Right to have gas central heating

kriskross

Hi All,

I'm about to buy and move into a first floor flat with electric heating only and no gas supply. Noone in the building (low rise block) has gas connection. The gas mains run in the streets around the building so National Grid say that connection is possible and they gave me a quote for connection work (standard price of £1,190.00).
I don't think that the gas pipe can be routed anywhere other than on the outside wall of the building which may be an eye sore for some (or all) of the flat owners.
The same goes with the exhaust flue which would be placed on the front wall of the building.
I don't want to spoil the way that the building looks from the outside (nice brick work) but I don't think there is any other way to connect gas to the flat.
Is there a law that says that I have right to have gas central heating in my flat and no-one can object?
The building is about 16 years old and during these 16 years no one has installed gas central heating for themselves.
Can it be that the freeholder did not give consent to install GCH to anyone?

Thanks for all your replies

spiro

You have no right in law to GSH. You also need to check regs as I dont know of any flats with gas due to risk of explosions.

notanewuser

Can't imagine the freeholder will agree to this anyway. Imagine costs to fit GCH inside will be steep too.

Are you committed to the purchase? If gas is so important to you why not buy a flat that already has gas?!

penrhyn

I would not move to a block of flats with Gas heating. Am old enough to remember Ronan Point.

macman

IIRC, the issue with Ronan Point was the flawed construction of the building, not the fact that it had gas?
Back on topic, gas CH is not yet a 'human right' (though I'm sure Liberty will get round to it sooner or later). So unless the freeholder consents, forget it.

kriskross

Similar buildings in the area do have GCH heating so I guess building regulations should allow GCH in my flat.
Can the freeholder refuse the consent for gas connection only on the basis of "bad looks" of the gas pipe and exhaust flue?

notanewuser

kriskross wrote: »

Similar buildings in the area do have GCH heating so I guess building regulations should allow GCH in my flat.
Can the freeholder refuse the consent for gas connection only on the basis of "bad looks" of the gas pipe and exhaust flue?

They can refuse consent for any reason (or not) that they like.

Wywth

kriskross wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm about to buy and move into a first floor flat with electric heating only and no gas supply. Noone in the building (low rise block) has gas connection. The gas mains run in the streets around the building so National Grid say that connection is possible and they gave me a quote for connection work (standard price of £1,190.00).
I don't think that the gas pipe can be routed anywhere other than on the outside wall of the building which may be an eye sore for some (or all) of the flat owners.
The same goes with the exhaust flue which would be placed on the front wall of the building.
I don't want to spoil the way that the building looks from the outside (nice brick work) but I don't think there is any other way to connect gas to the flat.
Is there a law that says that I have right to have gas central heating in my flat and no-one can object?
The building is about 16 years old and during these 16 years no one has installed gas central heating for themselves.
Can it be that the freeholder did not give consent to install GCH to anyone?

Thanks for all your replies

Ask your solictor if having GCH is that important to you in purchasing the flat.
There is no law giving you the right to have GCH.

There are some flats with GCH, but they are very few and far between.

suki1964

spiro wrote: »

You have no right in law to GSH. You also need to check regs as I dont know of any flats with gas due to risk of explosions.

Flats I used to live in both had gas and the flat my sister lives in is also gas

C_Mababejive

Many smaller blocks of lfats were built in the 70s/80s when the developer did deals with the power companies such that power supplies and electric heating was installed for special rates thus sidelining cheaper gas. Thats why a lot of apartment blocks only have electric storage heaters.

A good approach might be to survey everyone in the block as to their thoughts about having gas installed. They must surely be feeling the pinch on their electric bills.

A collective approach may prove cheaper when getting the supply laid and also may make the leaseholder/management company more amenable.

If you go it alone,your leaseholder/management co will need to give permission.

southcoastrgi

as some others have said, there are thousands of flats with gas it has no bearing whatsoever that it is a flat, however what does have bearing is the management co they are god (as you will find out if you have never owned a flat before) as far as anything you want to do that effects the look of the block, it matters not a jot if you want to spend £100,000 getting gas into your flat if the management co says no then you can't do it