This is plumbing related, but perhaps more of a legal type question. I'm not sure if there's anywhere on this forum where it would be better placed, or if anyone knows of a different forum that would be appropriate?
While I'm here though, there is a safety/access angle to this question though, and I'd appreciated the views of any plumbers...
We have recently bought an 1970s ex-council, lower maisonette (ground and first floors). Above is another maisonette, also privately owned, and currently empty and for sale. There is a large steel gas pipe running vertically through our home, through the kitchen and the bedroom above, before disappearing into the ceiling and into the place above.
In the kitchen, there is a gas pipe emerging from the ground which has been capped off (I've checked and it's not live), and it is obvious that the steel pipe originally connected up to this, but now it connects to a newer section of copper, which goes through the outside wall and into a meter box which is located within our boundary on our wall. So basically at some point there has been a leak, and this new section has been inserted, but the steel pipe running through the house has been left.
I guess it's down to the deeds as to whether we have any rights to get this re-routed by anyone. I have had a quick look, and there are clauses about access to pipework, but not being a lawyer, I don't really know what I'm looking at. My question to you guys though, is what are the safety implications of having this big pipe runnign through our house? Obviously it's ugly, and while I'm resigned to boxing it in, this in itself will create access problems in case of a leak. My main worry though, is that there's a huge section of gas pipe in my house, that I have no way of isolating! Should I be concerned?
Any opinions on whether a) the gas board, b) the owner upstairs, c) the council (who own the freehold) might have any responsibility to update this installation? I'd be a lot happier if it could be routed up on the outside of the property, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking. One friend jokingly suggested just cutting it off whilst the place is empty! Or given the cost of gas, tapping into it for our supply!
Or course this is in jest, but the point is, it's possible.
FYI, the situation with their water main is the same, runs right on up through our house. At least leaking water doesnt kill.
While I'm here though, there is a safety/access angle to this question though, and I'd appreciated the views of any plumbers...
We have recently bought an 1970s ex-council, lower maisonette (ground and first floors). Above is another maisonette, also privately owned, and currently empty and for sale. There is a large steel gas pipe running vertically through our home, through the kitchen and the bedroom above, before disappearing into the ceiling and into the place above.
In the kitchen, there is a gas pipe emerging from the ground which has been capped off (I've checked and it's not live), and it is obvious that the steel pipe originally connected up to this, but now it connects to a newer section of copper, which goes through the outside wall and into a meter box which is located within our boundary on our wall. So basically at some point there has been a leak, and this new section has been inserted, but the steel pipe running through the house has been left.
I guess it's down to the deeds as to whether we have any rights to get this re-routed by anyone. I have had a quick look, and there are clauses about access to pipework, but not being a lawyer, I don't really know what I'm looking at. My question to you guys though, is what are the safety implications of having this big pipe runnign through our house? Obviously it's ugly, and while I'm resigned to boxing it in, this in itself will create access problems in case of a leak. My main worry though, is that there's a huge section of gas pipe in my house, that I have no way of isolating! Should I be concerned?
Any opinions on whether a) the gas board, b) the owner upstairs, c) the council (who own the freehold) might have any responsibility to update this installation? I'd be a lot happier if it could be routed up on the outside of the property, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking. One friend jokingly suggested just cutting it off whilst the place is empty! Or given the cost of gas, tapping into it for our supply!
Or course this is in jest, but the point is, it's possible.FYI, the situation with their water main is the same, runs right on up through our house. At least leaking water doesnt kill.
