Getting fibre installed in my block of flats

[spliceking]

Hello

I've checked the BT broadband availability checker and it doesn't look like my block is in openreach's plans to roll out fibre. I am stuck on a 40Mbps line which is quite limiting. Screenshot my my address below:

It does however show FTTP 330Mbps on demand available? I have never been able to order this.

My neighbours who live in a freehold house had fibre installed last year. The chamber from which the civils was done to their house is less than 20m from my block. Details for their address below on the availabilty checker:

I have registered my details and filled out the following wayleave form in liason with my freeholder:

https://www.openreach.com/forms/apartment-wayleave-form

It however asks for a reference number, which despite registering interest for a number of years i have never had. Is my request just going to get ignored without a valid reference number? I have just  used "SP-00000000" for now.

I have also noted under the faq for landlords, freeholders etc there is a section about asbestos. My block is a 60s built block so it does contain asbestos. The wording on the faq makes it sound like they will not entertain the prospect of installing if there is any known asbestos in the block.

"legal requirement for us to confirm that there is no known asbestos in the property and that it’s safe for our engineers and partners to work in"

This makes me think they will not want to touch the block if there is any asbestos at all. Is this accurate? the asbestos is the artex ceiling in the communal areas as far as I'm aware.

Thanks 

[VeteranISPUser]

Hi @spliceking   FTTP on Demand is a business product and costs many thousands of pounds.

[iniltous]

FYI , the SDU you have shown the checker return for does have FTTP available but doesn’t  have Openreach FTTP installed , the checker states an ONT may be ordered , not one exists…..

MDU’s in the same area as regular housing that has FTTP available is normal , MDU’s are usually omitted from the normal build , and are picked up separately by a different group within OR , if the MDU you live in has an asbestos problem that may affect the installation of FTTP , but in your case it’s much more likely that it just isn’t in any current plans , even if the houses in the same area already have FTTP available.

The other thing to note is the form you link to can be submitted once Openreach have advised you that your MDU can get FTTP , but permits are still needed , Openreach have not advised you of availability so it’s no surprise that filling out the form gets you nowhere , it’s not a form that’s appropriate in your situation 

[spliceking]

Ah thanks for letting me know, as frustrating as it is..

[spliceking]

@iniltous thanks for the info.

i wouldnt say the mdu i live in has an asbestos problem. but are openreach likely to view it as having one and just blanket refuse to even survey/install?

it isn't made very clear that the form is only for use by people that have been notified by OR that their MDU can get FTTP. On this page the first step is "register your interest"

https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/fibre-for-home/ultrafast-full-fibre-broadband-to-your-apar...

[iniltous]

This is the first line on the page on your first  link , the second link is a FAQ .

Please fill in this form if we've contacted you to let you know that you can get an upgrade to gigabit broadband in your apartment block. Before we can install Full Fibre in your building we'll need the permission of the building’s freeholder or their managing agent, also known as a wayleave.

Not much point continuing to the FAQ if the first point isn’t true , no one from Openreach has contacted you .

Asbestos is generally only a problem is it’s disturbed , by drilling into it etc , just its presence isn’t an issue , the building presumably has a asbestos survey/report detailing where asbestos is located, and if that’s document isn’t available on request to anyone working in there , they have the right to not start the works , and walk away (and the building mismanagement potentially pay for any wasted time etc if that’s been written into the contract  ) but if work can be done that doesn’t need to disturb this dangerous material it is done , it’s not the case that just because it exists nothing can be done ….if the asbestos was so pervasive that it can’t be worked around , then the building managers would need to arrange remove it professionally, but as stated , if it’s  something like ceiling tiles , it’s not generally an issue , if it were a really bad problem you wouldn’t be allowed to live there let alone get FTTP fitted .
As stated , I doubt your building is overlooked for that reason , it just isn’t a part of a program yet and depending on the attitude of the Management, Freeholders etc will determine if it gets done .

There is another recent post on this form regarding MDU’s  that provides some potentially relevant info , small MDU (5-15 units) are treated differently to larger MDU units, so what size building is yours ?

[spliceking]

@iniltous there is if like me, you are desperate for your broadband to be upgraded 😂

Yes there is an asbestos register, I have contacted the freeholder and they are willing to work with OR. 

My MDU has 12 units but there are another 3 blocks as part of the estate, each with 12 units. 

I think I will lobby my neighbours to register their interest with BT to hopefully get the ball rolling 

[iniltous]

Openreach treat most MDU’s  differently to SDU ( single dwelling units ) , there is really small MDU , a converted house for example , they could be included in the general roll out , in effect dealt with as a SDU , middle range MDU’s  5-15 uni  apparently are now done on a presumably recently introduced process , (well it’s something I’ve only recently become aware of )  where Openreach in effect declare to the units by letter  or whatever means , that these units  could be in scope  , and once an interest is received , OR  look to contact the managing agent , freeholder etc and arrange a ‘reactive’ build , so Openreach  react to an order in a similar way to SDU orders  , but obviously there are more interested parties than with a SDU where only the person ordering is required to grant access etc, so it’s still not a guarantee, but is positive move .

Larger MDU’s  are always proactive, in that OR could approach the managing agent, freeholder when the network is in the area and negotiate the FTTP provision within the MDU , this doesn’t stop the building owners approaching OR before OR approach them , but obviously if the FTTP network isn’t in the area yet  , nothing will come of that , the large  MDU build is separate, it’s a different build group within OR and may be months , even years after the SDU rollout , and obviously depending on the management of the building , may never be done , if the building owners don’t want OR in the first place or they ask for a payment before they allow work to be done , that’s assuming OR have contacted them .

The link you originally provided , I suspect is when OR have identified a 5-15 MDU and have contacted  each occupant with a reference number ( the one you don’t have because it’s not applicable in your circumstances ) and once an occupant contacts OR to express an interest with the reference number they were given that identifies the MDU , OR  can start the ball rolling .

In your case , if you are a 5-15 unit , then for whatever reason OR have not assigned a MDU reference to it and mail dropped you and your fellow residents, that’s why the form you linked to is inappropriate, or it may be that although your block of 12 is the appropriate size for this reactive type build , because there are 3 similar units , that’s 36 units in total , it may be that they together are considered a large MDU so need a proactive build , and as stated that is independent of the SDU build that has already taken place near you .

I appreciate this is all a little ‘nerdy’ but hopefully gives you an idea that it’s not as simple as saying there is fibre near me , connect me up , it’s probably not what you want to here , but until FTTP is available, it isn’t , and in your case it isn’t currently available.

You can always express an interest with OR same as anyone else , and ask to be kept informed, but MDU much more than SDU are much more complex propositions