Gas metre positions in council managed flats

Inky_66

I own my flat in a block managed by the local council. All the gas pipes are being redone, and the gas metres are being moved from inside each flat to each flats private outside balcony. The balconies are tiny, but the gas company are saying the council have told them they are only allowed to put the gas metre on one particular wall of the balcony - which is the most obtrusive and where it takes up the most space. I want it to go on a different wall, the gas company say the council won't allow this. Can the council decide this for me as a homeowner? Do I have any right to insist that the metre goes on a different wall?

Neil_Jones

The trend for gas meters if they have to be moved or newly installed is on an outside wall.  Course a lot depends on where the existing pipework runs.

If you bought your flat via Right To Buy, it will almost certainly be leasehold only.  So in other words you only own the flat, not the rest of the building or the land, so technically speaking the council could insist on having it where they wanted, but in reality a lot depends on where the pipework already goes - they're not going to dig the entire area up just because you want it somewhere else, so to speak.

Inky_66

Thanks. They are laying all new gas piping outside and new pipes up the side of the building to the balconies. They want the metre on wall B, right by the right angle on wall A - and the pipes they will be running will run across wall A to get to B. I want it on wall A, just short of where they want it on wall B. So no new pipes, nothing extra. 

rp1974

Probably would be contacting the council to clarify what is and isn't possible to be done.
What reasons have been given for the works,Is it compulsory?.
I would see the issue if it required extra materials and labour,not less apart from any regulatory reasons being involved 

The_Fat_Controller

I think you'll have to accept having your METER where the council intend to fit it rather than a METRE or two away from that position.