HELP - BT Open Reach want to dig up my front lawn, AIBU to say no

[Havingablast]

BT OR man just called round. Said he was installing a line for my neighbour but the ducts they need can only be accessed under my front lawn.

Obviously I'm not happy about them digging it up and I have stalled him for now. Any advice please?

Check the deeds of your home but I know the first meter or so of mine has to be accessible for the utilities

What sot of advice? You either allow your neighbour to update their WiFi, or you refuse.

Presumably they can take up the first few inches of turf, dig down and do what is necessary, then replace the turf. Eventually you won't be able to tell.

They’ll put it back when finished.

As long as they make good the area it should be fine

You may well be obliged to give access under your deeds if it is a modern house.

Remove turf neatly with spade, set aside
Remove soil, set aside in a neat pile
Do the work that is needed
Replace soil
Replace turf
Flatten down with feet

That's it.

Why are you worried? They won't just leave you with a massive hole in your garden!

We had similar when we had to install our own internet, they needed to take up our pavior path. They put it all back and when I went out immediately after they were finished I couldn't even tell where they had done it.

You can probably refuse but if it's the only way your neighbour can get new internet then you'll probably sour relations somewhat.

Unless you have prize winning flowers out the front why be difficult? It'll be a quick job and I'm sure you'd be happy to have it done for your own services.

You should maybe repost this on the legal board, but my understanding is that, as others say, you should check your deeds to see what you are obliged to allow. If there is already infrastructure there, or if your deeds give them leave, you will have to allow it or they will be able to get a court order (and there’s not much point in making them get that). They are supposed to make good the garden afterwards so take photos of the area so you have a comparison.

I would not agree to anything more than you are legally obliged to. If, for instance, they want to run new cabling and they don’t have a right to take it over your property, don’t let them. Make them go out to the street and along and back to your . Because any new infrastructure they put in you (and anyone who comes after you) will them be obliged to avoid for anything you want to do yourself and you will have to give them access to it in the future if they need it.

Do you have a phone and internet access? If so, it would be unreasonable to begrudge your neighbour these things.

Sounds like the ducting is maybe blocked, which is why they need access? As long as they make good the job when they are finished, I, personally would let them. I wouldn't want to fall out with my neighbours over it. It's nice to be nice!

Unless you want your neighbours back up I’d oblige so long as they make good

Thanks everyone for your comments so far. I have dug out my deeds and it seems I do have to give BT access ... but they need to provide reasonable written notice and make good any damages etc.

Having had dealings with BT OR before where they have been absolutely difficult to contact, I'm going to ask for something in writing, including timescales, and a dedicated named contact.

Some people have made the point about being "nice". My own interests come first I'm afraid and I've no intention of being a walkover.

I had a new cable put in the spring, they cut into the grass at an angle slipped in the cable and put the grass back. I did go out and walk over any slightly bumpy bits, but after one lot of rain I couldn't see where it had been cut into. I don't think you'll see any damage after a week or so.

You sound like a complete PITA neighbour. A written statement of work, timescales and a named contact to dig up your lawn - behave!

let your neighbour get their internet, open reach will put your turf back.

Yeah, not a case of being a walkover by simply saying ‘yeah, k.’ about a non event 😂

I’m just glad not to be your neighbour😅

Well, thank goodness you are not my neighbour. 🙄 So you've discovered you do have to give them access, that they have to leave things as they found them when the work has been done - and you want to insist that they can't do the work for weeks, possibly months while everything is put in writing and you have a named contact?

YABVU

@Havingablast how are they going to repair the garden at this time of year?? if it is grassed then it is likely to become a quagmire over winter! can you charge them for a gardener to repair it because it is unlikely to left as it was before any digging!!

They’ll replace the turf when they’re done and you won’t even know they were ever there. Half of our front lawn had to be dug up last year when they were replacing all of the gas pipes, you honestly couldn’t tell when they left.

I had my whole drive way dug up at 4 weeks old to fix a neighbours internet. Stop being over dramatic.

They did ours last year. Honestly, when they were finished you'd barely have know they'd been. They cut the turf, peel it back and replace it after. A week or so later you won't even notice.

how are they going to repair the garden at this time of year??

They lift the turf off, they put it back when they’ve finished, it grows. There won’t be anything to repair.