We weren't unjustified in thinking the timing would be OK, it was 2 weeks after the final completion date and all was promised to be finished in the lead-up. Unfortunately everything stalled, but the Project Manager actively encouraged us to move in due to the fact that we could no longer charge him rent in liquidated damages...and us being in the house meant we could do his job for him (let trades in / supervise works / clean up after them). Win-win (for him).
Faced with the prospect of the house never being completed (OK, maybe that's a little dramatic), but going on and on, it's become very unsettling...you see we won't get an occupancy certificate to officially live in the house until they have finished and we have paid in full. We're happy to pay when the job is done...but when will it be done? In the mean time, we're living in limbo, having trades arrive on random days at random times to complete partial jobs. When will this ever be over?
The Project Manager tells me he will complete all works when the building inspection report (completed this week) arrives (more stalling tactics - there's heaps to do in the mean time). I understand he wants to make sending trades out worthwhile but it's become glaringly obvious that there's a cash flow problem. And as they won't get paid until they're finished, it's all come to a grinding halt (again).
So back to the title. We're living in an incomplete house with partial services connected...we don't have any gas. We would have received the connection 2 months ago had the Builder installed the correct valve (as recommended by AGL), but he didn't, therefore we needed to reapply...and here we are, still waiting for gas. Gggrrrrr...another thing thing that makes us so angry! Anyway, without gas, we don't have hot water or a working cook top /oven.
I tell you, hot water is seriously underrated. Even with all of the house moving, we always had hot water...we made sure of it. Now we're in the hands of someone who couldn't give a stuff, so we're pulling out all stops to make it happen. As a compromise (it is winter, after all), the Project Manager arranged to have my brother's old electric hot water heater wired up. Unfortunately it had rusted out - no go. So this bright spark (I'm being sarcastic here), talked us into hooking up our hot water heater to an LPG bottle.
We questioned it..."are you sure this is OK..isn't natural gas different to LPG"?, but all was assured. The plumber (not the one that's done all of the shit work - he got fired, but his unqualified apprentice), connected it up and told us how to light it daily. Apparently it was safe, but "you don't want to run it all the time". Well, word to the wise: it's not safe. After 5 days of working, it stopped. And here's why...
Not trusting the Project Manager (why did we ever?), we got our superhero plumber who connected all of the stormwater work when we subdivided the block to come out and have a look. He was gobsmacked. He couldn't believe that someone would perform such a dodgy connection and told us we were lucky that something hadn't gone really awry. All of the insulation has burnt away and melted (see above) and the different gas / pressure has caused the pilot light to stop working (hence it no longer works).
The Project Manager's response? If it needs replacing, no problem...it's under warranty. I called the manufacturer - hooking it up to LPG voids the warranty. What an idiot. Oh well, he's the one who'll be replacing a 5 day old water heater.
The upside is that our superhero plumber saved the day by bringing over his spare electric hot water heater and hooked it up immediately. Aahhhh, hot water! No more boiling of kettles to wash up and bucket baths at night. Bliss! And the really good news? Gas will be connected on Wednesday! Hooray!!!
P.S if you ever really want to get somewhere with AGL (and bypass their 'robots' on the other end of the phone), speak very loudly on Facebook...it actually works.
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