National Grid - Built-over Service pipe in Porch

chanz4

MeterMan wrote: »

If your parents can prove the porch was in place before they bought the property, there will not be a charge. If the porch was built after they moved in, then unfortunately they must foot the bill.

The op said his dad built it

Cardew

Originally Posted by Cardew
If they do 'dig in their heels', how difficult would it be to by-pass the length of pipe buried under the porch?

AcidHouse wrote: »

Good thought - would have to dig out the paving slabs, as the driveway runs downwards towards the garage and the very front of the house.

That is standard practice if a mains water pipe springs a leak in an awkward place and cannot be repaired.

There is no way in your case that the porch would need to be touched.

C_Mababejive

To be honest...i wouldnt get too excited about it ,,just wait and see what happens if anything.

I would suggest that it has always been the case that you should not build over any part of the gas network be it a little pipe or a big pipe.

Take this scenario albeit slightly higher impact. A gas main running at 7 Bar runs across a field in the country on the outskirts of a town. Time passes. A builder is granted permission to build a small housing estate. What does he do?

a) doesnt need to speak to anyone. Just builds houses with some of them built on top of the main and it running through their back gardens.

b) realises its an issue and contacts the owner of the gas main

c)Realises that the cost of diverting the main would be so huge that he doesnt bother buying the building land at all as it is effectively blighted.

AcidHouse

Great responses!
I wonder how many people have had tried to pursue claims for destruction of their extensions & the additional costs in moving pipes etc back to building firms over the years, when a trace & access etc has occurred & they are told there's a build-over?
This is interesting:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmcomloc/1851/1851vw18.htm
Is there a law/regulation preventing build overs now? There seems to be regulations around not placing pipes under existing buildings.
Thank you all for the responses, will keep you all informed on what happens next.

rogerblack

AcidHouse wrote: »

Great responses!
I wonder how many people have had tried to pursue claims for destruction of their extensions & the additional costs in moving pipes etc back to building firms over the years, when a trace & access etc has occurred & they are told there's a build-over?

My understanding is this rather misses the point.
While, in some cases, the householder may not be charged for the work - if it was done by somebody else - the gas companies are under a statutory duty to ensure that they can access all parts of the gas network, up to and including the meter.

If they do not, they are under a duty to either make it so they can access it - or to remove service.

Nobody is forced to demolish anything - or made to pay for re-siting.
If that re-siting would be chargeable, they can simply choose not to pay it, and pay the disconnection fee instead.

My understanding is the gas company have the right to disconnect the OPs parents.
If they will exercise that right is entirely up to them.

AcidHouse

Thanks rogerblack, I think you've answered a lot of my dad's questions on this with regards to their position once the survey has been completed.
I'm hoping that all they will get charged for is a disconnection fee as I can't see them agreeing to pay for / have any work carried out. If this happens they can then switch to an electric cooker.

greensmoker

I don't know if this info helps you at all:

We've just started an extension to our property. For this we had to move the gas meter as we were advised that it's illegal to build a permanent structure on top of the gas supply.
we contact the National Grid who passed us on to ES Pipelines - the owner of the gas pipework in our area.
They disconnected the old meter and put the new meter in place once the rear extension wall was up.
The work took a total of 2 hours - 2 separate visits of 1 hour each visit.....and the price.............£1,300!

lemontart

as others said, wait for outcome, if deemed unsafe it will be cut off in line with the regulations.

AcidHouse

greensmoker wrote: »

I don't know if this info helps you at all:

We've just started an extension to our property. For this we had to move the gas meter as we were advised that it's illegal to build a permanent structure on top of the gas supply.
we contact the National Grid who passed us on to ES Pipelines - the owner of the gas pipework in our area.
They disconnected the old meter and put the new meter in place once the rear extension wall was up.
The work took a total of 2 hours - 2 separate visits of 1 hour each visit.....and the price.............£1,300!

Two hours work - £1,300!! :eek:

Thanks for the info that's very useful, we're still waiting for them to get back to my parents with regards to a survey. There's no way they can pay that kind of money as they are both on pension credit.

I hope your extension build goes well!

chanz4

AcidHouse wrote: »

Two hours work - £1,300!! :eek:

Thanks for the info that's very useful, we're still waiting for them to get back to my parents with regards to a survey. There's no way they can pay that kind of money as they are both on pension credit.

I hope your extension build goes well!

This will be due to the risk, x4 engineers and application to dig in the highway