Potential Gas Leak - Landlord Forum thread 355107

Potential Gas Leak by Rebecca (Colorado (CO)) on November 16, 2017 @18:36

Today I was informed that my foundation on my newer rental property (2016) has shifted about 1in. and the gas line pipe is resting up on the concrete in the crawl space. These are row homes and my neighbor one house down from me has a gas leak and the piping in my crawl space looks similar to his.
The builder does not think that I currently have a leak. A plumber is doing a meter test on the home and the foundation and piping is scheduled to be fixed by the builder next week. My tenants want to have a meeting tonight. If there is no leak and the foundation is being fixed next week, do they have any right to ask me for hotel? Or ask to get out of the lease? Or are they in any danger? I don't know much about gas leaks. Thanks for your help!

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Re: Potential Gas Leak by Anonymous on November 16, 2017 @19:44	[ Reply ]

So your foundation has shifted an inch and your neighbor has a gas leak? Don't you think that there is potential danger? What happens if your gas line ruptures and harms or even kills your tenants? What does your insurance company say about this issue? Will they cover you in case of an accident? Perhaps your insurance will cover any hotel expenses for the tenants. It's not enough to break a lease, as a landlord has a reasonable period of time to make repairs.

Re: Potential Gas Leak by Jimmy on November 16, 2017 @20:01	[ Reply ]

If the plumber did and inspection to test for a gas leak. And the plumber did not find an issue. This test could be done in an hour or less. Then The T wanting to go to a motel should be on their dime. A long term question is why did the foundation shift.

Re: Potential Gas Leak

Re: Potential Gas Leak by altagracia on November 16, 2017 @20:02	[ Reply ]

I guess you can test the presence of gas leak if you spray a solution of liquid dish soap dissolved in water around the concrete where the gas pipe is. if you notice that the size of bubble is getting bigger and bigger after you do the spraying then it is confirmed.There is a gas leak. Do you feel an smell of gas in your property? You should call the gas company to check right away. See what the gas company says or your plumber say.You would have to decide if tenant can stay or put them in a hotel depending how long it takes to solve the gas leak if there is any.

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Re: Potential Gas Leak by Rebecca (Colorado) on November 16, 2017 @20:58	[ Reply ]

Thanks so much for all of your responses. I just got confirmation that it was a hole in the neighbors gas pipe NOT the foundation. It was from the backfill dirt they used, there were big chunks of concrete in the pipe. The pipe had a big dent in it and some rust which caused the dent. I notified the tenants of this and they have still requested a conference type call tonight in about an hour. Do I need to do or offer a gas leak test?

Re: Potential Gas Leak

Re: Potential Gas Leak by Bryant on November 17, 2017 @09:13	[ Reply ]

If your foundation has shifted an inch or so, you need more than a builder or plumber, you need the services of a structural engineer to do an evaluation of the problem. Your insurance company needs to be notified asap. They may provide the structural engineer to investigate. Builders are builders, they are not structural engineers, nor can a plumber give advice on a shifting foundation. No one can opine whether or not the foundation will shift more and damage the gas pipes. Not notifying your insurance company may mean they will not cover you if something bad happens. As was stated, be up front and explain the issue and what you're doing to fix it asap to your tenants. The question that neither the builder, plumber or you can decide, is whether the shifting foundation makes the property inhabitable? That's what a structural engineer investigation can determine.

Re: Potential Gas Leak by Anonymous on November 17, 2017 @11:03	[ Reply ]

All any test will show is that there is no current gas leak. It does not provide proof that a gas leak will not occur under the same conditions your neighbors gas line was caused to leak. You need more than just one person's opinion that the gas line is safe, perhaps your city or county building inspector could give a more professional response as to any dangers. I would hate to rely on some plumbers opinion in court if things go wrong. As was pointed out, you need to notify your insurance company as to the damaged foundation and potential gas line leaking.

Re: Potential Gas Leak by LL78 (Va) on November 21, 2017 @20:53	[ Reply ]

Last thing you want to do is notify the insurance company. And also why? Everytime a problem? You said the pipe is only resting against concrete. That is not uncommon in older houses. It should not be and not an immediate problem with no sign of a leak. You have someone coming by to fix it and check for leaks. You could not be expected to do anymore. Who cares what happen to the neighbors.