Gas/lead pipework - advise please!

[faffalotty]

Survey on the property I'm buying has highlighted that there is lead pipework leading from the gas meter and that lead is prone to leaks. It suggests that I get it checked by a gas engineer.
I don't know if this is just the suveyor covering themselves or if this is something that I really need to get sorted.

I've contacted a few gas people, only had 1 reply so far and he says it's not ideal but only a problem if it's leaking. He would charge £60/hr to look at it.

Any ideas?

a lead pipe connected to the gas meter is viewed with great disfavour because, in the event of a fire, the lead will melt and gas will gush into your blazing home.

If the lead is on the Supply side of the meter, the owner of the supply network (for example NG or SGN) should have it replaced, perhaps by one of their contractors. Start with the phone no. on your gas bill. If the phone desk is in Calcutta and they don't know what to do, try a two-line letter. If it is on the consumer side, you can get an RGI to replace it. The flexible steel tube is called an Anaconda. If it is quite a short one, measure the lead pipe and provide a photo to whoever you ask, a standard one mat fit. If it is long, or you have additional lead gas pipes that are still in use, it will cost more.

If you arrange it in advance, the person who services your boiler might be able to do it, or at least advise you.

Thanks PigletJohn

I've not seen it so I don't know how long it is, but I'm advised that it is on the consumer side.

Just so I have a rough idea, do you know what the minimum cost is that it could be to replace?

An hours work would probably be ample, depending what else crops up (e.g. access, piles of junk in the way)

I don't know the price of the item, perhaps a few pounds, maybe ten.