Gas meter theft from new property - due to move in

Robinsonandi

Hi, I'm a first time buyer and I have put an offer on a house. One of the neighbours informed me that the gas meter to the property had been stolen. The seller knows about this, however it wasn't mentioned during the sale. The seller still owns the house for now. Do they have an obligation to get the meter replaced before we move in? Or is it up to us to sort out when we get the keys?

ValHaller

Have you exchanged contracts?

Hoof_Hearted

Is this somewhere you really want to move to? If you haven't exchanged, make this a condition of the sale. Of course the meter may have been removed because the previous owner didn't pay the bills.

G_M

If you've Exchanged, the seller must hand over the property at Completion as itwas at Exchange.

If you've not Exchanged, insist the seller repairs/replaces etc before you Exchange.

Insurance should cover it.

whalster

You don't need to worry you don't own the gas meter anyway it belongs to the initial supplier.they have to replace it for you.
This all said , I have been in the building and renting game a long while ,I say this to demonstrate you never stop learning.
In 2011 I was near completion on a new build site when all 12 gas meters were stolen, I reported it police came out we scratched our heads the copper said there is only a bit of brass fitting can' t be much value I said your right can't weigh it up. Anyway mentioned this to one of the brickies a few days later who fell about laughing it seems where he comes from you can go into the pubs on a Saturday night and buy a new meter for £50 then you take it home replace your prepayment meter by just unscrewing a few nuts and you have free gas ,and cos its a pre payment meter registered to the property no one ever comes around to check.
The British gas chap who fitted replacements or me said he is asked a dozen times a week to sell a meter.
I never cease to be amazed

ValHaller

whalster wrote: »

YAnyway mentioned this to one of the brickies a few days later who fell about laughing it seems where he comes from you can go into the pubs on a Saturday night and buy a new meter for £50 then you take it home replace your prepayment meter by just unscrewing a few nuts and you have free gas ,and cos its a pre payment meter registered to the property no one ever comes around to check.

£50? That's robbery. You can buy them for £42.14 - http://www.gasproducts.co.uk/acatalog/G4_Gas_Meter.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=feedmanager&gclid=CJjV9rC1_bYCFVDMtAodfBEAcA

[Deleted User]

I don't think the 'no one ever comes round to check' thing is true. When we first moved into this property we had a prepayment meter and it WAS read.., not sure if it was every 6 months or once a year but it was definitely read. Same with another property where I started off with prepayment meters in another part of the country.

Robinsonandi

Yes, the meter was definitely stolen, the neighbor reported it and it had to be made safe. The house is in quite a nice area, just on a main road with a big FOR SALE sign on it so anyone can guess its empty just by looking in it. Blighters stole stone paving at rear also (only 3 flags). British gas said they'll replace the meter for free and as Ive not exchanged contracts I'm going to get in touch with the vendor and get them to sort it out. I have a baby and I'm not moving into a house with no form of hating or hot water.