Should plumbing require a licence?

Director of WaterSafe Register, Jonathan Samuel, joined industry colleagues from around the world at the 2026 World Plumbing Conference to discuss the case for licensing plumbing in the UK. Here's what he said:

Right now, anyone can call themselves a plumber in the UK. There's no legal requirement for qualifications or experience, and the term has no fixed definition. That creates confusion for the public and devalues the profession.

This is a public safety issue. Poorly installed plumbing and heating systems can cause contamination, scalding, leaks, structural damage and, in the worst cases, fatalities. Without regulation, there's no way to guarantee competence.

The good news is we don't need to start from scratch. The UK already has strong registration schemes, established regulations, and a public that values registered tradespeople, like Gas Safe Registered engineers.

Our own consumer research backs this up: in a survey of 2,000 UK homeowners, 91% agreed that plumbers should be officially registered, with 65% agreeing strongly. Just 2% disagreed. 

People want the reassurance of knowing their plumber is qualified, competent and accountable - it's time the law caught up.

A licensing scheme could mean verified entry qualifications, ongoing professional development, on-site auditing, regular reassessment, proper insurance and a public register of licensed installers.

Not everyone agrees it's the right time. Some worry about fitting a scheme within existing legislation, the cost to small businesses, and how strict it should be.

The Gas Safe Register model shows licensing doesn't have to mean unworkable red tape. It can raise standards and protect the public at the same time.

We support a mandatory plumbing register, and so do our installers and the public.

We'll keep learning from other countries and trades, and work with our installers and trade bodies to shape a mandatory registration scheme.

In the meantime, we're calling on all professional plumbers to join WaterSafe Register and demonstrate their commitment to high standards, and for households and businesses to always use a WaterSafe-registered plumber to avoid water waste or contamination.