Nosy neighbors and our broadband connection

Long story short:

My flatmate and I are currently having a conflict with our neighbors over broadband access.  Everyone else in the building (7 units) has Sky, and we want to sign on with Virgin.  In order for Virgin to get into our flat, they need to drill a small hole (which wouldn't be visible) in the outer wall of the building.  Our landlord is fine with this, and when we talked to the building management company, they said that it would be permitted as long as we had the landlord's permission.

Today, when Virgin came to do the installation, our downstairs neighbor banged on the window and then went outside to confront the service man and tell him that he needed to stop.  When I went to talk to her, she told me that the management company (the board includes her and another neighbor, who also gave me a hard time about Virgin) met on Saturday and decided that drilling the hole was unacceptable.  She claimed that the management company had contacted my flatmate and me and that we were fine with another provider, which was completely untrue. 

To sum things up, we can't have Virgin broadband unless that hole is drilled, and the neighbors won't let it be drilled, therefore no broadband.  My flatmate and I don't want another broadband provider because we don't want to be tied down to a BT landline contract, and Virgin is the fastest connection available, which my flatmate needs for her work.  We're trying to get our landlord to let us out of our lease, but don't know if that's going to end up happening. 

Any suggestions as to what we can do?

What reasons did they give as to it being unacceptable??

They claimed that there was a clause in the building's lease stating that no external drilling was permitted.  I called the management company last week and no mention of such a clause was stated--all I was told was that the installation was okay as long as the landlord gave permission.

By 'landlord' do you mean the owner of the freehold or the owner of the leasehold?

And what is this 'management company' that the neighbours are on?  What si their legal standing?

BTW, I have Sky, and a hole has to be drilled for this too.

Vicky

By 'landlord' do you mean the owner of the freehold or the owner of the leasehold?

The nosy neighbors and our landlord are joint leaseholders of the building, if I understand the matter correctly.  The window banging neighbor said that they don't own the freehold and that the contract stipulates no external alterations.

BTW, I have Sky, and a hole has to be drilled for this too.

Then you need to speak to the landlord to see if this is true.

I was very lucky...my landlord said that she didn't care if we had Sky or not, even though the freeholders don't allow dishes.  The only stipulation was that the dish is put at the back in case they drive past!

I would also go and have a look to see if the neighbours have drilled holes.

Why are they being so arsey about this anyway?


Vicky

And what is this 'management company' that the neighbours are on?  What si their legal standing?

The building is managed by Andrew Purnell, and I'm not sure what you mean by legal standing?  

I've talked to the landlord and he's going to look at the lease and see if there are any stipulations about external drilling.  I'm not sure why the neighbors are being so arsey--they seem like they're from Stepford, honestly.    My flatmate and I don't fit in too well, but it seems ridiculous that they're taking such an issue with who our broadband provider is. 

Hi Dulcineah

Storm in a Teacup here - becuase of these 'arsey' neighbours!

I think it all needs to be checked in the documentation, there may be 'some' clause somewhere. If there isn't or it's not clear, then maybe some sort of review and permission from the freeholder needs to take place. More than likely they won't mind and that needs to be represented in writing. Once that occurs, then the management company need to review it. If this woman is on the management company, request her to be present at the meeting. They have a vote and record the outcome in writing. If its yes, you can have a hole drilled - go ahead and get it done! if not, then yep, you'll have to make do with the next fastest provider via ADSL which I presume the wiring/telephone lines are already in place !

Once it's all sorted out, and I'm sure you'll get your Virgin - you can go up to the arsey neighbours and slap em across the face with a 'we got faster internet than you' sign!

sorry you have to deal with this! some people just don't have anything better to do than object with a small hole drilled into a brick!

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

This was really helpful--my flatmate and I are going to try to get a copy of the lease so we can look for ourselves, and request a meeting if necessary.  Thank you!

ETA: I just looked at the building, and no one else have holes drilled in the building.  I'm assuming that this doesn't bode too well for us.   

Then how do they have their dishes?  Or is there one communal dish for the whole building?

Vicky

Then how do they have their dishes?  Or is there one communal dish for the whole building?

There's a communal dish and everybody has to have Sky.  Our landlord even told us that he's 'disappointed in us.' 

There's a communal dish and everybody has to have Sky.  Our landlord even told us that he's 'disappointed in us.' 

i thought the landlord was ok with it??

There's a communal dish and everybody has to have Sky.  Our landlord even told us that he's 'disappointed in us.' 

Dissapointed in you...Gosh...who is he to speak to you like that?? he sounds horrid!

Dissapointed in you...Gosh...who is he to speak to you like that?? he sounds horrid!

The best part was when he told us not to contact him again.  That was really icing on the cake. 

Get a mobile dongle? I was looking into this recently and T Mobile does a deal on this which does not involve a fixed term contract.