BT overhead lines

archess200

I'm looking to buy a house with the view to demolishing and rebuilding. There is an overhead BT line running from a pole in the road across the site to the house behind, at the height of 4.5m, which would hinder my proposed construction. The pole also serves the existing property.
I cannot raise a survey by BT Openreach, as I am not the owner. They did say they would survey, when I approached them a month ago, but having heard nothing I checked and was told it had been cancelled, without contacting me, as I was not the householder there. Not good customer relations so far.
I am told it can be extremely costly and would take some time, costs upwards of £1000.
Why can BT have such control over a property and reduce it's value because of careless installations?
My question is, is there any way out of this without major cost?
If I put the building up, taking care that the crane doesn't touch the line, and then complain to BT that the line is sagging onto my roof, any idea what the outcome would be?
What is the best way to tackle it?

The connection to the existing house has to be disconnected. Any cost involved?
Then a new connection made to the new position. Any costs?

I don't want to buy if I can't put up what I want, or I would want a major cost reduction. Help please.

Steveseven

ouch .. that sounds
1. expensive
2. your going to need the luck of the gods to pull that one off.

DVardysShadow

You need to get the seller to facilitate the discussion with BT - with you fronting any fees. And you need to know from the seller via your solicitor what wayleaves are in place.

It would help you too to know the basic guidelines for constructing this sort of overhead line - minimum heights and maximum spans - requirements for stays on angles. With this info, you could at least resolve the feasibility of moving the line clear.

withabix

http://www.bt.com/pricing/current/Exch_Lines_boo/1294_d0e453.htm

might be helpful

System

DVardysShadow wrote: »

You need to get the seller to facilitate the discussion with BT - with you fronting any fees. And you need to know from the seller via your solicitor what wayleaves are in place.

Probably no wayleaves as they are not required for cables overflying your property. I only have a wayleave for the pole and not the 4 cables overflying my garden

withabix

IIRC if the cable is over your land and it physically clashes with proposed construction, unless there is an actual Wayleave or Easement in place for the cable, BT will have to come and move it at their own cost.

We have simply pulled them down at work in the past when they have got in the way (after agreeing with the person who the cable was connected to)

System

BT appear to think different http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/archive/index.php/t-1224179.html