BT can anyone tell me the legal side

[poodlelis]

Hi I am having my property extented and there is a BT phone line runnning over my property where I need to put the new roof. BT want to charge me £580 to move it but it isn't my phone line it runs to a house on the next road up to us. BT want to re route it to a telegraph pole on the persons street but it is me that has to foot the bill is this right or is there any laws which says I am not liable for this charge?

thank you
Lisa

[dothawkes31]

I suppose they own the line and you own the land but who owns the air it's suspended in?

[AlBags]

I would have thought that if it runs through/over your land, then you would be at liberty to disconnect it.
There has to be some agreement in history with BT regarding this.

[scotman]

I imagine there will be some historical record of 'wayleave' or 'easement' to allow the line in the first place. You should check your deeds.

[DrFilth]

can you not have the extension built so that the line goes through your loft and then you can send them a bill for line rental,

[boxtops]

It seems an odd arrangement to go right over your property anyway if there is a pole nearer to the neighbour's house - but they did some odd things in the past, we have a lattice of BT lines up our street.

[Buenchico]

Check whether OpenReach have a wayleave for the cables to cross your property. (email [e-mail] or phone [phone]). If they have, they're probably correct in refusing to move the cables without payment. If not, you can demand that they move them free of charge.

Chris

[Eve]

The air is irrelevant in this case, as scotman and Chris have said, you need to check whether there is any wayleave in place.

Have you got a copy of your title to the property to have a check or any information from your legal advisor from when you bought the house?