Advice on changing pipes/meters

jezebel

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but as its a gas related question thought I'd give it a go.

Just had a knock on the door from 2 men who are working in the area on behalf of British Gas - they told me that they are replacing the pipework and meters on our street (they have been working around the place all week) and that they will need to replace my pipework and meter and that as I am the first house on the block that I'll be first. They are going to need to dig up some of the patio to do it, and said a supervisor will need to get permission for work but this is the first I've heard about any work.

I'm not 100% sure about what they are actually doing but my questions are:

- They may need to relocate meter from internal to external, who is liable to isolate and relocate the meter (ie for cost), any work required inside the property to remove old meter etc.

- Do they have a duty to make right any aesthetic repairs eg relaying patio etc? The garden isn't exactly Chelsea Flower Show standard but at least the paving slabs are laid properly at moment...and I don't have the cash to landscape at the moment

Edit: Just to say I'm not looking for money off them for work on garden (sorry if it reads like this), just want paving put back in its higgledy-piggledy fashion

Pink_fluff

I would assume that this is upgrade/maintanace work. And as such, they should make everything good again. So if they dig up your patio ETC - they should put it back to how it was.

Gman0365

The gas pipes will be being replaced as part of the mains replacement programme. More info here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/supply/mainsreplacement/irongasmain.htm

The meter will probably be moved outside into an external meterbox, this is quite normal. The cost of all this work is covered by the gas transporter in your area. Any ground that is excavated will also be reinstated at no cost.

spiro

Depending on the location of your internal meter you may find they route the new gas pipe along the outside of your house rather than through the house. Some people on these forums have complained about that but I guess its better than them messy up any decoration.

lemontart

are you sure it was British Gas ?they would not be doing mains replacement on behalf of British Gas as bg do not own the pipes - also if they were going to be working on your property you would have had a letter from the company doing it warning you and advising you that they may need access to your property to both disconnect to do the work and to reconnect after works completed

Pssst

LT...ermm....your box is full...!

Pssst

Jezebel...normally before such works,those affected receive a letter to advise them.

DO NOT let anyone into your home without first seeing their ID card and also verifying that it is genuine. Dont be shy about taking the card,shutting the door,and ringing the number on it if you have to.

violetta

Pssst wrote: »

Jezebel...normally before such works,those affected receive a letter to advise them.

DO NOT let anyone into your home without first seeing their ID card and also verifying that it is genuine. Dont be shy about taking the card,shutting the door,and ringing the number on it if you have to.

Yes, that was my experience when they came to do our gas pipes - we got a letter ages beforehand telling us the work was coming up, and then another just before it began to give us the actual dates.

jezebel

Thanks to everyone for their advice, the guys didn't actually say they were with British Gas, I asked if they were with Transco or British Gas and their non-commital response was "something like that." - This obviously filled me with a lot of trust That being said they do work for a well-known maintenance firm (no names obviously as don't want to malign them )

Obviously, will keep an eye out for them but think it is mostly external work - TBH they can't make the garden look much worse than it is