British Gas Compulsory "Safety Check" for non-rented house

Cuilean

Can anyone explain what a "British Gas Safety Check" is please? I'm currently working in London, leaving my other half by himself in our house in Glasgow. We're not renting, or landlords - we have a mortgage. A letter has arrived to say that BG have to do a "safety inspection every 2 years". I've never heard of this before

By my estimation, we've not owned the house for two years yet. We switched the meter from pre-pay to credit in August 2006, just after we moved in, so it's probably been in nearly two years. The bit that's bugging me is the fact that they have specified a date that someone must let them in to the house, at the end of this month, or they'll obtain entry by force at their convenience.

Does anyone else have experience of these safety checks? Is it true that we could hire a CORGI contractor carry out the check at our convenience and forward BG the paperwork? My being there is not an option when I'm in London, and we really can't afford for my other half to take a day off work, particularly when his employer is notoriously unsympathetic to requests for days off.

Canucklehead

Good morning: We received a similar letter last autumn. BG is our gas supplier but hadn't read the meter, property was being renovated/unoccupied therefore not using any gas, we called in the reading when we took possession then another quarterly reading...turns out BG just wanted the meter read by their third party operative, it had nothing to do with 'gas safety' despite the letter's contents. OH called up, a lot of something for nothing as they took his reading over the phone, 'thank you very much', end of Has BG read your meter in the last year or have they been billing solely on estimated or customer readings?

HTH

Canucklehead

whatatwit

We've had these requests on both properties that we own, neither of which is let out.
As Canucklehead said, it's usually more a case of wanting to check that nothing untoward is going on, especially if your usage is low.
Try 'phoning them and see what options there are or what sort of times they can offer to visit.

UtilityMan_3

Under the conditions for Rights of Entry warrants, the terms for "independent inspection of utility meters biannually" was put in so warrants could be obtained where access could not be gained by appointment.

Usually, this would be for vacant premises (where the meter would be removed for safety purposes), also where the customer does not want to give access.

It raises suspicion if the customer does not want to give access, but the rules state the data has to be collected independently. So..... if you contact the third party and give them the read over the phone, this equates to "independently obtained" and usually this is sufficient.

Please be absolutely aware that if a warrant is granted, your property CAN be accessed, by force if necessary JUST to obtain a meter read!

Rights of entry warrants are not executed by "Bailiffs" (who have no right to force entry). The people executing the warrants, are warrant officers. If they cannot "pick" your locks, they have the RIGHT to drill out and replace your existing locks. In these instances, you have to call the locksmith and make arrangements to obtain the keys to YOUR property!

The above is true for England, Scottish Law may differ slightly.

SwanJon

This is part of the terms of being a supplier - every meter has to be inspected every 2 years. It's nothing to do with the property being rented (that's the gas appliances).
The meter was last seen Aug 2006, so we are at month 20, giving them 4 months. They start the process now to give them time. Call BG and see if they can arrange a more suitable time. If you don't contact them, eventually they will come round as UtilitiesMan says.
It's for safety and as above, cheking that the customer isn't doing anything dodgy.

Premier_2

Talie wrote: »

....Does anyone else have experience of these safety checks? Is it true that we could hire a CORGI contractor carry out the check at our convenience and forward BG the paperwork? My being there is not an option when I'm in London, and we really can't afford for my other half to take a day off work, particularly when his employer is notoriously unsympathetic to requests for days off.

Unfortunately, you cannot get someone else (such as a CORGI engineer) to do this inspection - it has to be the meter reader.

British Gas offer the following timeslots:

Morning - 8am to 1pm (Mondays to Saturdays)
Afternoon - 12pm to 5pm (Weekdays, 6pm on Saturdays)
Evening - 5pm to 8pm (Weekdays only)


Perhaps your other half could pick a slot when he isn't working?

The so called inspection only actually takes about 60 seconds - as long as it takes to read the meter.