FTTP in rented flat

[Avocheeseado]

Hey all,

Just moved into a new rented flat with two other students, and I’m looking into getting FTTP installed — but not sure how realistic that is in a rented place. We haven’t got any WiFi setup at the moment as trying to decide what to do.

 

Right now, we only have FTTC installed, so would pretty much be capped around 70/20 Mbps. With 3 of us working, gaming, and streaming stuff constantly, it’s not ideal. The building is 5 flats total, ours is ground floor — and FTTP is available on the street according to BT/Openreach, but not currently installed in our unit.

 

 

Obviously we’d need landlord’s permission, just not sure how common this is in student rentals. Has anyone had luck getting landlords to agree to an FTTP install? 

 

Also curious:

 

• If Openreach or providers (like EE or BT) can usually run the fibre cleanly into a flat in a shared building
• If the install is usually free, or if we’d be charged a load for it. Only living here for 12 months so ideally don’t want to pay much of an install fee.
• How disruptive it actually is

 

Just wondering if anyones been in a similar spot and has any advice on what to do.

Also this is in Bristol, UK if that helps.

 

Cheers,

Josh

[manikyath]

20 minutes ago, Avocheeseado said:

new rented flat

 

20 minutes ago, Avocheeseado said:

I’m looking into getting FTTP installed

contact the landlord, afaik this is always something on the landlord's end.

[Dutch_Master]

14 minutes ago, Avocheeseado said:

How disruptive it actually is

Having had an install fairly recently, the hassle is negligible. Drill hole in wall, feed fibre through hole, fix in separate box, test, done. But that's a residential apartment I own for the last 23 years, not shared student accommodation. Install was part of a package to switch to fibre from VDSL, so virtually free.

[porina]

39 minutes ago, Avocheeseado said:

If Openreach or providers (like EE or BT) can usually run the fibre cleanly into a flat in a shared building

Presumably you get the current one over the phone line? How does that get to your flat? Where I am (NE UK) lots of old large houses have been converted into separate flats and the connection comes in from above via cable on telegraph poles. Applied to my old flat, and my current house here. If this is what you have, you'd need line of sight from a pole then they connect it to the wall and drill through. Different arrangements may apply if it comes from underground cable.

 

39 minutes ago, Avocheeseado said:

If the install is usually free, or if we’d be charged a load for it. Only living here for 12 months so ideally don’t want to pay much of an install fee.

You'll have to look at the package as a whole. It's usually inclusive, however they average out their costs over longer contracts. 12 months might be a bit short so they might charge for install, or demand higher monthly rates. You'll have to check what providers offer.

 

An alterative is if you have good mobile signal, get an unlimited data plan. Ping may be a bit higher for online gaming but I used this for some time while waiting for my install.

[OhYou_]

why is your font big >.<
I think in most cases, as long as the installer does a good job, landlords will be fairly accommodating to a free increase in value to their rental unit.

[Avocheeseado]

2 hours ago, porina said:

Presumably you get the current one over the phone line? How does that get to your flat?

Yes, it comes in at the back of the building (not next to the road) so might be a bit awkward to install there..

 

2 hours ago, porina said:

12 months might be a bit short so they might charge for install, or demand higher monthly rates. You'll have to check what providers offer.

 

This is an issue i’m finding. Vodafone offer a great price but are all 24 month contracts. EE offer 12 month contracts which I get a discount on through my mobile contract but still pricier than others.

 

2 hours ago, porina said:

An alterative is if you have good mobile signal, get an unlimited data plan. Ping may be a bit higher for online gaming but I used this for some time while waiting for my install.

Thats the plan, will have to do for the first few weeks I’m there, assuming the landlord gives permission. Not sure how to phrase it to him as “can i have someone round to drill a bunch of holes in the wall” seems unlikely to convince.

 

Thanks for your help

[porina]

1 hour ago, Avocheeseado said:

Yes, it comes in at the back of the building (not next to the road) so might be a bit awkward to install there..

Does your landlord own the whole building or just the flat? Running cables along the exterior wall may be possible. 

 

1 hour ago, Avocheeseado said:

This is an issue i’m finding. Vodafone offer a great price but are all 24 month contracts. EE offer 12 month contracts which I get a discount on through my mobile contract but still pricier than others.

Also consider that even if you get the go ahead, between the time you put in the request and them actually connecting it can be weeks. Even 12 months will go beyond the time you're there.

[OddOod]

10 hours ago, Avocheeseado said:

FTTC installed, so would pretty much be capped around 70/20 Mbps

Wait, what? I'm on FTH now, but when I was on FTTN I was getting 1000/100. Well, more like 300/30 because despite the fact that I was under the data cap, apparently I was violating the "undue use" clause of the contract which means they randomly decided to cut my bandwidth by 65% whenever they wanted. 
 

[Avocheeseado]

8 hours ago, OddOod said:

Wait, what? I'm on FTH now, but when I was on FTTN I was getting 1000/100.
 

Yeah it sucks, no ISP offer’s FTTC with speeds above 70 ish. Even that’s not guaranteed. May be different in other countries?

[Avocheeseado]

14 hours ago, porina said:

Does your landlord own the whole building or just the flat? Running cables along the exterior wall may be possible. 

I believe he owns all the flats in the building but not sure if that necessarily means he owns the building.

14 hours ago, porina said:

Also consider that even if you get the go ahead, between the time you put in the request and them actually connecting it can be weeks. Even 12 months will go beyond the time you're there.

Yes this is a consideration too. Obviously wouldn’t be worth if it took months to install, but a few weeks is fine.

 

I’ve attached a satellite view of the building, the red square is our flat and the green dot is where the current phone line comes in (from a tiny patio courtyard which shares a wall with the car park behind). The road is at the bottom of the picture if this helps.