gas standing charges

Billybasher7

Hello can somebody please advise me on the following matter and if its correct.

I live in a block of flats in a rented property. My flat has no gas appliances or heating so no gas is used. However I am getting charged a gas standing order by my supplier OVO? When I questioned this they said it was because there is a gas connection available to the building so its available if i wished to used it. Is this correct?

McKneff

Ask your landlord. 
I wouldn't be paying it. They are not supplying you so they are not your suplier

QrizB

Billybasher7 said:

I live in a block of flats in a rented property. My flat has no gas appliances or heating so no gas is used. However I am getting charged a gas standing order by my supplier OVO? When I questioned this they said it was because there is a gas connection available to the building so its available if i wished to used it. Is this correct?

Does your flat have a gas supply, despite having no gas appliances? If so, you still need to pay the standing charge.

You could ask to have the gas supply removed, with the agreement of your landlord.

ArbitraryRandom

As per QrizB, the fee is for maintaining the pipes that run from where it's stored to your gas meter (if you have one), so you can go out and buy/have connected a gas cooker next week if you wanted to. 

Some important questions would be around when you moved in/how long you've lived there and when you first told them you don't use gas - and if you would agree to having the meter removed/disconnected (on the understanding your landlord could likely deduct the cost of having it reinstated at the end of your tenancy from your deposit, which would be several hundred pounds but if you're intending to live there for a number of years might be worth it)...