No gas at property we want to buy. What next? Do we pay? Does transco/British Gas pay?

Brian_Pamo

Hi all
We are looking at buying an old property that was once a large rural home. It is on a main (ish) road with other properties around it. However, the property has no gas to it. What happens? Do we have to pay someone (transco/British gas etc) a small fortune to connect the property to the gas main or so they do it free?
if we do have to pay is it extortionate? 

nofoollikeold

1. You have to pay.
2. It is extortionate.
3. Assuming there is gas in the area / road.

olgadapolga

When we were looking at a property with no mains gas supply, I was told by the supplier that we would have to foot the bill. It was tens of thousands, IIRC, but the main supply was quite a distance from the property.

There are alternatives though - my husband's parents had a tank for lpg which was topped up on a regular basis for which they were charged. They also had to foot the bill for the installation as well, of course, and the site for the tank had to be suitable.

See: https://www.calor.co.uk/home-energy/new-to-lpg/my-options/lpg-installation-options

NeverTooLate

When we did this a couple of years ago. Cadent charged us around £400 to put gas in. The supply was in the road outside and it was about 2m from the edge of the road to where they installed the meter. Not that extortionate I thought.

Andy_L

Is there a gas main nearby (specifically within 23m) do the neighbors have gas?

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/how-do-i-obtain-new-one-domestic-gas-connection
"For domestic premises within 23 metres of a relevant main a GT [gas transporter] is obliged, upon request, to install assets necessary for the connections of the premises and is entitled to recover the reasonable costs for providing the connection. In most cases the GT will bear the costs of installing the first 10 metres of pipe in the public highway. "

Otherwise you could use bottled gas or go all electric. Considering that, AIUI, the current UK plan is to do away with gas for domestic heating (and possibly cooking?) is it worth bothering?

DevilDamo

Your first port of call is to get in contact with the gas company to see what options you have. They may be able to provide some but limited advice without first carrying out a site visit or survey. Otherwise, the options would be provided following this visit/survey along with the relevant costs.

Andy_L

Can the estate agent not provide some info?

Jackmydad

Once you get out of big towns access to mains gas is rare.
If you think about it, from Victorian times until the 1960s, "town gas" needed a "gas works" and so they were put where they were viable. Generally bigger towns.
As already said, with future plans I wouldn't be paying much to have gas put in.

lesalanos

Cadent sorted mine for £850

The price depends on distances to the mains.  Can be reduced if you dig the trench etc but I thought the price was reasonable

The job itself was a total shambles though and took something like 12 weeks from quote to install

dogshome

Contact the Gas distributor for your area, it could be Cadent or another, but Cadent will tell you who it is

They will survey what is needed and give you a free quote,

They only do the pipework to your dwelling, the meter is fitted also for free by your chosen Gas supplier - usually best to use who ever is supplying your Electricity.

The biggest expense is usually the installation of the gas boiler, radiators and pipework - Get at least 3 quotes from local firms for this, and I mean LOCAL - The  " I know where you live card" gets your annual service done properly at a reasonable price, any beakdown quickly sorted and saves buying an expensive service contract from the likes of Brit Gas

TELLIT01

A quick check with neighbours of adjacent properties will at least provide info as to whether gas is already in the road.  They may even say that they investigated and found it too expensive.