Openreach into a small apartment block - Who is responsible. Property Management or Landowner?

[kwpc1]

I live in a small apartment block which is around 13 years old. It is part of a development that replaced some old social housing. We have FTTC but the rest of the development has access to gigabit FTTP. There are 9 flats in my block. 

Virgin laid their cable right in front of our block but we cannot get that. What was SWISH Fibre also laid their cables but again, we could not get that. 

As I understand it, there is no real technical issue in bringing FTTP into the block. Openreach would install into the cabinet on the ground floor and run cables to the cabinets on the upper two floors and then it would be up to individual residents to order a service. 

The problem is, how does this all get started? Openreach asked me to fill out a form, which I did, as did some of the other residents. I then had a communication from mdudesk@openreach.co.uk informing me that my query was passed to the local MDU Specialist in my area, who will then "get in contact with your managing agent/Freeholder of your building at their earliest convenience."

That was back in April and since then we have heard nothing. I contacted our property management company and they said that the landlord was considering installing gigabit internet to all of their blocks at their own cost. 

I don't believe that. For one thing, there is no cost that I am aware of? And our property management company is FirstPort who are not exactly known for being proactive and working on behalf of residents. 

I have tried contacing the landlord of the building but all my enquiries are not answered. 

My understanding is that FirstPort are our point of contact for the Landlord and given that the residents have requested FTTP be installed all that needs to be done is for the landlord to give permission and then everything is handled between FirstPort and Openreach? 

[Keith_Beddoe]

I assume you are am existing BT customer, as this is a BT customer forum?

What speed are you getting with FTTC?

[kwpc1]

I know it is a BT forum, that is why I am here.

My current speed is an average of 55 mbps down and 12 mbps up. My neighbours on either side of the block have gigabit connections with BT. The connection to the block is underground so the ducting is there already although I am not sure how easy it would be to put the fibre through that?

The cabinet we are connected to is across the road. I can see it from my window. 

[licquorice]

FTTP doesn't come from the cabinet.

[kwpc1]

I know it doesn't come from the cabinet. That was just letting you know what I already have since I was asked about my current speed. 

This whole development has access to gigabit internet except the block I live in. 

I cannot believe that coming to the end of 2024, it is somehow a herculean task to get FTTP into a small block of flats. 

[jac_95]

@kwpc1 

Ask FirstPort to fill out Openreach's MDU Landlord Expression of Interest form

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=iFbzpwCcXk26QSnxRjd6sEdu1PRhjf9OroHuGY1mFFZUNjhL...

More info: https://www.openreach.com/broadband-for-landlords

[kwpc1]

I thought it would be useful to update this in case anyone else is having the same issue.

All forms, etc, were filled out a long time ago. Expressions of interest, landlord forms submitted to Openreach, etc. And then nothing happened. Our Property Manager kept saying he was chasing things with Openreach, then he said that he was awaiting the Wayleaves. Then he said that FTTP was not available here, but only showed the online checker that anyone can use. Eventually, I contacted Openreach myself. 

Openreach confirmed they are happy to install the equipment into our block free of charge, but our property management company, FirstPort, has engaged a third party to manage the installation, and they are demanding a fee from Openreach for each apartment in the block. Openreach does not have the funds to pay the fees, so until the fee is either removed or drastically reduced, they will not be installing their equipment here.

FirstPort at first denied any knowledge of this, but when presented with further evidence from the Openreach Executive Complaints department, they have now resorted to ignoring all enquiries.

The bottom line here is that FirstPort is looking to profit from a service supplied to them and us free of charge, and because Openreach does not have the budget to pay the requested fees, we are stuck with FTTC when everyone around us can get FTTP.

So it seems there will be no BT FTTP for any of us here in the foreseeable future 😞

[chrisjp]

Comment cancelled after I had read the further postings!

[WSH]

I’m afraid that is typical of the greed driven culture that is Britian today.

[iniltous]

There was /is  legislation being discussed regarding renters being denied FTTP by their landlord for no good reason , BT apparently lobbied to try to include an amendment for MDU where residents (not just for renters but owner occupiers) were being denied FTTP by their building managing agent/freeholder etc by in effect trying to give an access right via the fact that the building has copper pair distribution then FTTP should be covered by the easement/wayleave the copper pair enjoy , the rest of the industry cried ‘unfair’ and it wasn’t included