Rented property, uncapped pipe, huge bill???

ajperc

Agency have said that if the key on side of fireplace was knocked causing the gas to flow then the LL is not responsible!! So they are saying that its my fault and the bill is my responsibility!! Can you believe that.

HSE (Health Safety Excec) say the pipe and key are classed as 'gas fixtures' under the Regs and therefore are LL/home owners responsiblity.

I also do not recall getting a copy of last years Gas Safety Check when i moved in as legally required. But even if i did it would say everything is above board as no one noticed the uncapped pipe before.

Any solicitors on here i wonder??

silvercar

Agency have said that if the key on side of fireplace was knocked causing the gas to flow then the LL is not responsible!! So they are saying that its my fault and the bill is my responsibility!! Can you believe that.

I can believe that. If you turned the gas on, then you pay for the gas used.

When we moved home there was an electric switch in a cupboard that was switched on, we didn't know what appliance it was attached to. 8 months later we realised it was attached to a 500w halogen light that was hidden behind ivy. We couldn't claim the money back from anyone else, even though none of us recall turning the switch on.

HSE (Health Safety Excec) say the pipe and key are classed as 'gas fixtures' under the Regs and therefore are LL/home owners responsiblity.

So the responsibility for keeping them in good order are the LLs. Doesn't make him responsible for you turning them on. Just as the LL would be responsible for the pipe and fitting to supply gas to the cooker, doesn't mean they pay the bill if you turn the hob on.

I also do not recall getting a copy of last years Gas Safety Check when i moved in as legally required. But even if i did it would say everything is above board as no one noticed the uncapped pipe before.

This is important, a gas safety check should be done every 12 months and a copy given to the tenant. Whether it says everything is above board is important. It would be the GasSafe guys responsibility to see that everything is correct. The GasSafe don't write their report subject to only what they can see, they declare the property safe or not.

poppysarah

You need to know if a switched live gas feed is safe... Doesn't sound safe.
I thought they were supposed to be turned off at meter.

Gas safety certs need looking at in detail (sure you don't have one?)

At least it didn't kill anyone.

RAS

ajperc

It is probably too late now, but you really should have gone straight to A&E, explained what happened and asked for a blood test. By now I would any toxins to have cleared.

If the gas has safely gone up the chimney, OK, but if you have been experiencing any sort of unexplained tiredness get down to the doctor ASAP.

Exposure to gas affects a number of functions, so please get it checked out.

Get down to the Councils Private Tenancy Officer ASAP as well.

ajperc

To whoever wrote about the lightbulb.

There is a slight difference between a light bulb and an illegally uncapped gas pipe. The lightswitch in the cupboard is not illegal, not a danger, and you should have noticed it lightin a bulb on the property. The gas pipe is behind the fireplace which is completely covered, left open without anyway of knowing unless you hack off the fireplace and look, or turn the gas on and either stick your nose over the chimney, or wait for the bill. Also a lightbulb isnt going to explode and cause a serious health risk is it?? Common sense please.

Please bear in mind the gas should not have been on in the property with an open pipe! thats why as soon as it was spotted the gas was switched off at the meter. That means the key being knocked shouldnt have done anything atall. If someone put a bomb in your headlight and you turn your lights on and it explodes, who is responsible, the person who put the bomb in your headlight, or you for switching it on??

silvercar

There is a slight difference between a light bulb and an illegally uncapped gas pipe. The lightswitch in the cupboard is not illegal, not a danger, and you should have noticed it lightin a bulb on the property. The gas pipe is behind the fireplace which is completely covered, left open without anyway of knowing unless you hack off the fireplace and look, or turn the gas on and either stick your nose over the chimney, or wait for the bill. Also a lightbulb isnt going to explode and cause a serious health risk is it??

I think it all hinges on whether the gas pipe was illegal or not. If it was illegal then you are right, turning it on shouldn't have done anything. But if it was legal then its the switching that causes the gas to be used up.

Who is liable could hinge on whether there was a valid gassafe certificate in place. Because if there was then the landlord can rely on the certificate that the gas in the property is safe and wouldn't be expected to search for pipes.

Yes and no. We only discovered the light bulb at the point where it had got so hot that the ivy obscuring it started burning.

Ulfar

Its not legal, pipe should have been capped when appliance was removed.

I refer to fifth paragraph from the bottom :

http://www.letlink.co.uk/articles/gas-appliances/gas-safety.html

It doesn't matter if an appliance has been removed by a previous Tenant or the Landlord, it is up to the landlord to get this checked.

I would also be asking for the the previous gas safety certificates and details of the engineer as you could refer them to Gas safe, the Landlord could claim against the engineer's insurance.