Issues With Neighbour Regarding Virgin Media Installation

So I had Virgin Media scheduled to install broadband at my flat this Saturday. I live on the 2nd floor/top floor. However they contacted me today to say and engineer had been out to do some preliminary checks. While doing the checks a neighbour refused to give permission to the engineer for a cable to be fitted to the outside of the building. I'm guessing it was my neighbour who lives on the ground floor.

Now Virgin are telling me that they cannot go ahead with the installation unless my neghbour consents to the cable being fitted to the outside of the building and I need to be the one to get his written consent.

Has anyone had a similar issue in the past?

The problem is we are renting this flat so I don't know how much rights we actually have in this situation, even though the landlord has given us the go ahead. He also won't answer his door now which is convenient.

Simple - If you are not renting off this neighbour and he does not own the place, tell him to take a running jump and contact the landlord.

Edited by professor973 (Tue 01-Nov-16 17:07:13)

Is there a BT line - perhaps you can get a FTTC service?

Assuming these flats are in England/Wales, they are likely Leasehold, and the person that needs to consent to external cables is the Freeholder.

This may or may not be your Landlord.

Without this, you can't proceed, this is the issue with flats. BT have code powers so you can't be denied a phone line, but VM do not.

We live in Scotland. It's my understanding that the problem neighbour owns his flat, where as we are tenants to a separate landlord.

Can you check here?

Use the address checker if you do not know the landline number. Often BT line services are just as good if not better than Virginmedia. My experience has been BT infinity and TalkTalk fibre have both performed considerably better than Virginmedia ever did for me. Post your results back here please.

https://www.btwholesale.com/includes/adsl/adsl.htm?s...

In reply to a post by solidsnakeftw:

We live in Scotland. It's my understanding that the problem neighbour owns his flat, where as we are tenants to a separate landlord.

Nowt you can do then, unfortunately

Don't know my phone number but I used my address which gave these results:

Link

You can get FTTC with speeds between 72 and 80meg if you went for a top package from a supplier.

Is there a BT line installed then? You just don't know whether or not it is usable?

In reply to a post by solidsnakeftw:

Don't know my phone number but I used my address which gave these results:

Link

Based on these results you have no need to be going with virginmedia. Yes, virginmedia have faster headline speeds, although due to the nature of their network at peak hours the actual speed you get single-threaded is often no better than something such as BT, TalkTalk or Sky on fibre optic.

BT, Sky and TalkTalk can offer you fibre optic services just like virginmedia. Have a browse around.

BTs fibre service is called BT Infinity
TalkTalks fibre Service is called Faster Fibre Broadband
Skys fibre service is called Sky Fibre

There are other providers as well.

What do you use the internet for? E.g. I have BTs 55Mbps and I do the following:
1) Stream 4K video on Netflix
2) Facetime calls
3) Skype calls for 4+ hours
4) Have over 25 devices on the WiFi
5) Heavy use of dropbox
6) Use of Sky on demand
7) Use of apple TV
8) Use of Amazon fire sticks all over

A typical evening one of us will stream Netflix 4K, someone else is on a facetime call and somebody else is watching Sky On Demand on the TV downstairs (1080P download). Then everyone is always on their mobiles and tablets simultaneously.

For me, as I do not torrent, my connection is always super speedy despite usage with multiple people doing fairly heavy things.

For me I do not need the full 76Mbps package, 55 with BT is ample and then some.

Currently waiting on the landlord getting back to me with the telephone info.

You don't need this.

You can go online to say BT, sky, talktalk, plusnets etc website and sign up to their internet with just the post code and address. Just say you do not know the phone number as you put the order through.

As part of the sign up process they will notify you if a new line is required. This usually just means they need to connect the line up again at the local exchange and the existing stuff in your home is used (ie existing wiring and sockets in your home stay the same).

You can place an order today.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Tue 01-Nov-16 18:23:31)

If the phone line is live, with dialling tone, try ringing 17070, the Quiet Line Test.

The first announcement is the Line Number.

Free

And you could also carry out a QLT.

Cheap corded phone if you do not already have one.

Managed to get it sorted. Turned out the downstairs neighbour has paved his garden, making it difficult to get to the cable.
Went with a cheaper BT deal instead.

Thanks for all the help guys, really appreciate it.

Understandable then.

The BT Infinity will be fine .

Are external walls, roof and communal areas within owned all the flat owners as a whole? If you pay a maintenance charge, who does it go to? They may well be the people responsible for giving permission.