Forced to move gas meter

fraserchalk

Today we have been visited by JDT who have advised we HAVE to have our gas meter moved (currently under the stairs) to outside, on the front of our house.  We’ve been advised if we don’t move it, then our gas will be disconnected. They are currently doing works in our road and going door to door to check if pipe work can simply be replaced internally and new meters installed or if new meters have to built onto the front of the house.

We do NOT want exposed gas pipes running along the front of our house nor a gas box stuck to the front of our period property which we have just finished renovating.  Not only with the exposed pipes be unsightly but it sounds like a H&S nightmare, what if they become damaged??  As they will be on our property are they deemed our responsibility after installed in its new location??

Do we legally have to have the gas meter replaced and are we being told the truth about having to have it built outside?

I am worried we are only being told this as it’s the least amount of work for them to do, instead of having to change/improve the existing pipe work.

Any help or advise from previous experience is much appreciated.

Thank you x

MWT

New builds have to be fitted outside and there is a limit of how long a pipe extends under the house in cases where the meter is being replaced on existing builds.

If the pipe is too long then they do have to move it and the meter can only be reinstalled inside with special permission and even then would only be minimally inside the house, like just inside the front door.

How far into the building is it installed now?

kazwookie

Check with your local council as you have a period building

fraserchalk

MWT said:

New builds have to be fitted outside and there is a limit of how long a pipe extends under the house in cases where the meter is being replaced on existing builds.

If the pipe is too long then they do have to move it and the meter can only be reinstalled inside with special permission and even then would only be minimally inside the house, like just inside the front door.

How far into the building is it installed now?

It’s 7m from the front of the property, does this, in your opinion, count as too far?

Ectophile

The meter box, and any pipework after the meter, would be your responsibility.

The gas companies have a rolling program to replace or re-line all the old cast iron or steel pipework.  Much of it is getting old, rusty, and can fracture without warning.  You won't be allowed to keep things as they are.

When they came to trying to line my pipe, it didn't work.  The gas pipe was squashed or kinked (probably by whoever built the front porch).  I ended up with a meter box on the outside of the house.

It might be possible to dig a trench around the house, and run a pipe in through the wall.  But only if that is physically possible, given where the meter is.  They certainly aren't going to start tunnelling under your house to install a new pipe, and I don't suppose you'd be happy if they ripped up all the floors.

MWT

fraserchalk said:

It’s 7m from the front of the property, does this, in your opinion, count as too far?

Yes, way too far as I understand it.

There is a limit on the allowed length of 'uncontrolled' gas pipe under a building, I believe it is only a metre or two at most.

The 'valve' on the metre is the control point so that needs to be outside the building or very close to the front of the building if permission is granted to have it inside.

Is your house actually listed, or just 'old'?

If it isn't listed I doubt there is much you can do about it unfortunately.