What to do next?

[tigwig]

We were living on a timebomb! We have just had what we thought was a simple leaking radiator fixed after experiencing problems with our boiler.
Our house is just approaching 4yrs old (it was brand new when we bought it).
When the plumber took the radiator off there was a smell of gas coming from the area and to our horror he discovered that the gas pipe had been flattened on the bend of it and it was severly leaking gas which could have blown up our family at any time!
We think this has been caused by the plasterers that have struck it when fixing the plasterboard to the wall.
Our house should still be covered by the NHBC so do I contact them or the house builders themselves?
Can anyone give any advice on how to deal with this and what exactly to say?
We have now been left with a gaping hole in the wall not to mention we could have been killed.

[bednobs]

tbh, i would contact both. however the most you can hope for is that they will make your wall good, and i wonder if it's worth all the hassle for just that, considering your husband is a builder - it'll probably be quicker to get him to fix the wall from what i have heard/read about NHBC they wiggle outta everything,

[themas]

I'm amazed you didn't smell the gas.

I think NHBC is an insurance against structural defects. IfI am right, they wouldn't cover it. However, you ought to let them know, & also the builders. Apart from getting things put right the people who did this (if they can be identified) ought to be hauled over the coals for it.

It sounds as if the responsibility may well be that of whoever ran the gas pipe in what must have been an unsafe position. If your house is one on an estate then the same may havwe been done in other houses & the builders should check them out.

[Eve]

This might help about what it covers...

http://www.nhbc.co.uk/Homeowners/Problemswithy ourhome/Whatiscovered/

[buildersmate]

Once the property is past 2 yrs old, the NHBC warranty is merely against structural defects, as Themas suspects.

[tamborine]

Did you see the builders insurance?

[katiecarol]

i had a similar type of problem when my rented house nearly blew up. as you own your's i don't know if your local environmental health can help but they did help me. mine is based at the local town hall.

[buildersmate]

Builders will not typically have insurance for latent defects they leave behind. They will sort the issue out within the first 2 years themselves (as the NHBC obliges them to do) then anything else over that would only dealt with if they were feeling magnanomous. Structural issues get dealt with by the NHBC warranty outside 2 years.
Rented properties are covered by different sets of legislation.
Which suggests that nothing in the last 2 answers will help you.
The best bet is to contact the builder (if it is still in business) and try and get it to fork out on a 'concessionary' basis. A mild threat to suggest the 'local press may be interested' could help - though I doubt it.

[tigwig]

thanks for the answers. The NHBC have got back to me and surprise surprise they have confirmed they are not responsible. I will contact the builder (Taylor Woodrow) and see how they respond and if no joy seek legal advice as I am covered by insurance for the cost of this.
The hole in the wall doesn't bother me but the fact that the house could have blown up at any time does!