Page 2 | Extension plans to block our utility meters in

Doihavetogotoworkdotcom1 · 2020-10-20T19:49:22+00:00

Our neighbour has put plans in to build right up to the boundary where are gas and electricity meters are on our garage wall. There will be a 5cm gap which means we can’t read the meters or access them in emergencies etc. Planning are going to approve the plans but building regulations say there should be a 1 metre gap from the closed box. We have to step on to the neighbours drive to read the meters. We have about a foot of land. The house was built like this over 30 years ago so I believe that we have established rights? I wonder if anyone can advice me at all?

DrDreReturns · 20/10/2020 22:04

Have the meters always been in that location? Or were they moved there after the house was built? If they've always been there I'd hope there would be something in the deeds allowing you access to your neighbours property so you can read them.

Chumleymouse · 20/10/2020 22:05

Nobody will make you move your meters, but if your neighbours was willing to pay to have them moved and you were happy with that, that would be ok. But it will be thousands of pounds and a lot of work inside and out . It would be simpler for him to amend his plans. 👍

Chumleymouse · 20/10/2020 22:10

@Turangawaewae , if my neighbours knocked on my door and said excuse me we want you to move your gas and electric meters because we want to build an extension, I’d talk to them alright, “ fuck off “ 🤬

Original poster

Doihavetogotoworkdotcom1 · 20/10/2020 22:13

Chumley I agree. The meters have always been there and easement rights should exist although there is nothing in writing. I think the builders made a mistake when building our house as we are the only house in the street without a side access to our back garden. The house is around 32 years old now.

OP posts:

Original poster

Doihavetogotoworkdotcom1 · 20/10/2020 22:17

Chumley that’s exactly what we would say. Last year he wanted to put a 6 foot fence all the way down the drive that would again block the meters. We told him that he couldn’t block them in. His answer was when the meters need to be read to lift the fence panel out. He proceeded to drill holes for the fence posts until he came across a pipe and had to abandon his plans. We’ve not spoken to him since!

OP posts:

SoloMummy · 20/10/2020 22:18

Why should they have to reduce their extension because of your boxes that you want to access on THEIR LAND?

Yes it will cost you. Yes that sucks. And sucj it up. Your box on your property your problem!

ivfbeenbusy · 20/10/2020 22:22

Just to say they absolutely will fit meters inside the house - ours are in our integral garage and I had new meters fitted in the last 5 years

dementedpixie · 20/10/2020 22:26

OP doesn't want them moved into the garage

Original poster

Doihavetogotoworkdotcom1 · 20/10/2020 22:27

We definitely don’t want them in the garage. Indoor meters are discouraged now anyway.

OP posts:

AlwaysLatte · 20/10/2020 22:30

I think that you having to go into their land as the only way of reading your meter is terrible planning. I would definitely move it. I doubt you could ask them to change their plans since it's their land, unless you already have a right of way written in the deeds.

dementedpixie · 20/10/2020 22:31

Our gas meter is outdoors and the electric is indoors (in the room that used to be the garage).

Chumleymouse · 20/10/2020 22:32

If he knew he couldn’t block them in before with the fence then he knows he can’t with the extension, he’s just trying it on hoping you will move them .

You could always contact your utility companies and ask them any questions you might have . Explain the situation and see what they say.
But there is no way building control will let him build over it.
I’ve seen extensions turned down because of building over gas pipes and owner didn’t want to pay to have them re routed , so building a meter in is a no hoper 😀
I’m guessing he knew the meter had to be accessed from his side before he bought the house.
I had a gas meter moved about 25 years ago, probably about 5 meters away and it was about a thousand pound then so god knows how much it would cast now

dementedpixie · 20/10/2020 22:33

If the meters have always been there then I wouldn't be going out of my way or going to the expense of moving them for a neighbour

Bwlch · 20/10/2020 22:35

If the meters have always been there then I wouldn't be going out of my way or going to the expense of moving them for a neighbour

I doubt the neighbour cares whether they move them or not. It's not their problem.

titchy · 20/10/2020 22:35

@dementedpixie

If the meters have always been there then I wouldn't be going out of my way or going to the expense of moving them for a neighbour

This!

If your neighbours an arse I'd wait till the footings were dug and the building inspector was round to approve their depth then point out to the inspector the issue....

