Are Letting Agencies obliged to provide you with a landline?

[t84]

Just moved into a place, wanted to get the phone number of the house from the lettings agency before we moved in so that we could order the internet in advance, they told us that they "didn't know the number" and that "it is probably BT".

Found out now that there's no line at all and BT want £120 to put a new line in. Are we obliged to pay this or are the Lettings Agency? I'd of thought a phone line would be a basic requirement...

[Slinky]

Unless it's in your contract, nope..

[eldar]

t84 said:

Just moved into a place, wanted to get the phone number of the house from the lettings agency before we moved in so that we could order the internet in advance, they told us that they "didn't know the number" and that "it is probably BT".

Found out now that there's no line at all and BT want £120 to put a new line in. Are we obliged to pay this or are the Lettings Agency? I'd of thought a phone line would be a basic requirement...

No requirement.

I'm told this new fangled wireless magic replaces wires.

[plover]

No the phone line is the tenants responsibility, as they have to pay the bill.

However , if you go here you can get it installed for £30 but need to commit to 18 months rental, see link for other conditions.

[t84]

Seen that, thanks, it's a 6 month lease so not in the mood to pay out for the installation, considering that there's a phone jack in every room. I think massive giraffes are being had...

[MitchT]

t84 said:

Seen that, thanks, it's a 6 month lease so not in the mood to pay out for the installation, considering that there's a phone jack in every room. I think massive giraffes are being had...

If there's a phone jack in every room then there's probably a line. You just need to get it switched on, which costs a lot less than £120, in fact, I'm not sure I had to pay anything. This was the case with my place. I just sorted it online with BT.

[Slinky]

BT "putting a line in" is about provisioning a line to the property, not wiring sockets..

Is this a new build?

[Mobile Chicane]

BT in Take the Piss Shocker...

£120 for a bloke to come out and flick a switch in the control box in the street.

[wulluff]

Mobile Chicane said:

BT in Take the Piss Shocker...

£120 for a bloke to come out and flick a switch in the control box in the street.

Oh how easy to take the piss.

Go eat pies

[t84]

Slinky said:

BT "putting a line in" is about provisioning a line to the property, not wiring sockets..

Is this a new build?

Newish, 2005...

[maser_spyder]

None of my rental properties have a fixed line.

Nobody has ever asked if they can have one installed.

Does that tell you something?

[thinfourth2]

maser_spyder said:

None of my rental properties have a fixed line.

Nobody has ever asked if they can have one installed.

Does that tell you something?

You rent your properties to captain caveman who has no concept of phoneline

[maser_spyder]

thinfourth2 said:

maser_spyder said:

None of my rental properties have a fixed line.

Nobody has ever asked if they can have one installed.

Does that tell you something?

You rent your properties to captain caveman who has no concept of phoneline

Well, they are in Wales, but...

Nope, mobile 'phone and a 3G dongle. Both of which have the added bonus you don't have to 'disconnect' on leaving, or play the great fun BT game of house moving.

I lived in a flat for three years with no internet connection, and I owned an internet based company at the time. It's really not that hard.

To be honest, dealing with BT is more hassle that it's worth for only a 6 month tenancy. Just use a mobile, it's normally cheaper too!

[t84]

We're not bothered about a landline, but we'd quite like the Internet! Can't get Virgin...

[pdV6]

3G dongle then.

[maser_spyder]

pdV6 said:

3G dongle then.

I use one of these in Austria for the winter, in the alps, we can get 8Mb/s through 3G (using 'Bob'), it's quicker than my internet at home! Not sure the UK is up to that yet though, but it's not far off.

[t84]

For Xbox Live, Downloading, iPlayer, etc?!

[maser_spyder]

t84 said:

For Xbox Live, Downloading, iPlayer, etc?!

[t84]

Wont they have a small fair usage policy?

[TubbyRutter]

If you get a decent router you can plug your 3g dongle into that and it will work in exactly the same way as if you had a BT line. cable lines will be obsolete in a few years and BT are being very short sighted charging such money for new lines!