UK Landlord Forum / Life

I have just finished re-furbishing a small house and it is now on the market to let.  Water, electricity and gas were still all connected at purchase, so meter readings were taken and I took over accounts, becoming responsible from then on. 

However, the phone line did not work from the date I took possession.  I didn't need one whilst re-furbishing,  so didn't bother pursuing the matter.

It appears that the previous owners used SKY for all telecom, broadband and TV and that all services were not just suspended (as with other utilities) but disconnected when they moved out.  Now, to get a working phone line will involve at least a re-connection charge (and possibly more if there are things required to be checked inside the house) and signing up to a new subscriber account from whoever is chosen to be service provider. 

Open Reach tell me that will only do the job if they are setting up for a new BT subscriber account.  They wont just get the line working but with no service and no number, so it cant be used to make or receive calls.  The firm that is supplying the telecom services will set up the account, "provide" a line - they pay Open Reach to physically get the line up and running - and bill the new subscriber.  (Brilliant this privatisation aint it!)

I want to give tenants the opportunity to choose their own supplier (if they want a landline) in the same way they can switch energy supplier if they wish, rather than having to take over an existing line and account package they may not want.

My question is - who should pay the connection charge?  Should I as Landlord, offer to pay this element, since other utilities are installed and working, or should solely be a matter for the tenant?

What do you do/ would you do? What is reasonable? 

Any advice/experience would be welcomed!

Tenant pays. They might not want one either, so don't you go setting one up...

Recently I set up a package for a family member with SKY, full TV Broadband Phone, and they did not charge connection, £10 for the sky box was it, with £75 cash back, and half price for 6 months.

Just saying....


So the answer is.............The tenant.

Thanks guys - I value the voice of your experience!
ConfusedNewbie