How do I get cable into my house

tennents69 · 12-02-2007, 12:37

Hi,
I live in a block of flats and I am on the top floor (4th). Because of title deeds issues, none of us in the flats can get sattelite, so my only option is cable. Only one flat in the building has cable tv and it looks like that there is some sort of cable from what I assume is the telphone street box to this flat. My problem is that I live 2 stories up from this flat and my flat is the other side of the building. As my flat doesn't face the street box is that me screwed?

**Stuart C** · 12-02-2007, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by tennents69

Hi,
I live in a block of flats and I am on the top floor (4th). Because of title deeds issues, none of us in the flats can get sattelite, so my only option is cable. Only one flat in the building has cable tv and it looks like that there is some sort of cable from what I assume is the telphone street box to this flat. My problem is that I live 2 stories up from this flat and my flat is the other side of the building. As my flat doesn't face the street box is that me screwed?

Phone Virgin. As long as there are no physical barriers, and the landlord has no objection, then they will be able to install it.

fireman328 · 12-02-2007, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Phone Virgin. As long as there are no physical barriers, and the landlord has no objection, then they will be able to install it.

Be prepared for a knock back, I am moving house soon to a purpose built flat, so I contacted Virgin to check out my options. The area I am moving to has cable and I can see the green cabinet and the next door flats 10 in total are all cabled, but I was told that the although I am so close the owners/managers of the flats will not sign a wayleave to allow cable installation. I was told by CS that my only other option was to get Virgin ADSL

Red Robin · 14-02-2007, 13:15

Hi
Sorry but I have to second the last PP here. I work in Planning and if you are in a block of flats which has not been pre-wired (i.e. you have not already got an ntl/telewest socket in your flat already with loomed cables either on the outside or the inside of the block) then in all probability your flats will not be serviceable. When we build the network we approach flat "owners" (be that collectively private, local authority, housing assoc. etc) and ask, as has been said, for permission (a wayleave) to cable the block. We do the same with new build - ask for permission from the builder or proposed owner. In 80% of cases we are refused. Block owners do not like loads of cables running around the place, and don't like the disruption of having it done, and won't help meet the costs either (which are expensive). Sounds as if the neighbouring block to you was consented, and yours not? If a block, or coversion, is over 6 units in size it MUST be blockwired to be served. The flat in your block which is installed is probably installed directly from the cab, which would be classed as an illegal install. If the owner of the block found out about this they could ask us to remove it and/or take legal action against us as it is effectively trespass. It sounds as if this unit should never have been sold to in the first place.
Sorry it's not better news; all I can suggest is now we are a "new" company, maybe someday there will be some budget to get these "stranded" homes connected up but there isn't at present.
Hope at least it clarifies.

ewan.paton · 14-02-2007, 16:19

im in sort of a smmilar situation, im thinking of moving to a 3rd (top) floor tennemnt in glasgow(1), anyway there is an ntl box directly in front of the property seperated from the outside wall by a 2" garden an i was told it couldnt be done due to planning permission.

the fact the instalation could be done by one bloke with a spade, a big ladder and drill seemed irrealavant. anyway if i get this house there are 6 households and it would littrally be a case of digging a small treach to the wall, running coax up the wall behind the drainpipe and through the bay windows frame. i would guess at most 3 hours work, is there any way i could get this done without having to talk the neighbors who i havent met into sighning something.

just on another matter the property i was looking at may need some roof work, are VM capable of arranging to use the scafolding whilst its on site or do they need to use their own gear.

(1) i have very few location requirments since i travel to various sites and only want a big high roofed flat with ntl in an area i woulnt get stabbed in.