Gas cooker and hob installation in north and east London

Gas Safe Register says installing a gas hob or oven should only be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. It also says removing or disconnecting an old one should only be done by a registered engineer. Check the ID card for the Cooker work category. Range cookers are a separate category, so look for Range Cookers if you have one.

The rules on the installation itself are specific. A free standing cooker with a high level grill needs at least 610 mm of clear space above the grill, and at least 20 mm clearance from units on either side, unless the maker's instructions say otherwise. Brand new gas cookers installed in flats must have a flame supervision device, which cuts the gas to a burner if the flame goes out.

Building Regulations do not require a normal gas hob or cooker to be notified to the council, because they are flueless. Some installers notify voluntarily and you get a Declaration of Safety certificate. A flued gas range cooker is different and must be notified. If you are a landlord, the cooker you provide must be on your yearly gas safety record.

Rented flats change hands quickly across Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. When tenants bring and take their own cookers, the cooker often gets pulled off the bayonet by whoever is moving it. HSE warns that tenants leaving can remove appliances unsafely, leaving open pipe ends or turned off valves. Book a disconnection for moving day, and a reconnection and test at the new place. See our gas cooker disconnection guide.

If you are swapping a gas hob for induction, the gas side needs capping safely by a Gas Safe engineer, and the new electric circuit needs an electrician. In a conservation area flat in Islington or Camden, the kitchen layout often stays the same, so the cap goes in the same cupboard where the hob was fed. Keep a note of where it is for future work.

Gas Safe Register lists three warning signs: a floppy yellow flame inside the oven or on the hob instead of a crisp blue one, black or brown marks around the appliance, and a smell of gas. It also lists common problems such as an oven burner that will not light, smoke from the oven, a door that will not close properly, and heavy condensation on kitchen windows. Badly fitted or poorly maintained cookers can produce carbon monoxide. If you see any of these, stop using the appliance and book a check. In rented flats, report it to your landlord, because a cooker the landlord provides is their responsibility.

Gas cookers and hobs burn air from the room. During a check, Gas Safe Register says the engineer looks at the ventilation requirements for safety and comfort of use. In small galley kitchens in converted flats, keep any vents clear and do not block them with units or tiles during a refit. Run the extractor hood when cooking and open a window if the kitchen gets steamy.