Gas installation wrong!!

Libbylou12

Hi im hoping somebody could advise me. Basically on friday my neighbour upstairs smelt gas, she called SGN who come out and confirmed a gas leek from her gas pipe and mine from our meters outside he switched it off and told us to call our housing association. When I was talking to him he told me the pipes needed re routing and should not have been installed the way they were. Anyway I called our housing association who sent their engineer out and he said it will be fixed on monday... no heating or hot water but gave us 2 small heaters. Yesterday somebody arrived at 4 pm said that he needed to order parts I heard him on the phone to his manager and he stated that the pipes had been installed like he had never seen before and that the pipes had no protection and were highly exposed he also mention illegal.
He told me that the contractors who installed them were in the wrong and he couldnt believe that they past the default safety inspection. This is a new build flat just under 2 years old.
He went on to say that the whole flat has been at risk since the installation.
Anyway he said he was unable to do the job as he needed parts etc and he could not swap his jobs round for today so he could do it. He sent a report to the housing and im waiting for them to call me back day 5 of no heating or hot water.
I now cant get out of my head what he said about the fact we have all been at risk. Ive taken photos the pipes are really rusty but I dont know what part has no protection. He said even the sun beaming on it was dangerous.
I cannot leave it there knowing all this. We have small children we have been at risk for so long but unaware.
What do I do and who do I approach as this is serious.
Thank you

waamo

Try asking the regulator Gas Safe. Here are their contact details https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/contact-us/

[Deleted User]

Libbylou12 wrote: »

I now cant get out of my head what he said about the fact we have all been at risk.

Since neither you (nor your children) have actually been injured or harmed, what are you expecting to happen other than the installation being fixed?
You won't be receiving any "compo", but the contractors who fitted it originally will likely find themselves in trouble.

Libbylou12

" Compo " has not even entered my head it is not about that.
I want to ensure that between the contractors and housing who both passed the default inspection take responsibility for this. I am asking who to approach regarding this matter as how do I know that once its re done etc that it is not just left at that.

Robin9

Formally write to the HA - don't phone or email - keep to the facts.

Aylesbury_Duck

Wait until you get the formal report. A lot of what you're relaying sounds sensationalised. I had a tiny gas leak a couple of years ago in the pipework under my house, which resulted in me having a new pipeline run around the outside of my house between the meter and the boiler. It's "exposed", it gets cold and it's in the sun, none of which are problems.

If you were at risk, nothing happened and now it's being addressed it will be put right. I'm not sure what more you can ask for. You have electricity so you have means to heat your flat and to heat water. It's inconvenient but for a few days it's manageable.

agrinnall

It's disappoint that we can't say "Won't somebody think of the children?" because the OP got in first!

[Deleted User]

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Wait until you get the formal report. A lot of what you're relaying sounds sensationalised.

Indeed, the fitter talking on the 'phone was overheard by the OP and what the OP was apparently told by the fitter is not a professional way of assessing the situation. Why unnecessarily alarm the OP, especially as the gas is now switched off and can do no one any harm?

Libbylou12 wrote: »

Ive taken photos the pipes are really rusty

To what end have you taken photos if "compo" is not foremost in your mind? The Housing association will act on the fitter's report/recommendation, not on your photos.

Libbylou12

I agree completely with the way the engineer responded in a very unprofessional manner.
He advised me and the other girl to take photos as he said there will be alot of !!!! covering and thats why I wanted advice to make sure this did not happen. Such as somebody else I could contact regarding this.
I feel people think I am after compo.
No not at all. Compo for what exactly it has not done anything to me or my family ok no hot water or heating but I have a kettle and 2 heaters. I can still work.. cook etc.. yes it scared me when I heard we had been put at risk thats natural and because we were at risk
I want to know it will not get brushed under the carpet so was seeking advice to ensure it doesnt.

DoaM

Might be worth sending a PM to a board guide to get this moved to the The House Buying, Renting & Selling Board - you may get more-relevant advice over there as what you have here isn't really a Consumer Rights issue.

bris

Can you post this photo so we can see what you are talking about?


There is a lot of external gas pipes that have no problems with the sun so why are yours different?