Our landlord told us that water is leaking underground from the water line somewhere into the gas line. He told us that they tried to find it but could not. He stated that they would now have to run new gas lines throughout (and that since they are tearing everything up anyway they plant to replace both the electrical and water lines too) the entire residence and that we would be out of gas for a couple months. I have a few questions. If this is true, what options are available to remedy this aside from them having a very clostly expense that most likely will be passed on to us tenants. Are there common ways of determining where a leak would likely be?

Moved from Electrical to Plumbing. Electricians cause leaks, not fix them.

Sounds like a tall story to me, gas lines are under pressure so they would leak out not let water inside. Also, your lease states you rent and it can't be increased due to maintenance issues.

I agree with Ballengerb1. Yes there may be some condensation in gas pipe but not standing water... if there is - than chances are the underground gas pipe is corroded, has major hole in it and landlord will have to replace it paying for it him/herself. That should not be tenant's responsibility.

I agree with both Bob and Milo, tall tale here. Gas lines are under pressure and if you had ground water entering, you would have gas leaking out. If you had an underground gas leak the gas company would shut you down intermediately. Furthermore, a gas line would not be in the same trench as a water line. If you had to replace the gas line, why would it take months?

Sounds more like landlord want tenants to abandon leases for some reason.