Responsibility for OpenReach Reconnection - LL or Tennant

Comms69

davidmcn wrote: »

You hadn't said anything about pre-existing appliances.

Lots of assumptions there; like they belong to the landlord / or the landlord disconnected the meter but not removed appliances.

I think it was the OP grasping at straws on that one.

Nebulous2

I just bought a house where the phone line was disconnected. EE charged me £30 for a new connection / Broadband. 18 month contract. So other providers may well be cheaper.

shortcrust

coffeecrisp wrote: »

And to preempt any rentiers eager to claim that internet isn't an essential utility, it's 2018 and the UN disagrees with you.

First chuckle of the day!:)

MobileSaver

coffeecrisp wrote: »

And to preempt any rentiers eager to claim that internet isn't an essential utility, it's 2018 and the UN disagrees with you.

Similarly, yes, it's 2018 and so in many areas an Openreach/BT master socket is no longer a prerequisite for internet access...

casper_g

Comms69 wrote: »

Yes except if the gas isn’t connected there is no ‘working order’.

If the landlord is required to maintain the installations for space and water heating in working order, then (in the case where this installation is a gas boiler) surely this would reasonably include the infrastructure to supply gas to the boiler?

Irrelevant to the OP, of course, as the broadband may be an essential utility but isn't mentioned in the legislation.

Comms69

casper_g wrote: »

If the landlord is required to maintain the installations for space and water heating in working order, then (in the case where this installation is a gas boiler) surely this would reasonably include the infrastructure to supply gas to the boiler?

Irrelevant to the OP, of course, as the broadband may be an essential utility but isn't mentioned in the legislation.

I think people are misunderstanding.

There is no requirement to have gas in a property at all; if the landlord chooses the disconnect it, there is no requirement to do anything with it.

The landlord must still provide heating etc, but this can be electric

need_an_answer

surely a braadband connection is a choice thing you don't have to have it whereas a utility connection like gas water or electricity is not a choice.


OP as the tenant if you want broadband then pay for it to be installed by your chosen method.I do not see how you can class broadband along side essential utilities.
You are quite right to disagree with me if you wish however perhaps you should have read your tenancy agreement more carefully before signing and asked the appropriate question at that time rather than making an assumption.

Making an enemy of the LL over a £60 connection is it really worth it?

casper_g

Comms69 wrote: »

I think people are misunderstanding.

There is no requirement to have gas in a property at all; if the landlord chooses the disconnect it, there is no requirement to do anything with it.

The landlord must still provide heating etc, but this can be electric

No misunderstanding here - that's why I wrote "in the case where...".

Anyway, in the example you're talking about, where there's electric heating, would it be reasonable for the landlord to be expected to hand the property over with a working electricity supply? Obviously the tenant will be expected to pay for the energy, but they don't expect to have to pay for a connection to be installed.

I find it interesting to explore the analogy and wonder why the case of an internet connection is different (which I agree it currently is, by the way).

saajan_12

coffeecrisp wrote: »

I'm trying to get internet set up in a new place. I've called my desired provider, they said they can't find my property on their system and I need to contact OpenReach to get added to a database. They told me that if my line is not active, I need to pay £60 to OpenReach to get reconnected. (Hopefully the line is still active and this is all irrelevant) - check with other providers? some might pay this for you and liaise with Openreach themselves.

As far as I understand, OpenReach is BT and most broadband providers (with Virgin being the notable exception) use BT. When I had a look at the property, I made sure to look out for a BT master socket, and I figured all would be well and good. I've never run into a situation like this renting before, because there was always a connection. - the socket means nothing, many people these days use Virgin or Hyperoptic or mobile data dongles meaning. If it was important enough to check the socket then why didn't you ask whether there was a connection?

If it turns out there's no connection, is it my responisbility to pay the £60? It's a benefit to the property, I won;t be taking it with me when I leave, surely that would fall on the landlord - Its noone's responsibility. If either party wants it, they can pay for it themselves. Its a benefit to the property in your opinion, the LL / future tenants may not have any use for it.

I see it as a way to access a utility: I wouldn't expcet a landlord to pay or set up my British Gas account, but if there was no gas meter in the proprety, they would be the ones to cover the installation. - No, as long as the LL makes SOME provision for heat, eg electric, storage heaters etc, you choosing to set up a gas supply doesn't mean the LL has to pay for anything.

I've checked my tennacy agreement and there's nothing on this subject

And to preempt any rentiers eager to claim that internet isn't an essential utility, it's 2018 and the UN disagrees with you.- that's all well and good, but internet is not one of the basic requirements for habitability.

The point is its no one's RESPONSIBILITY to pay for the Open Reach connection. If either party WANTS the benefit of it, they can pay for it (provided any property damage is made good etc).