Landlord won't let me install a phone line/ landline

Ajtc

Hi,

I moved into a flat last week and had the broadband engineer due to arrive this Friday. I sent the LL over a few small amendments to the inventory check and at the same time told them I had an engineer coming to install broadband (it's a listed building, newly refurbished). He called me today and told me I can't have a landline/phone line installed and I have to get mobile broadband. He says this is either to do with it being listed, or because the walls were tanked during the refurb and it will affect the warranty (he wasn't clear which it was) but I suspect its the latter as I checked with English heritage and it's rarely an issue to get a landline installed.

Mobile broadband is much slower, it's a tall Manor House and I'm the ground floor so signal is relatively weak, and it's much more expensive than regular broadband - more than twice the price for deals with only a 500gb allowance, where broadband would be unlimited. I often work from home, and want reliable internet for things like Netflix.

What are my options? I don't disagree that I should cover installation costs, but can he not let me get a phone line installed?

Thanks

davidmcn

There's no general right to install one. Does your tenancy agreement say anything one way or another? Really this would have been something to clarify before you took the flat.

saajan_12

How would they install it? Creating holes in the property is likely disallowed. Normally shallow holes for picture hooks etc can be easily filled upon leaving meaning the LL has no loss. However in you're case it would need a hole all the way through a wall, which on a listed building made with materials that aren't still produced, may be impossible to rectify.

So I expect you can't.

diggingdude

Look at the Three 4g WiFi option. Be sure when you are leaving to inform any tenants looking around that the landlord lives in a different century and they won't get regular reliable broadband

45002

If a Landlord refuse permission having a telephone line installed

http://www.foxwilliams.com/news/584

Be aware of the Electronic Communications Code. The Telecommunications Act 1984 contains the ‘Electronic Communications Code’ (“the Code”) which gives statutory protection and powers to telecoms operators which can override the proprietary rights of a property owner.

If a landlord initially refuses to allow a telecoms connection to be made to your premises, the Code powers could be asserted by the relevant operator who is likely to be successful unless the landlord can show exceptional reason why the installation should be refused.

tacpot12

You might investigate if there is a route by which broadband could be brought into the building without requiring a hole to be drilled into a wall or window frame. Have a look around to see where other services are brought into your flat.

4G broadband can be better than ASDL boardband for home networking, because the upload speed is much closer to the download speed; applications such as VoIP and screensharing will benefit from this.

You can get a router, 4G USB adapter and external aerial to maximise the range and usability of the service your property. GiffGaff have just increased their bundled data to 15GB for £15/mo, which is about 500MB per day. You will struggle to use this much.

oldernonethewiser

"You will struggle to use this much."

I use about 2.5 Gb a day.

marcarm

tacpot12 wrote: »

You might investigate if there is a route by which broadband could be brought into the building without requiring a hole to be drilled into a wall or window frame. Have a look around to see where other services are brought into your flat.

4G broadband can be better than ASDL boardband for home networking, because the upload speed is much closer to the download speed; applications such as VoIP and screensharing will benefit from this.

You can get a router, 4G USB adapter and external aerial to maximise the range and usability of the service your property. GiffGaff have just increased their bundled data to 15GB for £15/mo, which is about 500MB per day. You will struggle to use this much.

An HD film on Netflix can be as much as 3GB per hour, so a 2 hour film using 6GB will limit the OP to 2.5 films a month, and that is without everything else they want to use the internet for.

worried_jim

Three do unlimited 4g BB for about £20 pm which is pretty much cheaper than any other provider.

http://www.three.co.uk/store/broadband/home-broadband

Next day delivery and works straight out the box.

D_M_E

That £20 unlimited deal from Three has a fair use policy - whatever that means - on all new contracts.

That's what they told me yesterday in the shop.

FreeBear

Ajtc wrote: »

He says this is either to do with it being listed, or because the walls were tanked during the refurb

I really hope the local Conservation Officer didn't approve tanking. And I'm sure English Heritage would be aghast at the idea.