Freehold charges for installing cable?

feats

I have received a letter from my freeholder saying that I have to pay £40 a year for having Virgin media as well as a 1 off payment of £360 for a deed of variation to the lease and £23 to register it with the Land registry.
My lease clearly states that I have the right to run electricity and telephone cables to the property but need permission to put up an aerial. Since the lease was written in 1978 it does not actually specify broadband and fibre so the solicitor is arguing that I need a deed of variation to the lease.
To make it even fishier the solicitor is based at the same address as the freeholder!
Is the anything I can do?
Surely broadband is a utility and the wiring is no different to telephone so doesn't need a change to the lease?
Suggestions please!!!!

WestonDave

Tell them that its the equivalent of a telephone cable as permitted in the lease and if they want to take it further you'll see them in court in due course. Should be enough to put them back in their box - trying it on by the sounds of it.

[Deleted User]

The joys of the modern Freeholder, if they shaft you for a penny they'll shaft you for a pound.

feats

Have sent a letter saying
'In terms of the lease I disagree with your assumption that broadband does not constitute a utility as allowed for in the lease. The wiring for utilities is exactly the same as that for cable or BT so a Deed of Variation is not necessary. I trust this will be an end to this matter.'
I'll wait and see!!!

Browntoa

2nd thread same subject by you ??


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/72367727#Comment_72367727

feats

Just in case anyone else gets the same problem and letter to solicitor seems to have worked. No further demands for money so hopefully that's that - it pays to use MSE forums!!:)

AdrianC

feats wrote: »

To make it even fishier the solicitor is based at the same address as the freeholder!

There's nothing fishy about that. The freeholder may well simply use the solicitor as their contact address for lease matters, since the solicitor will be the one doing any reply anyway.

moneyistooshorttomention

...and if they do come back at you = just use a non-cable Internet provider instead.

My Internet just comes down the phoneline I have anyway.

I'm surprised at them even trying that one on - in view of the fact it's so easy to just do what I've done to get your internet.

rtho782

Or order a phone only service from Virgin (which will be provided with a coax to the home before the twisted pair comes off) and then add broadband on.