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 20/10/2020 22:37

Well why should the neighbours build an extension that causes problems especially health & safety reasons We had a gas leak from out meter & the gas meter had to be replaced.
How the hell can that be done if the neighbour wants his extension right up to the boundary wall!!
The neighbour should suck it up & decrease the size of the extension or pay to move the meters.
I'm sure the neighbour would be thrilled if the neighbours house caused a gas explosion due to a leaky meter that couldn't be accessed to make safe and neighbours house collapsed because of it.
Some people are muppets.

However it won't (🤞or shouldn't be approved by building regs)
Read The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No 2451), Reg 12
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/regulation/12/made

dementedpixie · 20/10/2020 22:37

It will be the neighbours problem when their extension is halted due to the meters not being able to be accessed in an emergency

Shadowboy · 20/10/2020 22:44

It cost us just shy of £1.2k to move an electricity meter (we don’t have gas) so I can imagine the cost of moving has being immense.

It will be your neighbour who will need to bear the costs because you’ve effectively gained an easement over the land to read the meter. It’s like people who have guttering or windows that open over their neighbours land- the neighbour cannot stop you from conducting repairs but you cannot cause damage to their property in doing so etc etc. Him preventing access would breach your rights and would be a risk to safety. I would ask the provider and building regs to give advice.

SwedishEdith · 20/10/2020 22:46

@Doihavetogotoworkdotcom1

Chumley that’s exactly what we would say. Last year he wanted to put a 6 foot fence all the way down the drive that would again block the meters. We told him that he couldn’t block them in. His answer was when the meters need to be read to lift the fence panel out. He proceeded to drill holes for the fence posts until he came across a pipe and had to abandon his plans. We’ve not spoken to him since!

What was the pipe and, presumably, it's still there?

Original poster

Doihavetogotoworkdotcom1 · 20/10/2020 22:47

We will find out for definite on Friday! I’ll read the gas safety legislation, thank you.

OP posts:

SoloMummy · 20/10/2020 22:49

[quote TracyBeakerSoYeah]Well why should the neighbours build an extension that causes problems especially health & safety reasons We had a gas leak from out meter & the gas meter had to be replaced.
How the hell can that be done if the neighbour wants his extension right up to the boundary wall!!
The neighbour should suck it up & decrease the size of the extension or pay to move the meters.
I'm sure the neighbour would be thrilled if the neighbours house caused a gas explosion due to a leaky meter that couldn't be accessed to make safe and neighbours house collapsed because of it.
Some people are muppets.

However it won't (🤞or shouldn't be approved by building regs)
Read The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No 2451), Reg 12
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/regulation/12/made[/quote]
Wtf shouldn't the home owner be able to build up to whatever point re the boundary line on his property?

His land to do as he pleases.

The fact that the op is a self centred twit about this isn't his issue.

She has time to remedy the situation. She's choosing not to. Well sadly, if push comes to shove and they don't move it, then he could presumably take legal action asking for damages about their work not being able to progress because she thinks with no legal backing that she has a right to access his property to read her meters.

Entitled or what.

dementedpixie · 20/10/2020 22:50

An easement may be created in a number of ways. One is byexpress grant. In this case there may be a Deed of Grant that states the terms of the easement, or the grant may take the form of a clause in a conveyance deed or a transfer deed.

An easement may be createdof necessity. Thus a parcel of land will have a right of way of necessity over a road, track or path leading to it if that route is the only means of access between the public highway and that parcel of land.

An easement may also be createdby prescription. This happens when someone carries out an act (that is capable of being an easement) repeatedly, openly and without the (potentially servient) landowner's permission for a period of at least twenty years.

dementedpixie · 20/10/2020 22:52

It is not a simple matter to move meters and it is expensive.

dementedpixie · 20/10/2020 22:53

If the meters have been accessed that way for the last 20 years then there is a right to do so according to the above

Chumleymouse · 20/10/2020 22:59

It depends on the age of the house as to where the meters are , our last house electric was inside the hallway , but if you look at all new builds now they are all on the outside ( usually next to each other for access ) a lot of houses had them in the integral garage as that was ok back then. They used to put the boiler it there as well , not sure that was a good idea to have the gas meter and the boiler in the same room 😀

I think some people have replacing a new meter with an old one ( smart meter/ newer model ) with moving one to a new location mixed up .
I know transco don’t allow gas pipes under floors in houses as if there is a leak they have to break up floors because the pipe is their responsibility and they need to have easy access to it , so they want it outside.

Anyway keep us posted op , it will be interesting to see what happens here 👍. And good luck.