Neighbours kerosene leak

JaneyCantFixIt7

Long story short - our neighbour's oil is leaking into our house!  They replaced their oil line last year and said the smell would go with time but we have since replastered and repainted the adjoining wall and have a kerosene snell stain increasing in size coming through.  We own and they rent and the landlords are not pleasant people to deal with and have been very dismissive thus far.  It first started 18 months ago.  It definitely isn't our line as ours has been tested and I popped next door and they have the same smell but built in cupboards so can't see anything. 

Should I contact our insurance company first of all or should I press the landlord to escalate with theirs?  I can only find info about water leaking between properties online so I'm not sure how worried I ought to be!

Ebe_Scrooge

If oil is definitely leaking, and if it's contaminating the ground, then the Environment Agency (or SEPA if you're in Scotland) might be interested: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/check-your-heating-oil-tank 

Eldi_Dos

Contact the Petroleum Officer at your local council.

FreeBear

Contact your insurance company.

A kerosene leak is a fire risk as well as a health hazard. And the smell could take years to subside if it has soaked in to brickwork & plaster. Also contact the council/EA as per the two posts above. Depending on the size of the leak, the local fire brigade.

Jeepers_Creepers

Hi Janey.

Everything said by others - in spades. Act NOW.

The clean-up costs could be very high indeed.

Do you have Legal Protection on your house insurance? If so, call them right away too - they will want to be informed of any likely claim, and make sure they know who to 'blame'. They will guide you.

From what you describe, it seems as tho' their pipe was leaking over a year ago, and this is presumably why they had the pipe replaced last year? By then, the damage was seemingly done. I hope there isn't a time limit on when you (your insurance co) can make a claim.

Has the smell and stain continued at the same level since then, or could it actually be getting worse? Ie, is it still leaking?!

It sounds as tho' you took your concerns about the smell to them (tenants or landlord?) before, and they were dismissive? From how you describe the LL, this could come back to bite them very hard indeed.

I'd also recommend you write down a chronological account of the whole case. Eg:

1) Feb 2020 - became aware of smell of heating oil in my kitchen. Also noticed stain.

2) Had my oil line checked by X company (invoice 98569) and they reported oil supply to my house was fine.

3) Made contact with No. F's landlord on the Gth of April, and they were dismissive; "Stick the oil pipe where the sun don't shine..." or whatever they said :-)

4) Contacted the LL again on the Hth and they ditto.

5) In July 2020 they had their oil pipe replced - I think the work was carried out by WePipeAnyOilDotCom.

6) No change in oil smell, and stains appear... etc etc etc.

You get the idea.

Essentially, you want to show that you DID bring the situation to the LL's attention, and you DID did have your own pipe checked.

JaneyCantFixIt7

Thanks very much everyone, I stepped up my game and got the insurance company involved.  They sent an oil expert around who said it was defo next door, next door say it defo isn't... glad I have them to back me up and get it sorted (hopefully). 

Rosa_Damascena

Glad its on its way to resolution Janey.

Would you consider changing your username to something less triggering for those of us that remember Jimmy Saville?

canaldumidi

Do you also have an oil boiler? If not, then it's obviously your neighbour!

If you do, is your tank or boiler anywhere near the leak?