Legal position re access to gas meter?

agirlinwinter

Can anyone please tell me is there a legal requirement for someone to able to access their gas meter?

I live in a first floor flat which I own. My gas meter is located in the garden of the flat below. The flat is a buy to let, but has been unoccupied for 10 years. The owner of the flat is unhelpful. I cannot get into the garden, as there is a locked gate set into a high wall. My freeholder has asked for a key to the gate and been refused.

I am concerned that I'm paying too much for my gas because it's only ever estimated readings. Also, there's a safety issue - if there's a gas leak I can't access the meter.

Any help gratefully received!

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

It is certainly a legal requirement that the meter is read - for safety, as well as to check it has not been tampered with.

I would initially contact your supply company in writing and tell them you are disputing their estimated readings and want them to gain access to the meter.

Failing that copy the correspondence to the Regulator for their advice.

Most deeds have a provision to allow access to facilities - as in your case.

Personally I would warn the owner downstairs that I will gain access to the meters by forcing the door and let him sue me.

agirlinwinter

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately the owner downstairs is- how can I put this tactfully? - a little odd and can be very obstructive.

lemontart

if gawd forbid you have a leak the gas emergency service has legal right of entry of if need be would turn gas off in street to ensure safe.

lisyloo

I would follow Cardew advice and make it your utilities company problem.
I am pretty sure they have an obligation to read meters every so often.
They are bigger than you so make it their problem to deal with him.

Plus also if you get into a "dispute" with this guy, you will have to declare the problem if you sell your flat and that could make it difficult to sell.
Plus he could get nasty with you from the sound of it.

Premier_2

lisyloo wrote: »

I would follow Cardew advice and make it your utilities company problem....

Unfortunately the utility company will make it the account holder's problem.

The account holder has a legal responsibility to allow the supplier access to the meter. The supplier may seek a court warrant to gain access if necessary - costs will be payable by the account holder.

Finally, if after all endeavours, access to the meter is not gained, the supplier may have no alternative but to halt supply to the property - for safety reasons.

agirlinwinter - go back to the solicitor who did the conveyancing when you originally purchased the property. Although it may not be the solicitor's problem if you didn't inform them of the potential problem with the location of the meter when you purchased the property, the solicitor will tell you if there are any existing rights of access or otherwise what you can do to gain access.

How did you read the meter when you moved in? How did you supply that meter reading to the supplier at the time? Let me guess...you didn't.

hippey

National Grid gas and/or your transporter can apply to the court for a warrant to access the property for the purpose of inspection / maintainance. I have been in court for a different matter when a transporter has done this.

There is also an any person power to enter property for the purpose of saving life and limb and by force if required, so from a safety point of view you are covered.

agirlinwinter

Thanks everybody for your advice.

When I purchased the flat, the vendor said the owner of the ground floor flat would give me access to the meter. When I first moved in, she opened the gate to let me read the meter. Since then, I've asked her regularly if I can read the meter and she's flaky - sometimes she does, sometimes she has her phone switched off or just doesn't turn up when she says she will.

I had a chat with the freeholder yesterday, who is very nice. He's going to request the owner of the ground floor flat has a new lock put on the gate and leaves a key with him whilst the flat remains unoccupied, so I can read my meter and the gas supply can be turned off in an emergency. I've impressed upon him that his situation is a safety issue for everyone in the building if there's a gas leak.

agirlinwinter

I did some ressearch and The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No 2451), Reg 12 provides that gas meters must be installed where they are readily accessible for inspection and maintenance. I have informed my freehoolder of this.

Pssst

If you like,you could get a qualified and certified engineer to fit a secondary meter in your flat so that you would know what volume youve used? Secondary meters can be purchased from a number of sources. A typical G4 metric meter will cost you about £40.

See here http://www.bes.co.uk/

Premier_2

But the OP still has a legal responsibility to allow the supplier access to their meter. (i.e. not a secondary one)

As it's a gas meter, the supplier should insist on seeing it at least once every 2 years in accordance with their supply licence.