Need advise on neighbours phone line on my wall

pauldv

Hi
I bought a new built flat 2 years ago but the flat below me has had a phone line installed and the cable is attached from the pole next to my window so close i can touch it and down my wall to his flat I called openreach and an engineer came and said "if I wanted it moved I would be charged" there is a cable duct outside for the cable to go through but openreach who install the lines said this way was cheaper ive complained to ofcom and otelo and they say its not there area.
Does anyone know what I should do next?
oh they told me if I cut it down I will be fined.

Browntoa

surely this is the area for the developer or the people who look after your building services

the external fabric of the building is down to them

Buzby

As a licenced Telco - BY have the right to establish wayleaves and provide telephone services as and when required. I'm sure if you were the neighbour that requied the phone line, you'd be pretty hacked off if you were told by BT that you can't have it because the neighbour won't let them use that bit of wall?

The issue of cost to install via a particular route is of no real consequence - although most flats would be fed from a central point. Yes if you cut the line this will be classed as criminal damage which will involve the police, and you'll be held liable for any repair costs as part of civil recovery.

Jemma-T

Why, is the cable a problem? It's a needed utility. Would you want someone interfering with or obstructing your gas, electric or phone?

I don't see who could 'fine' you but you might be arrested for criminal damage (they'll know it's you too as you've already spoken with them).

Just leave it alone and watch Dancing on Ice. Or something.

baldelectrician

One of the towns locally has a byelaw in certian parts that no TV ariels or BT (or simillar) wires are to be seen, the cabling has to come from ducting.

This is specified in the title deeds of each house

Check your title deeds

On another note- I think you may be getting a bit overheated about a telephone line, it's an essential service

McKneff

why is it such a problem for you, you didnt say

iniltous

Are all the flats in the block that have landline service fed from this pole ??, You say its new build so its unusual not to have a internal distribution point (dp) inside the building (in the utility area for example) provided and payed for by (bt) openreach, the developer providing the internal wiring to each flat, the developer even gets paid by (bt) openreach for doing this work
I would imagine the developer never contacted (bt) openreach to install a DP or the development was so small as not to warrant a underground feed, is your flat in a purpose built apartment block or is it a converted house ?

advent1122

anniehanlon wrote: »

why is it such a problem for you, you didnt say

I'm with the Op.
Ok, in the grand scheme of things it is not enough to cause high blood pressure or sleepless nights - but if my neighbour run a cable down my wall without permission I would be well peeved off.

pauldv

well the best way to discribe the building is a 3 storey town house on the ground floor is a flat and on the 1st and 2nd is my flat heres one for sale along the road http://www.clivewatkin.com/full-details.asp?propertyid=96296.

I have a white wall and the cable is joined in between the two top living room windows and runs down the wall and connects near the front door. if I look out of my window the cable is attached half way up the window so its the first thing you see.
The people I pay service charge too said I should complain to bt because it looks messy and the ducts are there for this purpose, bt said I should complain to openreach and openreach say I should complain to bt for poor workmanship. someone from openreach came and had a look and agreed it could be better but if they did work i would have to pay for it.

The cable would run a shorter distance if it was through the duct pipe and it wouldnt be seen but it seems nobody will pay to have it removed once its up.

The problem with me is i`m a first time buyer spending most of my wages on my investment and someones stuck a dirty black cable down the front that I see everyday inside and out when it could be hidden.

tomstickland

advent1122 wrote: »

if my neighbour run a cable down my wall without permission I would be well peeved off.

A flat owner doesn't normally own any outside walls. The people below probably just asked BT for a line and had no say in where it went.

pauldv

Theres probubly no piont in going any further I think I would get used to it. I was thinking when I sell I could say its a washing line and hang sock from it.
A few people have said the outside walls are communal property so as more neighbours get phonelines the worse it looks the maintenence people would probuble sort it out in the end.

thanks for helping.