Fibre Optic Access for Neighbours

britishblue · Mar 29, 2023

We have copper phone cables run up the front of our steading on the ground until it reaches a pole 50m's away which then goes on to neighbouring new build houses 400m's away. These neighbours have been a nightmare complaining about our concrete pad which we tip straw muck which never smells after a couple of days. They complained to planning(I had permitted development) who were quite happy and enviromental health about the smell(none) who also had no problem. Midden pad was their before houses were built!
These neighbours are now desperate for fibre optic which has to replace copper on our property. I have never signed a wayleave so they can't access but am wondering if I will have to eventually once copper cables are to be done away with. I feel like being an awkward sod because of their past behaviour so thinking of refusing access! What do you think?

Andy12345 · Mar 29, 2023

Make em pay through the nose for an easement !

Kidds · Mar 29, 2023

Crack on, what goes around comes around.

davidroberts30 · Mar 29, 2023

Refuse them

theboytheboy · Mar 29, 2023

Karmas a bitch isn't it!

Oliveau · Mar 29, 2023

Wait until the neighbour deigns to discuss the issue, then say very clearly and politely, “I am normally a very reasonable person, but bearing mind that since you arrived here you have done nothing but complain about various issues concerning my business, all of which were in place before your arrival, I am sure that you will understand that I unable to assist you in this matter.”

davidroberts30 · Mar 29, 2023

Oliveau said:
Wait until the neighbour deigns to discuss the issue, then say very clearly and politely, “I am normally a very reasonable person, but bearing mind that since you arrived here you have done nothing but complain about various issues concerning my business, all of which were in place before your arrival, I am sure that you will understand that I unable to assist you in this matter.”

Preferably infront of plenty of people

Exfarmer · Mar 31, 2023

Be wary , I think BT can easily get an easement under laws passed recently.
I would ask for a full fibre connection and a few hundred quid for the hassle and they pay the legal fees

MondayPrecious · Apr 13, 2023

Thanks for sharing!

JockCroft · Apr 26, 2023

May be in similar situation re fibre.
I'm a bit nervous about potential damage to fibre cable in future. Main supply has been moled into verge to distribution manhole om road verges. only about a foot deep. Know they have already had faults localy from stone damage across gateways.

steveR · Apr 26, 2023

JockCroft said:
May be in similar situation re fibre.
I'm a bit nervous about potential damage to fibre cable in future. Main supply has been moled into verge to distribution manhole om road verges. only about a foot deep. Know they have already had faults localy from stone damage across gateways.

12" or 600mm depth? .Just say NO!

Gerbert · Apr 28, 2023

JockCroft said:
May be in similar situation re fibre.
I'm a bit nervous about potential damage to fibre cable in future. Main supply has been moled into verge to distribution manhole om road verges. only about a foot deep. Know they have already had faults localy from stone damage across gateways.

I dug one up a few years ago, was 20 cm deep or so. It was to my neigbours on a ditchcrossing I wanted to remove. Pain to find the telephonenumber for such mistakes. Finally found the number, waited to get through for half an hour and they told me only the person that had connection cut off could call. That was a fun visit to the neighbour. She could see the funny side thankfully.
The ditchcrossing is still there.

L P · Apr 28, 2023

From current experience, don't bother appeasing new locals in the hope they will become better neighbours... in fact, don't acknowledge them at all. I did, am now in a lawsuit I wouldn't have been in if I'd not acknowledged their existence. The world really is bonkers

Longlowdog · Apr 29, 2023

Don't budge an inch. If they were not nice before then they won't be the day after they smooth talk you into making their life better. Scum have short memories.

crashbox · Apr 29, 2023

@britishblue Thank them for their enquiry and refer them to your agent, on the clear understanding they pay the agent's fees. Make this clear to the agent too. Tell them it's "standard procedure", it's what many large estates do.

Then you can be as (un)helpful as you feel, via the agent. They will also tell you if you are being wholly unreasonable.

Usually no winners with neighbourly disputes.

livestock 1 · Apr 29, 2023

britishblue said:
We have copper phone cables run up the front of our steading on the ground until it reaches a pole 50m's away which then goes on to neighbouring new build houses 400m's away. These neighbours have been a nightmare complaining about our concrete pad which we tip straw muck which never smells after a couple of days. They complained to planning(I had permitted development) who were quite happy and enviromental health about the smell(none) who also had no problem. Midden pad was their before houses were built!
These neighbours are now desperate for fibre optic which has to replace copper on our property. I have never signed a wayleave so they can't access but am wondering if I will have to eventually once copper cables are to be done away with. I feel like being an awkward sod because of their past behaviour so thinking of refusing access! What do you think?

I have a similar situation on the go. A property in the middle of our farm are wanting to change broadband but there’s a bit of history on the go. Tried to claim the farm road blocked a right of way of ours and various other activities encroaching on our land. So basically I’ve said no. I said until these other matters were cleared up there was no point in setting any more problems away

How much · Apr 29, 2023

Getting back to your point , in short yes you will in all honesty need a high speed fibre connection at some point , Every thing is going online from TV to banking BT is meant to switching its customers to a fully to digital phone connection in the next few years and they seem to be pushing for cutomers to have a mobile phone connected "one phone" connection that would appear to get them off the hook of having to connect all properties via a fibre connection but this does not solve the lack of a high speed broadband that is more impotant these days .
In essence if the neighbour is in part payingfor the connection or there intrest in it will get you a fibre connection i would go with it .
You can still make a point of some additonal fee to get from your property to them and that may be worth it at a persoanl level but it your choise ultimatley

britishblue · Apr 29, 2023

To give you all an update the neighbours have had a 500metre track dug up the side of their access road so it is no longer anything to do with my property which I am quite happy with. I will hopefully in years to come get rid of the poles carrying the copper cables off my property altogether.

HardKnocks · Apr 29, 2023

BT or any other providers don't have any legal rights to access or lay fibre optic cables through your land for installation or maintenance, most fibrecable is just laid over ground (Self Bury Cable haha) where over time the cable sinks over time or covered by foilage, finding fault or replacing sections is then easy and cost-effective. Depending on what and where you allow the cable to be run overhead or underground you can agree on free internet service as part or whole payment depending on the situation and what length. It can range from £200 per year to £2000 and they will pay when they consider the alternatives of civils.

Fibre Optic Access for Neighbours

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page