Legal requirements for plumbing

[Rob876]

What are the legal requirements, if any, for carrying out self-employed general plumbing on people's property's in the U.K?

 

[Harvest Fields]

What do you mean?

 

[Rob876]

You can't by law carry out any gas work on the general publics property's, I just wondered if there were any laws surrounding general plumbing?

 

[Harvest Fields]

You can't by law carry out any gas work on the general publics property's, I just wondered if there were any laws surrounding general plumbing?

So how do any of us get work if it is law?

 

[Rob876]

It would be against the law to cut into someone's gas supply pipe, but would it be against the law to fit a new bathroom for them?

 

[Harvest Fields]

It would be against the law to cut into someone's gas supply pipe, but would it be against the law to fit a new bathroom for them?

A plumber wouldn’t cut into someone’s supply pipe. That is cadents job. A plumber does plumbing not gas. I do not see where this thread is going or it’s point. I’m out .

 

[Rob876]

Never mind

 

[rpm]

Insurance & paying tax, the first I`m not certain is a law as such.

 

[steadyon]

With the exception of gas work and work on unvented cylinders, there are NO legal requirement for specific qualifications / accreditation in the UK (unless Scotland is different, don't know).

Some manufacturer's specify that their warranties may be invalid if the device is not installed by someone competent to do so, but that is not a criminal law issue.

 

[Rob876]

Thanks for your input

 

[Sharp Point]

Have you recently decided to become a plumber then? you’re asking some noob questions since you joined.

 

[Murdoch]

Public Liability insurance is a BIG must .......... when messing with other peoples houses and their clean and dirty water ..............

 

[WC1]

And insurers will want anyone doing plumbing or electric work to hold a nationally recognised qualification.

 

[Sharp Point]

And insurers will want anyone doing plumbing or electric work to hold a nationally recognised qualification.

So will home owners

 

[WC1]

Always?

 

[Welder]

Thanks for your input

To (try to) answer your question...

One does not have to be licensed so there is nothing stopping ANYONE from setting up as a plumber not matter how appalling their competence. However. There are lots of rules, and training required, to comply with Water Regs, working with things like unvented cylinders and generally complying with building regs.

To be perfectly honest, by far and away the best route in this game, to guarantee both competence and sustainability, is to get work experience and on the job training with an organisation who does a good job and has a good reputation.

IMHO, a so called wet plumber has as much knowledge as a good gas engineer overall. However, the good wet plumbers knowledge is spread widely and a good gas person's is more narrow but much higher (more indepth).

Any fool can set up, and many do. What makes the crucial difference is taking a genuine & responsible attitude from day one. Doing that guarantees your long term success IMHO.