Removal of overground Calor LPG tank

James192

Hello all,

Please don't let this do into a cost comparison between different ways of heating the house (and redundancy) etc as that's all been taken care of. All I want to know is might rights of removing the ghastly bulk LPG tank from the Garden and be done with it as I have alternative (multi) replacement) which is slightly more expensive possibly to heat the house but I'm not here to talk about that!

The tank is around 30% full, I'm happy to open all windows and blast it too empty to get rid of it sooner (or someone I know could steal the gas ). I purchased the property (I don't live in it, its part of my portfolio) around 4-5 years go, paid the small monthly stand charge but NEVER signed anything with Calor myself (neither my partner etc).

I understand its there property so I cannot just remove ad give to a farmer who would make use of it (sneaky note I know 'friends' of mine who have used this and my past ones for powering of LPG converted boats (don't give me a lecture on this as people have been doing this for years, plus its my 'friends's' who do it ).

So I want rid of a couple of things that come to mind what are the min requirements from a dwelling for a tank to be installed? I Do kow the tank was installed during construction some 25+ years ago as there is no access to it so a tele or crane would have been used or 100% would need to be now as it would have to be listed over the house as behind is full woodland covering most and neighbours rightfully has refused access to any equipment from Calor or subcontractors. 

I refuse to pay anything for the removal as I never signed for it and if within the law Im happy to chop it into half and leave it in front of the house for collection (helping Calor) or give it to a friend on his farm.

So before I get into any battle over this, what is the ruling on the proximity to my dwelling as at the moment (its less than 1600mm from the house). That should be enough to give it moved out of my garden for starters. If not whats the next step?

I wont go into detail but it's not just a ground source pump/mains or anything but all that is covered, I just want this bloody thing removed. 

pochase

If it would be electricty or gas you would be on a deemed contrct the moment you moved into the house (or took ownership).

My feeling here is that by paying a monthly standing charge for 5 years you cannot really say there is no contract with Calor. You may not have signed anything, but you are paying for their services and that could be treated as a contract.

Sorting_Hat

You are their customer by owning the property with the tank, when you buy a property with a tank your choices are to carry on with the existing supplier, change to another firm or at the 1st stage ask for the tank to be removed.
Since you have paid rental then the 1st option(choosing existing firm) is what you chose.
You may only pay to have the tank removed if Calor Charge, or switch to another LPG firm and try your luck with them.
Any tampering with the tank will leave you liable for its full replacement cost.

Ectophile

pochase said:

If it would be electricty or gas you would be on a deemed contrct the moment you moved into the house (or took ownership).

My feeling here is that by paying a monthly standing charge for 5 years you cannot really say there is no contract with Calor. You may not have signed anything, but you are paying for their services and that could be treated as a contract.

Deemed contracts for electricity and mains gas are written into the Electricity Act and Gas Act, and only apply when you turn on an electrical or gas appliance for the first time.  So if you hate gas, and turn the tap off at the meter when you move in, then you never have to pay the standing charge.

But it's hard to argue that you don't have a contract with someone you've been paying for 5 years!

James192

Cheers chaps. What about the proximity to the house as before the garage was just a garage but is now (since I moved in) in habitable)?

rhedyn

I've been through the process of getting an unwanted bulk LPG tank (out of contract) removed, and it was excruciating.  Whatever happens for you, I strongly recommend that you start documenting every interaction you have with the supplier scrupulously.  Give them thorough, polite and formal notice that you are ending service and you want the tank removed within a reasonable timeframe.  Send it in a letter by post.  Follow up by phone and email and document every conversation and every promise they make or refuse to make.

Because if they don't/won't remove it and you are faced with a choice between taking action yourself and fighting it when they try to bill you for the tank, or accepting that the tank may sit there for years until they find it convenient to do something about it, you will be in a much stronger position if you have that documentation.  Don't ask me how I know

rhedyn

Also, if by some miracle they are willing to remove it in a timely fashion, I would just go ahead and pay the uplift charge.  It's annoying but a relatively small price to pay to be shut of the matter.

Sorting_Hat

James192 said:

Cheers chaps. What about the proximity to the house as before the garage was just a garage but is now (since I moved in) in habitable)?

LPG tanks must be 3m from any walls or boundaries, now if a wall is a firewall ie no openings/windows/doors/drains then it can be 1.5m.
If the wall has been modified and now has windows etc then that has made the tank illegal and the property owner is liable for the cost of bringing everything back to within the rules.