FTTP service in a rented apartment
FTTP service in a rented apartment
Hey everyone, just moved into a new flat with two other students and am thinking about getting FTTP installed. I’m not sure if it’s practical in a rented apartment. We don’t have any WiFi setup yet, and currently we only have FTTC, which limits us to around 70/20 Mbps. With three of us using gaming and streaming nonstop, it’s not the best setup. The building has five flats, ours is on the ground floor, and while FTTP is available outside, it isn’t installed here yet. We’d probably need the landlord’s approval, which I’m not sure is common for student rentals. Anyone had success getting landlords to agree? Also, curious—can providers like Openreach or companies such as EE or BT usually install fibre directly into a shared flat? If it’s free, or if we’d be charged a fee, that would matter. Since I’m staying here for about a year, I’d prefer not to pay a big upfront cost. Just wondering if anyone has experience in a similar situation and any tips. Also, this is in Bristol, UK—any thoughts? Thanks, Josh
reach out to the landlord, as this usually falls on their shoulders.
I recently had the installation, and it’s almost no trouble now. I drilled a hole in the wall, threaded the fiber through, secured it in a separate box, and tested it—all done. This was for my own home, not a shared student building, so it was part of a package to switch from VDSL to fiber. It was essentially free.
You likely receive the service through a phone line that connects from above via cables on poles. In areas with many converted older homes, connections are made from above. For your situation, you’d need a clear line of sight from a pole, then drill through to the wall. If it comes from underground, the setup will differ. Consider the overall package since costs are often bundled, though contracts may average over time. A one-year term might be too short, so expect possible installation fees or higher monthly charges. Compare what providers offer. An alternative could be using a strong mobile signal with an unlimited data plan—ping might cost more for online gaming, but it worked for my installation wait.
your font size is larger because the installer did a solid job. generally, if that happens, tenants will accept a fair rise in your property's worth.
Yes, it comes in at the back of the building (not next to the road) so might be a bit awkward to install there.. This is an issue i’m finding. Vodafone offer a great price but are all 24 month contracts. EE offer 12 month contracts which I get a discount on through my mobile contract but still pricier than others. Thats the plan, will have to do for the first few weeks I’m there, assuming the landlord gives permission. Not sure how to phrase it to him as “can i have someone round to drill a bunch of holes in the wall” seems unlikely to convince. Thanks for your help
Is your landlord responsible for the entire property or only the individual flat? It might be feasible to run cables along the exterior wall. Also note that even after receiving approval, the installation could take several weeks—potentially up to a year.
Wait, what happened? I'm now on FTH, but back when I was on FTTN I was getting 1000/100. Now it's around 300/30. Even though I was under the data limit, it seems like the contract's "undue use" clause was triggered, causing my bandwidth to drop by 65% whenever they wanted.
It's frustrating since no ISP provides FTTC connections exceeding around 70 Mbps, and even then it's uncertain. Could be the situation varies elsewhere?
I believe he owns all the flats in the building but not sure if that necessarily means he owns the building. Yes this is a consideration too. Obviously wouldn’t be worth if it took months to install, but a few weeks is fine. I’ve attached a satellite view of the building, the red square is our flat and the green dot is where the current phone line comes in (from a tiny patio courtyard which shares a wall with the car park behind). The road is at the bottom of the picture if this helps.