There's a house in my street which has a gas meter cupboard recessed into the wall, but from which the door is missing, so the meter is exposed to the elements and the local yoof (it's directly onto the pavement, at toddler height).
I think it looks very dodgy, but the owner doesn't seem perturbed as it's been like this for ages. Graffiti on the walls nearby makes me wonder what some undesirable might take it into the heads to do... I dunno, is it just me, or is this setup inherently dangerous; as a resident should I (or the owner!) be worried about it?
What would happen if I rang Transco anonymously about it? (maybe mentioning a funny smell??!)
I was once told that the responsibility for this was the gas supplier (Transco?), but I'm not sure how the people you pay for your gas manage to get out of any responsibility, since your contract is with them...
OK - you're talking about a neighbour, but the argument still stands.
This Thatcherism has really simplified the supply of "public services" (not).
I might be wrong but I'm fairly sure that the responsibility for maintaining the enclosure rests with the freeholder.
In rented accomodation this would be picked up (by me anyway) on an Annual Inspection which would instigate me drawing up an At risk notice. I would reckon on the 'AR' being justified on the increased risk of corrosion damage to the meter. This would mean that I would expect the Landlord to get it fixed and I would be offering to do so.
If the installation is leaking then either Transco will fix it or the owner depending on where the leak is. If you smell gas the number is
0800 111 999.
The scope for trouble makers here is immense.
If the scrotes take tools to the installation then they are going to fall foul of the gas regs, if caught they will be in trouble, which no doubt is all in a day's mayhem for them. Likewise violence to the installation will constitute criminal damage. It is unlikely that anyone of them will be so creative as to simply turn it off which _should_ not make for a dangerous situation providing everything in the house is working right.
In this case you probably need to buy a whole inset box to get a new door.
The outset boxes are semi tamper proof requiring a simple triangular key to open the door, but invariably the installer will leave out the screws holding the bottom of the main cover in place. This is of huge help to fitters when doing work as we can then remove the whole cover by lifting it forward at the bottom and clean off. However in a rather exposed and public location like this one I would be inclined to secure it.
As I travel around these parts I can find many examples of dilapidated gas meter boxes. I guess there are just more important problems for Trasnco to fix, like stopping leaks, and making sure enough gas get through to fire everyone's combi boiler.
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