New Build & Internet

[Thatsveryniceofyou]

Hi all, so we reserved a new build just under a year ago expected completion 31 march 2021. We've just been called and told NHBC have signed off the property and they're ready to do final inspection however BT have had a major issue connecting the fibre to the area and this will be delayed by 3/4 weeks and the builder have given us 2 options:

1. We complete on 31 March and the builder will provide us with a router until BT can connect the fibre

1. We hold off completion until BT has sorted out their side - estimated completion now pushed to 21 April.

Our first thought is to go for option 1 as a) we're living with family and it's very cramped and as my husband starts night first week of April it would be so much easier to get in before then as otherwise I would be trying to unpack whilst he is sleeping etc. Annual leave that first week isn't an option

Except we worry that if we complete on the house before the fibre is connected are we going to set ourselves up for further issues if for any reason the fibre is further delayed etc

Any insight from anyone that understands everything would be helpful - thank you

Last year someone posted that they were buying a house from an older couple who falsely claimed that they had fiber from BT. The couple had simply refused it when BT had come in and installed it for the whole estate. BT wouldn't come back to do it for just that one home. I think they pulled out of the purchase.

My point here is that if you can't get broadband for whatever reason it makes the house very difficult to sell. In your shoes I would wait until it's in before you complete, but I'm very cautious about such things.

What gaurantee are they giving that it will be connected?
The problem is if you decide to wait and there are further delays, do you lose your mortgage offer etc?
I'd be inclined to move in as long as there was an iron clad guarantee that fibre was coming in (and deadline). I

@Midlifephoenix

What gaurantee are they giving that it will be connected? The problem is if you decide to wait and there are further delays, do you lose your mortgage offer etc? I'd be inclined to move in as long as there was an iron clad guarantee that fibre was coming in (and deadline). I

The problem with this is that the sellers can't guarantee the performance of BT unless they're willing to reverse the sale if BT doesn't install it in a timely manner. That's pretty unlikely.

Thanks all, well I'm hoping the builder will be very flexible with BT seeing as all 4 houses in our road have the same issue and The builder is buying the routers for each house. But understand what you mean about perhaps trying to get a guarantee.

Mortgage offer runs until May.

We've emailed our solicitor to understand more from them but haven't yet had a response so we're trying to understand what is for the best.

I know what you mean about not being able to guarantee speed but at the moment BT are the only company that will supply the new build estate so I guess in time if speed is slow it may be possible to upgrade to another provider

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I meant that the property developer can't guarantee that BT will install the service at all. BT may discover a problem putting it in that will make it cost more than it's worth to have the new customers. Unless BT is legally required to run service to any new build in the area.

Have you contacted openreach who actually install the connections ?

I used their online form Thursday , they phoned me back Friday and are doing a site visit today and plan to let me know what's what tomorrow