas installation and maintenance work in domestic properties must be carried out by an engineer registered with Gas Safe Register, the statutory body that replaced CORGI registration in 2009. Installing a gas hob is a notifiable gas work activity. It is illegal to carry out this work yourself or to use an unregistered person. Always verify that the engineer is currently Gas Safe registered by checking the Gas Safe Register website before instructing them.

What the Fitting Cost Covers

The fitting fee for a gas hob typically covers disconnecting and removing the old hob if there is one, making any necessary adjustments to the gas supply connection, fitting the new hob into the worktop opening, connecting the flexible gas connector, pressure testing the connection, checking for leaks with a soap solution or electronic leak detector, and commissioning the appliance. If the fitting is straightforward, meaning the worktop cut-out is the right size and there is an existing flexible connection in good condition, the work takes around one to two hours.

Additional Costs

If the worktop cut-out needs to be enlarged for the new hob, a carpenter or the homeowner will need to carry out this work separately before the gas engineer installs the hob. If the flexible gas connector needs replacing, the engineer will charge for a new one, typically ten to twenty-five pounds. If the gas supply needs upgrading due to the hob's higher BTU output compared with the old appliance, additional pipework modifications may be needed, which adds to the cost.

Combined Kitchen Installation

Gas hob fitting is often carried out as part of a kitchen installation project where a kitchen fitter installs the worktops and units and a Gas Safe engineer is called in specifically for the hob connection. In this scenario, the call-out charge for the engineer may be reduced if the engineer also has other gas work to carry out at the property, such as checking the boiler or fitting another appliance.

Summary

Fitting a gas hob costs one hundred to two hundred pounds for the labour of a Gas Safe registered engineer in a straightforward installation. Additional costs may arise for a new flexible connector, worktop modifications, or additional pipework. Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer and obtain written confirmation of the installation and testing. The hob itself is a separate purchase from the installation cost.