Could the drive to go green mean your gas supply is under threat?

When Jon Whitefield bought his one-bedroom apartment in South London’s Croydon four years ago for £220,000, he knew it was in dire need of modernisation.

Like many newcomers up the housing ladder, he had to buy a ‘doer’ – and the flat had no boiler or central heating.

So the 37-year-old construction worker spent the next six months and £15,000 of his savings putting in a new kitchen, bathroom and floor, and getting the walls painted and tiled. He also installed a new gas boiler for £3,000.

All told, Jon, who is single, ended up spending most of the piggy bank he’d built up since he was 16 on the renovations. But now he has to take almost everything out – and start over.

Because in a letter seen by Money Mail and sent to all 35 residents of Jon’s apartment building, the company that supplies gas to the building has threatened to shut off the supply completely.

The SGN firm doesn’t think it’s worth replacing any of the damaged pipes that power the 1970s block because so few of Jon’s fellow residents use gas.

Only three in ten flats use gas, with the rest relying solely on electricity for heating and cooking.

SGN says replacing the damaged pipe and necessary upgrades for others showing wear would cost £60,000.

But shutting off the gas completely will render Jon’s boiler useless and his radiators, pipes and gas oven will all have to be replaced.

Although his costs will be many thousands of pounds, SGN has only offered him £500 — an amount Jon describes as ‘insulting’.

“It took me a long time to put the property together the way I wanted it,” he says, “and I looked forward to enjoying the fruits of my labor.

“I don’t think they understand how much work it will be for me to switch to electric. I refuse to accept what SGN is doing.’

SGN has asked Jon to send two quotes for boiler replacement and installation costs, which it will ‘look at’. But consumer experts say SGN may be able to cut it off without his consent if it deems the gas supply unsafe.

His story may offer an alarming glimpse into the future, as UK households are being steered away from gas boilers to cut carbon emissions.

With the net zero targets, no new-build homes will be fitted with a gas boiler by 2025. Instead, they get environmentally friendly appliances such as heat pumps or electrically powered water heaters.

The government is encouraging all households to switch to more environmentally friendly options when possible.

SGN says it has been running “buyout schemes” to remove gas from 74 buildings over the past two years. In a buy-out scheme, residents are offered money in exchange for cutting off the gas supply.

The distributor first wrote to residents of Jon’s building in August to discuss the proposal.

The letter said, “It has been determined that the gas lines supplying your apartment building need to be replaced.

However, we have found that a limited number of residents in the building use gas.

That is why and in order to prevent the nuisance that replacement work entails for all residents, we ask your permission to permanently cut off the gas supply.’

SGN says the building’s owners had expressed concerns about what the property would look like if necessary renovations continued to keep it connected to the gas supply.

External piping must be installed for the work.

Jon, who owns the flat as a leaseholder, says: ‘I have a neighbor I’ve talked to about it and he refuses to let it happen either. SGN has not explained itself or made anything clear. It’s heartless.’

Jon has ignored the letter, as he has no interest in allowing SGN to proceed.

SGN insists that the buyout process involves obtaining written consent from the building owner, tenants and customers. It will not proceed without this permission. Another letter was sent this month.

Bradley Barlow, a spokesperson for SGN, said: ‘Our buyout process is a proposal to cut off the gas supply and will include giving all residents the option to permanently cut off their gas supply, offering compensation to switch their gas appliances to electric and cover the job. needed for the conversion.

‘£500 is offered to all customers, but we may increase this amount if the conversion cost is higher, provided evidence is provided to show the reason for the additional cost.’

That will be a struggle for Jon to get what he thinks is the right level of compensation.

SGN adds that it could continue the buyout if it feels it is the only safe, compliant option.

Consumer champion Martyn James says: ‘Ultimately, the gas distributor is contracted by the property management company, so the residents may not have a choice.

He says if you find yourself in this situation, the first thing to do is to organize a residents’ meeting and discuss the matter with others in the building.

“From there, it may be worth filing a complaint,” he adds.

h.kelly@dailymail.co.uk