Updating post from Reddit.
My tenant had an aeriel box for the internet installed right on the top of the tiled roof of my property. The installers have also drilled in to the wall and potentially also caused damage to the exterior wall. They never asked permission and are evading telling me who carried out the installation . Also the wires from the box hang down from the roof over the guttering and look messy so the whole job looks botched as well. Can I insist they have this all removed immediately maybe leaving them with no internet. Or can I legally have this removed myself at their expense ? There is a phone line to the property which the last tenants used for their internet so I have no clue why this carbuncle was even installed.
Im not sure you can tell them it cant be installed. My tenants has a new internet instalment without asking which involved drilling etc but it was done by a professional company.
What? Why not?
Because it's a utility that they have a right to. They are also allowed to change energy providers without contacting the landlord from my understanding. (Im uk)
I was curious, so I did a quick Google (not that I don't trust you), but it seems Internet doesn't fall under a utility.
Thats interesting, thank you for checking as I didnt realise this.
Thank you . Yes it is not that I am objecting to them having internet (that would be me 'being a dick' as someone has so eloquently put it) obviously. It is where the installation has been made, right on top of my tiled roof without asking me first, the poor state of the wires hanging down, the drilling in to my walls (not shown in picture below ) and the fact they are not telling me who installed it. Also in the tenancy agreement, there is the standard clause about aerials being installed.
I'd be just as annoyed as you if it were me. Heck, when I rent, I even ask if I can put up bloody 3M hooks to be polite, but that's just me.
It sounds like it's a horrible mess and I'd honestly just take the tidying up out of their deposit.
A bit weird it’s on the roof … i have fibre to the house via a telegraph pole … just like they used to do telephone … but single fibre wire comes down the wall and in to the router inside on the ground floor … there is nothing but a bracket to hold the cable at roof line.
You sure it’s not transmitting ?
You can only install fibre if the poles have the fibre connections already.
If there’s no fibre connect in your area you need to use what is effectively a 5G setup, which can need an aerial to connect if you have poor signal.
There’s more places in the UK currently without fibre connected than have it, although it is being rolled out.
With the prevalence of home working, which relies on decent internet, who’s would you prevent your tenants from using what is, at this point, a pretty much essential utility.
Cutting off nose to spite face territory here.
Yeah i guess it could be 5G relay … i just mentioned the telegraph pole as that gets the cable up high rather than underground but there’s no aerials here.
Depends on what the internet is. I'm amazed they caused damage? Do you know who they are with?
I got an inside out installation and was absolutely fine and very clean, 0 damage.
Also this doesn't sound like a fibre installation? An ONT is extremely small and every company will do it ground floor
If it's full fibre, I'd keep it, as the odd place can be horrendous to install, and it's already adding value. Copper is being faded out, so eventually the only two options you have are full fibre or a 5G terminal. Full fibre is better.
If it's one of the big boys, it's Openreach, who you need to complain to. Good luck though, I've been complaining for over a year due to refusal of work.
Everyone keeps saying blame BT Openreach, but that doesn't fit with the 'aerial box' you mention. 5G internet is possible, but most of the big 5G providers just provide a 5G router that sits inside the house rather than an externally mounted antenna.
I wonder if it's a Starlink dish. This would either have been self-installed by the tenant, or by a smaller company.
Op - can you provide any pictures of the installation?
picture added would be most grateful to know what it is thank you
That's not Starlink. Can't make out the logo, but the shape looks most like a fixed wireless antenna, presumably from a local fixed wireless internet provider. You'd probably need to Google for such providers in the area.
Thank you I wondered if they had had the installation done by a local company and was why they were being evasive over telling e who installed it ? Yes it is impossible to read the company logo on the 'box'
Chances are it's fiber the tennants can arrange the utilities to the property. Any damage can be taken from their deposit upon vacating. Conduct an inspection and speak to the tennants
Just complain to Openreach. Tenant should have asked, but copper infrastructure is fucked and outdated. All LL should have fibre anyway now. All people have a legal right to internet, if you keep copper and it's fucked for a long time due to issues of maintenance, you'll causes yourself issues in the future.
>All people have a legal right to internet
Care to cite a source for that very bold claim?
Air, water, freedom, WiFi, etc
Edit: Didn't realise this needed /s!
Universal Service Obligation (USO)
More than likely, it's fibre installed by open reach. They are notorious for terrible installations. The property will need it eventually, so there is no point in arguing unless there is actual damage.
Although it could be statlink or something similar, what does the device on the outside of the property look like?
Openreach engineer did a great job with my install, routed cables through cavity, behind pipes, spent 6 hours getting it so you couldnt see the cable and it wouldn't ruin the look of the house (it's nothing special, but it doesn't need a cable run up the front of it).
Couldn't fault them.
Have a word with the tenants and remind them of their obligations to let you the landlord know of any building work that will alter the fabric of the building.
It’s an install of an aerial. It’s not exactly cladding is it.
Looks like damage to the roof tiles and wall. I’d say that’s enough to let the landlord know.
Looking at the picture of the receiver, I hope that install didn't require drilling down into the roof...
Fuck me, a tenant installing internet in 2025?
Professionally installed by their ISP?
Get a grip mate, it’s a fucking building, it’ll take a few screws in the brickwork.
Please Keep it Civil
You can ask them to remove it or they will be liable for the cost of removal and repairing the work.
If they refuse to engage, you’ll have a record for making a claim against the deposit.
If relationship / trust breaks down, you can evict them.
So you’ll go against the tenant’s right to basic utilities like… internet?
If it’s a bad installation, the issue is with the installer, not the tenant.
What do you do if the water/electric/gas co. need to install a utility?
Don’t believe what the tenant has done is within their rights… and the OP has already stated the tenant has refused to advise who the installer was.
Who would you hold liable ??
So you’ll deny the tenant decent internet access?
Thereby making your property less attractive to home workers, and therefore denying yourself the potential to rent to higher earners?
Seems short-sighted to me
Did you even read what I wrote ??
I assume you are left wing by your style of communication. I doubt there is any point in continuing this conversation. You’re position is set.
Openreach did the work, go after them. Copper will be phased out and is being phased out.
Soon copper isn't being repaired and will be too costly to repair, so all ISP are sacking it off in favour of fibre.
Openreach can take awhile for dates and things. No point ripping it down, then to ask them to reinstall later. I doubt any engineers would be impressed. I'm currently a year into a complaint where engineers refused to do work, despite it being a simple job.
Rip it down, you'll be at the bottom of the list, good luck renting a property without internet in this day and age.
Thank you for your replies
Probably just a bad openreach install. Ask them to contact the installer to tidy it up and they should. You want your property to have suitable internet speed, not many decent tenants would stay somewhere with poor infrastructure.
I was going to offer on a house recently and went elsewhere due to lack of ISP provision, in this day and age you cannot operate without decent internet.
Thanks again for your replies
Yes, they should have asked your permission, but maybe don't be a dick about it?
