[Snap] New House - Phone Line Install fee paid by landlord?

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tomgeeknz

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#138435 4-Jan-2014 00:17

So, we're moving into a brand new flat next week, and it doesn't currently have a phone line installed. There is a CAT5 lead from inside the house, and a cable in a conduit coming in from the street ready for it to be connected, but Snap/Chorus need to charge a $199 fee to have this connected.

IS there anything that would give us reason to ask our landlord to pay this fee, as we can't take the phone line with us when we leave?

Tom

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#960984 4-Jan-2014 01:35

You can ask the landlord nicely.... and wait for his response!

gregmcc

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#960988 4-Jan-2014 05:10

If you want a phone line that badly then you'll have to suck it up and pay it, one of the pitfalls of renting having to pay a connection fee

timmmay

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#960990 4-Jan-2014 07:05

I would just ask the landlord nicely, and phrase it as an installation fee not a connection fee. I don't think you should pay extra because you're the first in the place, but paying a connection fee of some kind is normal enough.

scuwp

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#960992 4-Jan-2014 08:03

Ask and hope for the best... But plan for your own $$$, it is not the landlords responsibility to provide a phone. Especially nowadays where fixed landlines are almost unnecessary.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

MikeB4

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#960996 4-Jan-2014 08:10

The landlord is not required to pay for or supply this, however if included in the tenancy contract then yes he/she is required to do so. You are required to gain the landlords consent before arranging the install.

boby55

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#961004 4-Jan-2014 09:01

scuwp: Ask and hope for the best... But plan for your own $$$, it is not the landlords responsibility to provide a phone. Especially nowadays where fixed landlines are almost unnecessary.

I could not disagree more with this, While a Fixed Home phone is no longer necessary for, The need for the connection is still needed for broadband

ubernoob

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#961010 4-Jan-2014 09:17

.... um, no. Data stick, wireless ??

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riahon

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#961013 4-Jan-2014 09:27

Just think of all those other flats you rented where someone else paid the initial connection fee - it's your turn.

timmmay

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#961016 4-Jan-2014 09:38

boby55:
scuwp: Ask and hope for the best... But plan for your own $$$, it is not the landlords responsibility to provide a phone. Especially nowadays where fixed landlines are almost unnecessary.

I could not disagree more with this, While a Fixed Home phone is no longer necessary for, The need for the connection is still needed for broadband

Not if you go with UFB. I haven't had a home phone for years, but I have naked broadband over cable. I'd prefer all the phone wires be disconnected from my house.

nickb800

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#961019 4-Jan-2014 09:44

I'd agree that the landlord doesn't have to pay, but given that you are renting a brand-spanking flat you aren't exactly at the bottom end of the market, so it would be a terrible move on their behalf to make you pay, and a poor start to a positive landlord-tennant relationship

sir1963

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#961054 4-Jan-2014 11:23

nickb800: I'd agree that the landlord doesn't have to pay, but given that you are renting a brand-spanking flat you aren't exactly at the bottom end of the market, so it would be a terrible move on their behalf to make you pay, and a poor start to a positive landlord-tennant relationship

The landlord is NOT liable, and it would be a terrible move on your behalf to try and make the landlord pay for extras.

Internet/Phone/Sky TV,etc are NOT part of the rental agreement unless that is part of the contract. However a landlord would be an idiot to include these as that could make them liable for additional costs (e.g. tolls) or liable for conduct (e.g. 3 strikes law), or if you took out a supply contract for these services that was longer than the rental term then they could also be liable for early disconnect fees.

nickb800

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#961060 4-Jan-2014 12:33

sir1963:
nickb800: I'd agree that the landlord doesn't have to pay, but given that you are renting a brand-spanking flat you aren't exactly at the bottom end of the market, so it would be a terrible move on their behalf to make you pay, and a poor start to a positive landlord-tennant relationship

The landlord is NOT liable, and it would be a terrible move on your behalf to try and make the landlord pay for extras.

Internet/Phone/Sky TV,etc are NOT part of the rental agreement unless that is part of the contract. However a landlord would be an idiot to include these as that could make them liable for additional costs (e.g. tolls) or liable for conduct (e.g. 3 strikes law), or if you took out a supply contract for these services that was longer than the rental term then they could also be liable for early disconnect fees.

I never suggested that the landlord is liable. This discussion is about the initial connection fee for the premises, not the ongoing contract with an ISP. The OP is suggesting that the landlord makes a one-off contribution towards the initial connection fee, as this would benefit all subsequent tenants.

Dratsab

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#961127 4-Jan-2014 15:44

sir1963:
nickb800: I'd agree that the landlord doesn't have to pay, but given that you are renting a brand-spanking flat you aren't exactly at the bottom end of the market, so it would be a terrible move on their behalf to make you pay, and a poor start to a positive landlord-tennant relationship

The landlord is NOT liable, and it would be a terrible move on your behalf to try and make the landlord pay for extras.

Internet/Phone/Sky TV,etc are NOT part of the rental agreement unless that is part of the contract. However a landlord would be an idiot to include these as that could make them liable for additional costs (e.g. tolls) or liable for conduct (e.g. 3 strikes law), or if you took out a supply contract for these services that was longer than the rental term then they could also be liable for early disconnect fees.

How on earth did you leap to thoughts of liability when the conversation isn't even close to that?

scuwp

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#961130 4-Jan-2014 15:53

boby55:
scuwp: Ask and hope for the best... But plan for your own $$$, it is not the landlords responsibility to provide a phone. Especially nowadays where fixed landlines are almost unnecessary.

I could not disagree more with this, While a Fixed Home phone is no longer necessary for, The need for the connection is still needed for broadband

Fixed line Broadband is not a core necessity for daily life.

Cellphones are more than suitable for emergency contact so that argument is also mute.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

chevrolux

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#961149 4-Jan-2014 16:19

There is the option for a building owner to ask for a "pre-connection". It simply provides an intact connection to the property so that when a tenant comes along they only have to pay the standard $50 install fee.

It would be nice for the landlord to pay for this but they most certainly don't have to.

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