To be fucked off and ask for help writing a notice to my neighbours?

[lasketchup]

I'll get straight to it and save the waffle for breakfast!

My gas meter is in the communal bin shed with 4 large metal bins. Not wheelie bins but the big huge ones about 4 foot in length and height. People keep dumping rubbish like mattresses, sofas, furniture and other things they can't be bothered to take to the tip in the shed! This means I can't access my gas meter. It's been off for two days now and I have a 2 year old!

Spoken to housing officer she sends out texts to residents reminding them to be considerate but it's still happening. She's sent out another text today and asked the cleaners to attend to remove the mattress but still waiting to hear if they will come out today! Apart from that there not much else the housing association can do!

I'm fucked off!! Had surgery on my hand on Thursday so I physically cannot move the stuff myself and it bloody heavy anyway so I wouldn't be able to.

It's cold, I need gas! I can't bath properly or cook. My daughter relies heavily on her bedtime routine to get to sleep properly (she's awaiting an assessment of ASD, Sen & SpD amongst other things) and a bath is a huge part of that! I've been doing the kettle thing but it's long and heavy and I have a bad hand.

Coming off the meter is not an option.

I'm waffling!

WIBU to write a passive aggressive notice to stick on the bin she calling the guilty neighbours insensitive cunts!?

Any suggestions on what to put?

Just seen about your hand. Sorry!
Any strong friends who can move the stuff?

MrsAukerman OP clearly explains why moving it herself isn't an option, and anyway she shouldn't have to!

Sorry X post MrsAukerman

They need to install CCTV and fine the people who are dumping the rubbish.

You need to contact: counsellor, MP, local paper, boss of housing assocation (or whoever it is) and make yourself a massive nuisance.

Bypass the numpty sending texts out, she's hoping you'll go away. Complain to her boss. And her boss's boss.

Each time it happens, knock on a different neighbour's door asking them to help you move it and then they will all soon get to the bottom of who's doing it. You might even knock on the culprit each time and pretend you have no idea it's them and say 'sorry, but can I ask you to help as some one has blocked my access to my meter and I've had surgeery on my hand and we've had no hot water for days now.'

Am I right in understanding that if there is a gas leak that you have to turn the gas off at the meter and not at the point of entry into the housing unit/house/apartment/flat?

If you do, then you have a very good case to say on health & safety grounds, there must always be a clear passageway through to the gas meters at the back wall. You would have to get your landlord to circulate this to all the residents in the block as it is in their interests to keep this area clear of rubbish and debris. The gas company should be ensuring that they can reach this area unimpeded.

That is possibly the most ridiculous place for a gas meter that I have seen!

At the back of a bin shed!

Is it even possible to get past the bins, let alone the other rap?

Is there an estate inspection day? Your housing officer and surveyor should do this regularly. I would ask when the next one is and highlight this.

Knock on their door and get them to move it so that you can have gas?

As someone who worked for an electricity/gas supplier why is coming off the meter not an option for you?

This situation isn't going to go away, it will be filled again and again. Imagine post Christmas.

I second what [WhatchaMaCalllit] has said, I would definitely present this as a Health and Safety issue. I don't see how the HA can allow this situation to continue. Even if you hadn't had an op on your hand you shouldnt have to pull all that lot out and then put it back every time you need to get to your meter. Because gas leaks are so dangerous you have to have instant access to your meter. Also keep a diary of these events, all your calls etc. Take pictures every time and send them to your tenancy officer, build up a dossier that you can present to your councillor and MP. Would your DD's doctor or anyone involved in her diagnosis be willing to write a letter of support.

I suggest getting in touch with Citizens' Advice. You should not have a pre-payment meter in an inaccessible location. BG should change it to a billed meter or move it.

Why can't you shift it and put money in the meter? Confused.
The OP said that she has hurt her hand.

I think the site of the meter may well be in breach of Health and Safety regs
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l56.htm
Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 Approved Code of Practice and guidance
"170 Regulation 13(2) applies to everyone, not just gas engineers. Meter boxes or
compounds should not, for example, be used for storing combustible household
waste such as paper and cardboard."

I don't think they can have the gas meter in the bin store. I would go back to your housing officer and ask for an urgent assessment of the situation as they appear to be breaching H&S regs.

They are definitely breaching H&S regulations. That is a fire hazard. Your HA contact needs to send out a strongly worded letter to other tenants.

Yup, I reckon that's against H&S regulations. Try ringing the HSE free gas safety advice line on 0800 300 363

They are breaching H&S and the guidance for prepayment meters. The latter have to be easily accessible - putting it in an external communal area where you cannot control access, is unacceptable.Threaten the gas company with Ofgem.
You talk about a Housing Officer but also a Landlord. If it's an HA or LA house then write to them, outlining that the position of the meter breaches health and safety and that they have to pay for it to be moved into your house. Or/and apply for a hardship grant to cover the cost of the meter move.
As an aside, I'm not sure why they are quoting thousands of pounds. Putting in a brand new gas connection can cost thousands but you're basically asking them to move a meter. The pipework is obviously already in place because you have gas in your property so it shouldn't cost thousands at all.

Glads note looks good to me. I know the stuff has been moved now but I'd still send it.

Perhaps you could also put a polite and friendly really BIG note in the shed too.

ring your Gas supplier and tell them that you can't access your meter and are without supply? if they charge a call out then charge it to the HA?

The gas board are trying to rip you off and your neighbours are selfish gits.

I spent pounds to phone calls trying to get them to deal with a similar problem, a huge ugly pay as you go meter, too high up on a wall. Finally got to speak to a person, was told £100s to move it down a couple of feet, so I said would be changing supplier if they didnt put a newer, smaller, better placed one, THAT got their attention, had it sorted 10 later, no charge. Get your HA to deal with this asap, The HA should not have approved this, speak to the boss, as pp said. Don't let them fob you off, they and GB were in the wrong here. Good luck

Is there anyway it could be cheaper to switch to a smart meter? you know one of those you can top up online. I know you shouldn't have to, but may be worth looking into.

you know one of those you can top up online
That is actually a really good idea.

OvoEnergy offer them and that would have the benefit that the OP never has to go outside to top up the meter again.

British Gas do smart prepayment meters, as do Utilita and possibly others. I was with Utilita at my last house and always topped up remotely (minimum £10 online/mobile, no minimum at Paypoint). The credit goes straight onto your meter so you shouldn't need to touch it. It is in a stupid place though, has it passed a gas safety check?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude

Very impressed with your post - and very useful for me in another context.

Thanks for all your replies. I emailed my housing officer about moving the meter and asked for them to contact National Grid to get the go ahead for my Housing Association to move the meter. This is the response I got.

Is this information correct. What should I reply in regards to the H&S aspect of it. I'm crap a writing letters!

---~~Please be advised that Network are not responsible for the meters/utilitiy supplies including gas, electric, water, telephone etc etc, therefore I will not be in a position to contact National Grid to arrange for the meter to be moved, however you can arrange this if you wish and therefore should accept this as confirmation that Network has no objections to you having the meter moved.

I trust this clarifies the matters in hand.--~~~

The smart meter is a fantastic idea I will look into it!