LPG tank non-compliant after 8 years, can't change suppliers

emv

We had an LPG tank installed in 2014 by Countrywide (now taken over by Flogas). It was positioned 90cm from a garden wall and should have been 1 metre away. We were able to change to Calor in 2016 (Calor carried out work on the tank so saw the installation) and AvantiGas in 2018 (didn't see the tank and their questionnaire didn't ask the question abut distance from wall). When I tried to change supplier at the end of our contract, we were rejected by Flogas and Calor because of the tank position. They told us to ask AvantiGas for a risk assessment and to get the tank moved. Avanti have said we didn't disclose this (though they didn't ask and we were unaware of the regulations, which have been in place since 2008) and so we need to fund the work on the tank. This seems wrong as it means (a) we are stuck with AvantiGas who are not the most competitive - and stuck forever! and (b) we are paying for a job that wasn't done properly in the first place. I have put complaints in to Flogas and Calor but no response from either yet.

Ectophile

Any potential legal claim against Flogas or Calor for work done up to 2016 will now be statute barred as it was done over 6 years ago.  So neither of them has to do anything if they don't want to.

lohr500

Daft question but how big is the garden wall and does it form a boundary to an adjoining property? Just wondering if you could nudge the wall out by 10cm? Might be lower cost than relocating the tank.

emv

It's a huge retaining wall unfortunately! About 10 foot high. 

emv

Ectophile said:

Any potential legal claim against Flogas or Calor for work done up to 2016 will now be statute barred as it was done over 6 years ago.  So neither of them has to do anything if they don't want to.

Thanks, that's annoying but useful to know. Will check my Calor dates as it may have taken me a while to transfer so it could be within 6 years. And they were the last people to see the tank - it's annoying that Avanti didn't ask the question when we transferred to them too though.

pinkteapot

No advice but sympathies - we can't change supplier due to the landscaping done by our builder (new-build house, 2019). Our underground tank is in grass next to our drive and no-one else will take us without us installing a crash barrier around the lid. Now at the mercy of Calor prices.