There are repairs where getting it wrong costs more than money. Electrical, gas and plumbing systems are areas where amateur work can be genuinely dangerous. Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s off-limits without a licensed professional — and why.
Electrical work: what you can and absolutely cannot do
Safety warning: working on a live electrical circuit risks electrocution, fire and invalidating your home insurance. In Poland, work on 230 V installations requires a valid SEP qualification certificate.
You’re fine to: change a bulb, replace a fuse, swap a plug on an extension lead. Do not attempt on your own:
- replacing sockets, switches or junction boxes
- running new circuits or cabling
- touching the consumer unit (fuse box)
- fitting recessed or built-in lighting
- hardwiring a cooker hood, dishwasher or oven
Gas: zero compromise
Safety warning: natural gas is odourless in its pure form — the smell is added by the distributor. A leak can cause explosion and carbon monoxide poisoning. Any work on gas installations must be carried out by a certified gas engineer.
Without a gas qualification, you must not:
- move or replace gas pipes
- connect a gas hob or cooker to the supply
- install a gas boiler, water heater or combi unit
- repair any leak or suspect joint on a gas line
If you smell gas: open windows, do not switch anything on or off, leave the property immediately and call 112 or the gas emergency line.
Plumbing: when water becomes a serious problem
Replacing a tap washer — fine. But there are plumbing jobs where a failed attempt floods the flat below:
- moving or replacing soil stacks or waste pipes
- adding new water points (shower, sink, washing machine)
- repairing or replacing ball valves on a main riser
- installing a hot water cylinder or boiler
- fixing hidden leaks inside a wall or under a floor
Legal and insurance implications
In Poland, unlicensed electrical work (without SEP certification) and gas work (without a gas qualification) breach the building code. If damage results, your insurer is entitled to refuse the claim.
Planning a bathroom or kitchen renovation, or any work on installations in your Warsaw flat? Leave a request in the form — we’ll send a technician with the right certifications.