Renting question - cable tv

Tigerpants

Hi!

I am moving into a rented property and have arranged for Virgin to come in and fit cable tv, broadband and phone.

My landlord has raised concerns with the agency about this and I've assured him that there will be little disruption etc.

Where do I stand on this? I am thinking now that I should have asked for permission before getting it done but to be honest its become so standard these days to have cable etc. that it didn't even cross my mind.

Could the landlord deny permission? I'm thinking it will surely be a good thing to have in for when I move out and they have to re-rent it out. If they do deny permission I don't know what I can do as I need to have good broadband for my work

Any input or help would be very much appreciated

TP

theartfullodger

I'd suggest the tenancy agreement you've signed & have a copy with will have clauses describing how/if you need LL permission.

Be very surprised if you didn't need his permission - you are after all wanting holes drilled in it, cables threaded through, equipment (? electrical concerns) connected ...


Having said that (as a LL..) I'd be surprised if any sensible LL would refuse... but he might wish to ensure that (say..) should you disappear tomorrow you'd still have to pay all Virgin cable bills etc.. and if it were me I'd want (as LL) to know contact details (account number, 'phone number to contact Virgin etc etc..) so that I could pass them on to next tenant and that you'd accept costs of making good should it have to be removed when you leave/Virgin's costs... He'd (I expect) be entitled to refuse permission (as he might if you wanted to paint the place, say, bright pink...),

I provide Virgin BB/TV to student tenants, rolled in the rental price. It works, reliable, fast. If it weren't for Branson's extremely murky business past (see the biography by Tom Bower for all the gory details.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Branson-Tom-Bower/dp/product-description/1841154008

.) I'd be happy - if there were any other cable provider I'd much prefer someone else to do business with...

In your shoes I'd (assuming he/agency has email) write calm, polite request for permission & see what he says..

You say you need it "for work".. if working from home does LL know & is he happy?? If working from home some authorities might say you have a commercial tenancy not an AST...

It has not "become standard" to have cable - very few properties are cabled, except for certain areas..

Cheers!

Tigerpants

Thank you that was a very quick and very clear response.

I've not moved in yet, its at the end of the week but I made all the arrangements to have it fitted the day I move in.

The agency don't seem bothered (presumably as a lot of their tenants do similar things) but this is the first time that the landlord has let out a house before.

As I haven't yet signed the tenancy I'm wondering if I word an additional letter saying the above - that is that I promise to pay all the bills and will of course cover any cost of having it removed when I leave, if necessary - if that would be sufficient?

As for the working from home, its only phone/internet work (god that sounds dodgy lol!) so not commercial as such.

Aaarrgh I don't know what to do for the best now. I'm intending to stay there long term - think at least 2 years - so I suppose the thought of not being able to do it is a bit of a sticking point.

Sorry, just rambling there - thank you again!!

sooz

You should ask permission & get agency/ll agreement in writing, including position of new installation. If you already have phone and tv aerial point, suggest they are installed next to originals.
Also, are you having a whole new phone point installed or changing the bt one to virgin?

I'd suggest a new phone point, otherwise subsequent tenants are tied to virgin, or must endure weeks of hell and large fees to revert to bt (from bitter experience)

datostar

Tigerpants wrote: »

Thank you that was a very quick and very clear response.

I've not moved in yet, its at the end of the week but I made all the arrangements to have it fitted the day I move in.

The agency don't seem bothered (presumably as a lot of their tenants do similar things) but this is the first time that the landlord has let out a house before.

Sorry, just rambling there - thank you again!!

The installation is neat and unobtrusive, usually with a ground level exterior box with a splitter for tv/broadband and phone. If you're taking a virgin phone via cable they can't connect to the BT Master socket and have to put in their own. I've got one of each side by side. The cable has to come in through the wall (just like BT ones!) with an 'F' socket connector box for the TV and Broadband (if you're taking both there'll be a splitter on the cable) and a standard phone socket if you're taking that as well. If you leave the property they'll want the TV decoder box, modem/superhub whatever back - they'll either come and collect it or send you a prepaid cardboard box, and leave the cabling and sockets there for the next tenant.

I'd be very surprised if any landlord objected to this. After all, gas/electricity/water/TV aerial feed/ telephone etc. etc. all have to get in there through various orifices, not to mention the departure of sewage and waste water. Cable TV/broadband is just another utility/service.

prudryden

If the LL isn't the freeholder, doesn't the freeholder have some say about cables going over or under the property?

G_M

1) you need permission which you should get in writing) whatever the tenancy says/doesn't say. You are affecting the structure of the property
2) most LL would agree, but see 3 and 4 below
3) if it's a flat, the LL's lease might either forbid this, or require that HE get permission from the freeholder
4) if the installers damage the property, or do a poor job - who is going to be responsible?
5) the decision is the LL's, not the agent's - the agent just works for the LL
6) if you plan to stay there long term, the worst thing you can do is annoy him before you even move in by taking things for granted. Be polite - ask. Be a good tenant - ask.

theartfullodger

And finally I suspect Branson will require you to sign up for 12 months but is your initial tenancy 6 months only?>? If so you'll have to take a chance...


I take it you mean cable (i.e. BB down a new cable not via. the 'phone line..) so sooz point would be is this new stuff alongside BT socket etc...

dizziblonde

The one thing I've always done when I've had cable in rented houses (it's always been fitted already and I've just reactivated it) is get them to install the cable from the wall box to TV/router with a long wire and requested they don't fix it to the wall, and just ran it behind furniture. Some of the installers are a bit "oooh as long as you promise not to turn around later and say I did a bad job" but as soon as you mention it's a rented house it's not normally a problem and it minimises the disruption to the actual fabric of the house itself.

Tigerpants

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I absolutely don't want to annoy the LL before we've even moved in and like I said it really was a case of not thinking it would be an issue. I've met the LL and they're very, very nice.

Thanks for the idea on not fixing the cable too thats great and I'll definitely mention that to the fitter when they come.

tbs624

Contact the LL direct and sort it out now before it becomes a major issue. Anything that involves hole drilling, nails/screws being put into the property and you should *always* check first, getting the LL's agreement, and any conditions to that agreement, in writing.

Some of the BB companies ask whether the property is rented and you to sign to confirm that you have the LLs agreement.