WWYD gas people needing access to property

[VashtaNerada]

So we’ve just had a letter through the door from the gas company requesting we take two days off work this week to grant them access to our property. DH and I genuinely can’t take time off work this week, it’s just not possible. I considered giving a key to a neighbour BUT DD (10) is home alone for half an hour before school and for an hour after school. (It’s not an ideal situation but we’ve done everything we can to make sure she can walk to school safely, stays safe at home etc). I hate the idea of her being home alone with random people coming and going. I know it sounds ridiculous but it really worries me - something happened to her in her past with an adult she trusted and she is already slightly vulnerable. Can’t seem to think straight and work out the solution! There’s nowhere else for DD to go and no friends /relatives we can rely on.

Could she absolutely not go to a school friends for 2 evenings? No after school service as a one off?

Can you take time the following week?

I'd call the gas people and explain. See what they say.

I'd get in touch with the gas supplier, not through the phone number on the letter though. Have a look online for their main number and explain the situation. Rearrange for a more convenient time. What do the gas company need to do?

I'm with @Vitalogy - sounds very strange to be honest!

Two days? That seems unreasonable. I understand that housing associations/council need an annual service on pain of death, but what reason has been given that they need two days’ access?

Oh I've had this relating to stuff being relaid. I doubt they will need to be there all the time. It's too short notice unless you have had notification of major qorks letters and updates but even so........

Phone and rearrange.

It’s the whole street. They’re going street by street all round where I live. Not quite sure what it is they’re doing though!

I don't know OP, sounds a bit weird to me. I wouldn't want anyone in my house if I weren't there. Worse comes to worse take a sick day. They need to give people more notice!

It seems odd they need access inside your house, where is your meter placed ?

*Does the letter not explain what's going on?

Urgh, we had this. Whole-street work was initially notified but was postponed twice without any communication, then one Monday morning the workmen literally just showed up and looked a bit shocked when people turned round and said sorry, they had jobs to go to that day themselves... Communication from their head office was appalling. A lot of neighbours covered for each other.

Can you get home late/early? Get a babysitter?

If it’s the same relaying they did in our street, they need access to turn on/off and check all gas appliances are safe during and after the work. Sounds odd but it’s legit.

Yes I think that’s it, LookIm. Have annoyingly now mislaid the letter...

When they did ours they tried to get us to agree to having about 5m of pipes going around the outside of the house above ground level whereas previously it was inside. We refused, and seeing other properties where they did this (think uncovered gas pipes going up and over door frames) I am glad we did. In the end they magically found a way to lay them exactly where the old one had been. Is there any way one of you could work at home at some point? If not this week then next week? I wouldn't leave them to get on with it to be honest. Ring them, give them one set day and tell them it will have to be that day.

I definitely can’t work from home in my job (ever!) but maybe DH can at some point. Definitely not next week though. I’ll give them a call.