Nightmare moving Gas Meter. What can/Can't we do?

lancslass2008

Hi all

I'm asking this question for a friend. She tells me:

"We have just moved into this house and want to renovate the Kitchen. At present, there is an ugly Gas meter slap bang in the middle of the wall right in the middle of the kitchen at about 5 feet from the ground. You couldn't of chosen a more awkward position for it. So....we wanted to move the meter. So our plans were.....

Either:

Get a company to take the Pipe outside and mount the meter outside.

Or:

Get a company to move the meter from the middle of the wall to the end of the kitchen out of the way. So, we phoned the Gas board who told us...."You don't need to tell us. Just make sure the company that moves it does it in accordance with the correct regulations". So we phoned a Corgi Registered firm who told us "Nobody can touch the meter except one of the Big boys and you're talking prices in the high hundreds".

So now we don't know where we stand. At present this meter is right in the middle of the wall (only 800mm diagonally from the cooker) and we don't know whether we can have it moved or not.

Any advice please.

adaze

It would be National Grid or whoever owns the pipework that you need to speak to. If you have spoken to NG and they have replied as per your original post then I would assume they mean that a NG approved subcontractor could carry out the works. An approved subcontractor would be someone like Morrisons, not a local firm, and I wouldn't have throught they would deal with public enquiries unless NG have asked them too.

pimento

We had our meter moved from up high in the hallway to a more convenient spot and it was British Gas who did it. They did need to dig up the road outside (stop/go signs, the lot) but I don't recvall them charging for it. Mind you, we were buying a central heating system from them at the time.

phill99

Transco are responsible (or their subcontractors) for moving gas meters. I was quoted over £700 4 years ago to move mine from the cupbiard under the stairs to the wall outside the front. Its not a cheap hobby!

ormus

yes thats correct. itll cost you 600/800 quid.

pimento

I got a right bargain then.

pimento

Just a thought though. Is the meter where there's a chance you might crack your head on it as you walk past? You could try the Health & Safety route first. Don't mention a new kitchen.

Homersimpson

With british gas they will move the meter upto 3ft for free as long as its on the same wall. I wanted mine turned through 90degrees (no alterations to incoming or outgoing pipes at all just loosening unions but they wouldn't do it as it would be on another wall!).

paddypaws101

Yes it is expensive....be thankful it is not the electric metre that one costs a bomb!
I bit the bullet and had mine moved outside and it was just about worth the cost to lose the ugly cupboard.

ormus

my last house had one too. when i discovered the "quote" off BG, i bought a cheap MFI type wall unit (cut the back off it) and housed the meter in that. job done. cost me about a tenner.

frank.hopper

I paid £430+ a few years ago to Transco to move a meter 3 feet in to a cupboard (where it should have been in the first place)



transco: "I'll sit the meter on the floor in the left side of the cupboard"

"nah the drain for the heating is under there"

transco: "I'll put it on the otherside side then "

" The hoover sits there, fix it to the wall up there where it won't get damaged"

transco: "That means I'll have to drill the wall to fit a bracket"

" Yeah you'll also need plugs and screws"

:rotfl: