Openreach wayleave

[JJT]

Had openreach round wanting to put fiber cable along our drive and on to next property, about 1000m cable and two underground chambers. They are offering a 5k one off payment for wayleave. Has anyone negotiated a wayleave recently? What's the going rate? I'm not bother by the amount so much, it's the one off payment I'm not keen on, as at least with an annual payment you still have a bit of leaverage in years to come if they start to pee you off, long after the one off £5k has been forgotten about. He's coming back next week to pick up the "signed" wayleave. Looked a bit disappointed that I wouldn't sign it then and there.

 

[Goweresque]

£10k plus free fibre broadband for life would be my counter offer.

Not sure what you mean about an annual payment offering more leverage though, can't see it myself, if they have a payment to make each year, and make it, what leverage do you have as a result? The only way you'd get some leverage would be if there was an end date to the wayleave, then you'd have something to threaten them with, if they were causing a problem you'd just tell them to sort it or you wouldn't give them a new wayleave when the current one ends.

 

[pgilliat]

Is it a way leave or an easement?

 

[Nearly]

They wanted to hand dig it across the farmyard 300mm deep. I told them 750mm minimum with a new drain at the side.
They still haven't been to do it, 2 years later.

 

[Big_D]

My understanding is that if it's a one off payment, openreach shouldn't be referring to it as a wayleave, it's a servitude and I think your concern, quite rightly, is that you wouldn't be able to cancel it or have it moved if required in the future. Did they not offer you a wayleave? I've a bit of experience with power companies but not with openreach so don't know what the rates are/what their powers are

 

[Surgery]

Good luck , Openreach are quite frankly the worst of the worst regarding anything and have had several extremely lively conversations with wayleave types in their offices over the years , trust me dont do anything direct with them as they will bugger you about terrible.

 

[spark plug]

The differences between wayleave and easement is explained quite well here:

In plain English: Wayleaves and easements

Savills UK | Why you must never mistake a wayleave for an easement (or vice versa).

www.savills.co.uk