Fitting a cooker in a block of flats.

LD_Ablo

Ok so here is the story and I need some advice if anyone could help.

My brother and his wife have moved into a flat in a block of flats.
They are both unemployed and also have 2 young children.
They moved in, had their gas cooker moved from their old house to this one and have been unable to use it as it is not hooked up.
He contacted Housnlow Council and they told him that it is not thier responsibility and he has to pay to have someone from the yellow pages hook it up.
The cheapest they could find is £180 to the job.
He applied for a crisis loan of somekind with the local authority, told them how much to have it connected up and they offered him £67 loan.
They are now having to cook using a tiny little electric cooker that looks like a camping stove.

What can I do to help them?
I don't have the money to pay for it to be done or I would.
I cannot believe that the council are letting them live in this manner.
I used to live under the same council, Hounslow Council, and found them worse than useless back then.
Now they sound even worse.
Can anyone offer me advice because this is breaking my heart knowing they are having to cope in this kind of situation and that the council couldn't give a flying **** about them.
I was thinking of writing to the local MP? Or possibily the local newspapers or something.
I want to call them myself and have it out with them but I want to know where we stand before hand.
I am so annoyed about it all.

Sorry for ranting, I'm just livid about it all.

Any advice would be fantastic.
Thank you.

Marsdendean

If there is a gas supply near the kitchen then the council wont help. Councils are not responsible for appliances - if its rented it will carry a landlords safety check and they don't even have to check the cooker is connected in the correct manor.

I would get a quote thou, as if the gas pipe is near the cooker, we normally charge around £60 for a new connection (15mm piping for around 3M + final connection to the gas cooker along with tightness test)


There also has to be some kind of direct air to the appliance ie a window or door to outside

carefullycautious

Would the supplier allow your relative to add the cost of the fitting of the oven onto their gas bill. Maybe pay it off a bit at a time.

Just a thought, at least a registered gas fitter will make sure it is safe.

Marsdendean

you can't work on gas unless your gas safe - i doubt BG will send a fitter to hook up the cooker then add it to the bill IMO

markharding557

recently cost me £80 to have a connection for a gas cooker put on the pipe where there was a nut

Sublime_2

It would be cheaper to buy an electric cooker, see here.

C_Mababejive

The council arent responsible and therefore they are not "letting them to live in this manner". In fact,they are very lucky to have been given a tenancy as they are like gold dust.Its tough but thats life. The best quote obtained is a tad high IMHO.

spiro

Part of the issue will depend on the connection at the property and what is on the cooker. Most modern properties have a bayonet connector on the wall and the cooker will have a hose that just plugs into it. The issue comes if the cooker has no hose or the property does not have a bayonet fitting both of which require a gas fitter.

marsden1002

You cant use a hose if the cooker is built in. You can now only use them on free standing appliances.

Buy an electric one and try to sell the gas one

Andy_WSM

LD_Ablo wrote: »

What can I do to help them?

Work longer hours or get a better paid job?

I slog my guts out for 45 - 50 hours a week and pay thousands a month in tax, yet the council won't come and plumb a cooker in for me.

Life's not fair eh?

LD_Ablo

Andy_WSM wrote: »

Work longer hours or get a better paid job?

I slog my guts out for 45 - 50 hours a week and pay thousands a month in tax, yet the council won't come and plumb a cooker in for me.

Life's not fair eh?

Well if you work so many hours you're obviously loaded.
Why do you want something for free?
Tightfisted?