Compulsory gas disconnection by SGN

purplefog

I've just received a letter from SGN informing me that the gas supply to the block of flats I live in will be disconnected in 28 days time. I rent from the local authority and this all started 18 months ago when the first letter arrived offering £500 for a buy-out. This was being offered to all residents who were still using gas, as the existing pipework needed replacing due to its age.The reason given for not going ahead with the work was that the cladding on the outside of the block would be compromised if they were to replace the pipework externally, as well as the disruption that it would cause other residents. I spoke to someone in their operations team at the time who told me that they hadn't yet looked at the feasibility of doing this from the inside of the building, which to me seemed possible, as sprinkler pipework had been installed previously in response to the Grenfell fire. This was routed through the electricity meter cupboards, located on the landings of the emergency stairs for each floor. This was never mentioned again. I told them that I wasn't interested in accepting their offer. They told me at the time that unless all residents accepted the offer, the buy-out would not happen, and I have email proof of this, but I did some research that indicated that disconnection seems to be their general policy. 

A few months later, the offer was doubled and the landlord urged us to accept. Remembering that they'd said it couldn't go ahead without 100% acceptance, I didn't bother to respond. I'm not sure that it would have made any difference if I had again refused their offer as it struck me that they would just keep coming back with a better offer, and I expected this to happen anyway. After all, it's going to be a lot cheaper than the cost of replacing the pipework, but they are now using that as an excuse and there's been no mention of any compensation. At no point was I warned that I would forfeit my right to compensation if I didn't respond, and I would've thought that there should have been more communication to this affect. I also note that their letters always arrive on 'bad news Friday', unless it's a bank holiday, of course! So you have the weekend to fume about it before you can do anything! Has anyone had experience of this, or knows what my rights may be, if any? Thanks.

GingerTim

Just posting the earlier version of this thread so we don't go over the same ground: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6517350/compulsory-gas-disconnection-by-sgn#latest

MattMattMattUK

Following on from the other thread, you have no right to compensation and as others said they can go ahead with or without your agreement. Your landlord will need to replace your oven/cooker, you will need to allow them access to do that on a reasonable timesframe, that is pretty much it.

Gerry1

If you only use gas for cooking it might be worth considering a cooker with an induction hob, plus an air fryer.

Or stay with a gas cooker but buying gas in cylinders. More expensive per kWh than mains gas but no standing charges, so it might end up close to cost neutral.

MattMattMattUK

Gerry1 said:

If you only use gas for cooking it might be worth considering a cooker with an induction hob, plus an air fryer.

Induction is great to cook with, instaneous control of heat, though the landlord might want to fit bog standard electric hobs as they are cheaper.

Gerry1 said:

Or stay with a gas cooker but buying gas in cylinders. More expensive per kWh than mains gas but no standing charges, so it might end up close to cost neutral.

Bottled gas is against fire regs in a flat and no landlord would fit it. The OP's landlord will need to fit an electric oven. Thr OP has said in other posts their hot water and heating is on a heat network so dropping the gas entirely and using electricity for cooking will be cheaper anyway as whilst electricity is more expensive per kWh unless they cook with the oven a lot that saving will be more than matched by only having one standing charge. 

FreeBear

MattMattMattUK said:

Gerry1 said:

If you only use gas for cooking it might be worth considering a cooker with an induction hob, plus an air fryer.

Induction is great to cook with, instaneous control of heat, though the landlord might want to fit bog standard electric hobs as they are cheaper.

Most likey, he'd go for one of these - https://www.currys.co.uk/products/essentials-csphobx21-58-cm-electric-solid-plate-hob-inox-10221688.html - Dirt cheap, but woefully inefficient, and just plain nasty. A half decent induction is four times the price, and so much better to use. Had one of those nasty hobs. Slow to heat up, slow to cool down, and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. Scored an induction for ~£90 in a New Year sale, and haven't looked back.