Gas Leak

ddavis

Hi,

Apologies if this is in the wrong place...

This is a new build house, i've been in 6 months. Leak has been present since i moved in (so transco say, it wont have just developed).

Last night i smelt gas. Transco came round, found a leak in the pipe from the wall to my meter (disgraceful workmanship) and at least one with my boiler.

Gas turned off, declared ID.

Builders rung this morning, severely repremanded. 'Fitter' arrives today to fix. Claims he fitted it / tested it first time round too. There is no way on earth that he tested it because it simply wouldn't have passed.

Now, he didnt leave a report of repair etc when he turned it on. I'm told he should. I also don't believe he's the corgi man on my corgi certificate - i think hes the builders plumber rather than a fitter.

I've obviously told corgi about my concerns (by web form just now, they should ring tomorrow to arrange inspection) etc. I still doubt the gas is safe.

Does anybody know where i stand? I mean, is this something you sue over? My builders have potentially endangered my life with totally below par workmanship. Its my first house and its brand new. I do not expect gas leaks, especially not in such easy to test places as the main outlet pipe. My neighbour throws cigarette butts next to where one of the leaks was!

Any advice greatfully appreciated. Even if its how to ensure this bloke never fits a boiler again in his life.

bradders33

Have you got an NHBC certificate? Can they give you any advice? I am sure that they would not be happy about their registered builders using sub-standard workmen.

I would also contact Trading Standards and the CAB for further advice.

I can sympathise with you, we moved in to a 30-year-old house last January, we noticed that the boiler was "a bit whiffy" but didn't think much of it really.. Then upon mentioning it to someone they said to get Transco out to be on the safe side, they came out and immediately condemned the boiler, cutting and capping the pipes. We had THREE gas leaks and when I asked why we had not been blown up he said it was because we were lucky. Which was so scary as the boiler was in a cupboard outside our bedroom.

He then went on to say that the Vendors knew about the leaks as he had found a bottle of used gas leak detector fluid on top of the boiler and it was so bad that it had been leaking for a long time!

I got the solicitor to write letters to the vendor to try and get money out of them as they deceived and almost killed us, (I was so livid.) and I got a letter done to the surveyors of the same ilk.. The vendors replied with that they thought that there MIGHT have been a leak, but they never found one and they they were sorry for our troubles but would not be giving us any money for a new boiler. The scum-bag surveyors pleaded ignorance.

We could have taken the vendors to small-claims but we were having to find £2k for a new boiler and did not have £800 to gamble on taking them to court too, we ended up with no heating or hot water for 2 months whilst we got the money together.

I am still bitter now, we would have obviously paid less for the house if we had known. But people like that will get theirs... What goes around comes around.

Good luck with your fight.

MissG_2

If this is a new build, surely the GF (general foreman) for the site should have checked the credentials of whether this person was CORGI registered or not??

You have done the best thing in all honesty by notifying transco and CORGI, what did corgi say? This will have been reported to HSE under RIDDOR and the appropriate action will be taken against the fitter if they are not corgi or it has been bad workmanship.

The clue to the above will be if they have reported the job to the local council and corgi which is now a mandatory requirement.

My O/H is a trainee fitter (nearly out of his time) and his on site (real life) training has really opened his eyes as to what some installations are like and by the admission of some householders they have smelt gas and not taken any action!!!!!!

He says there should be a lot more awareness of the dangers of gas and what you can do if you are unsure. Possibly one for Martin and his team to instigate in some way.

As for suing, i am not legally qualified but apart from the cost to repair (if they are found incompetent, i don’t think you could sue) for what may have happened.

The main thing is, thankfully you have had a very lucky escape and as for the neighbour chucking cigarette butts there (throw them back). Always if in doubt turn off the gas and call transco, open the windows and DO NOT flick any switches!!!

Wig

bradders33 wrote:

and did not have £800 to gamble on taking them to court too,

800 pounds, how did you work that out, if that was what your solicitors told you that's outrageous. You could just take them to small claims yourself, much cheaper. But I doubt you'd win.