Gas Leak

KatW

I recently bought and have been renovating a flat in London. I thought I had been doing the sensible thing and got a gas safe registered engineer to fit a new boiler and re-do the gas piping in the kitchen. I then got a registered electrician to re-wire the kitchen and check the rest of the flat. Finally I got a builder in to fit my new kitchen. Once the kitchen was fitted the gas engineer was supposed to come back and do the final test and connect the hob. The builder (without me asking him to) had connected the hob and when the gas engineer came back he found a leak at this connection and fixed it for me. Unfortunately there were also a few other leaks one of which he cannot find and must be behind the new kitchen units.

My problem is this - the builder says he did not touch anything other than the end at the the hob. The gas engineer seems to think it's not his problem. I feel that someone has done something wrong here and I shouldnt be footing the bill to fix it.

Should the builder foot the bill (and remove and re-fit the bit of the kitchen) on the basis that he must haave damaged it or.

Should the gas engineer be sorting it out on the basis that it's a joint that he made and it now leaks. (the gas engineer also left a leaky radiator and a left a water leak overnight when he was doing the central heating which he fixed but doesnt do anything to inspire confidence)

Thanks,

Katherine

southcoastrgi

when the RGI did the pipework did he connect it to the gas supply & cap off the end ready for the connection to the hob when ready ?

the builder connecting the hob is illegal & he should be reported to The Gas Safe Register link here because if he has done this in your home then gods knows what other illegal gas work he has done.

also the RGI should have filled out a RIDDOR report to the HSE concerning the leak on the hob

KatW

Yes, he did cap the pipe and said he was going to report to the HSE. I was aware that the builder should not have carried out the gas work (which was why I hadn't asked him to do it) however I'm still left with a leak which I feel one of the tradesmen should be liable for (I'm not suggesting the builder fix the leak)

Thanks for your reply,

Katherine

southcoastrgi

well if the RGI installed the pipe, connected it to the gas supply & capped it, then he should have done a tightness test to make sure nothing was leaking, if this was ok then he's not responsible for the leak in the pipe, however if he didn't do a tightness test then he is responsible for repairing the leak & any associated work involved in removal & making good, he could tell you he did one but does he have proof ? i always do a print out proving that it was sound at the time of the test.

the RGI may have said that he is going to report the builder but if the builder gives him loads of work i doubt that will happen, YOU need to report the builder to GS using the link i gave you in post # 2 (click on the word "here" in the 2nd paragraph)