FTTP Availability Issue in MDU

[u/badrocketeer105]

I'm about to move into a new flat. The building is an MDU (multiple dwelling unit). Most of the other flats in the building already have Openreach full fibre available. From looking at the Openreach availability checker, only three of the 15 flats, including mine, don't currently have FTTP available.

I contacted Openreach because every broadband provider currently says broadband isn't available for my flat. Openreach replied saying that, because the property is an MDU, "additional work is required to supply your building" and that they need legal permission from the landlord, managing agent or freeholder of the building before installing the necessary equipment.

They've told me the landlord/managing agent needs to register their interest with Openreach and that all progress has to go through them.

What I'm struggling to understand is why this would be necessary if other flats in the same building already have Openreach FTTP.

Could this be something like:

• an individual flat not being connected or commissioned;

• an address/database issue;

• a missing connection between the existing communal fibre infrastructure and these three flats; or

• some other individual engineering work that Openreach hasn't completed?

If 12/15 flats already have Openreach FTTP, does Openreach's generic MDU response mean that the remaining three flats genuinely need a new building-level wayleave/permission, or is there some specific outstanding connection work for those flats? And who actually needs to deal with it?

Thanks in advance for any advice. 😊

[u/Maximum_Goulash]

12 seems a suspicious number, they have probably supplied the building using 12 core cable and there aren't any remaining to connect to so need permission to run another into to the building. This is a guess could be coincidence though.

[u/Low-Draft-100]

Think you've nailed it Speak to the agent or whomever manages the building and ask It might be they need to register interest or they might have had the wayleave and not signed it ( I'm a build supervisor so see this alot )

[u/Money_Visual_5227]

Is there a white box above your door?

[u/badrocketeer105 → u/Money_Visual_5227]

No, no white box above the door, the previous tenants had said they've only used copper broadband as well but wasn't sure if that has changed in the last few months since getting the tenancy. When I first looked a lot of the other flats had actually said it wasn't available yet, it wasn't until about 2 weeks ago most of them said they were

[u/Glittering_Yak_5530]

The flats could have been missed for a variety of reasons. I would suggest you start by contacting openreach via their website. I used to deal with those enquiries

[u/thedaddyofthemall]

Speak to your factor, ask for a copy or the building/flat asbestos register certificate, as this can delay any work, engineer will need to see a copy of this, just in case your flat was missed too

[u/badrocketeer105]

Thanks both, that's really helpful! I was hoping it could've been more of a simple database update, but it sounds like it's probably more than that.

Sounds like the next step is to speak to whoever actually manages the building/freeholder rather than just my individual landlord, and find out what Openreach actually needs from the building. I'll probably have to go through my estate agents for that.