Installing Full Fibre into a Multi Dwelling Unit (MDU)/ blocks of flats/apartments (we'll collectively call them MDUs) is slightly more complicated than installing into other types of homes. This is mainly due to wayleaves.
Wayleaves give permission to install and maintain the fibre infrastructure onto privately owned land or some types of buildings, such as apartment blocks. Without this permission, a tenant or leaseholder of the MDU is unable to order a full fibre service as this connection would typically need to route via communal areas within the building, where a wayleave would be required.
What is your definition of MDU?
An MDU is often a purpose built building housing multiple homes. This can be anything from a small development of 6 homes, to a mid-size development of 40 homes, up to large skyscraper tower blocks housing 100s of homes. Sometimes an MDU may be a conversion of a commercial building into homes.
A (semi)detached/terraced house that has been split up into flats is often not classed as an MDU, but sometimes it can be. Therefore there may be added complexity for these flats too. More on this below.
New Build MDUs - full fibre Openreach ONT pre-installed
In many cases, new blocks of flats or apartments are being wired up with full fibre technology as part of the construction work. This is where the developer of the building has negotiated with the fibre provider to install their infrastructure from the very start.
You will know if your flat/apartment is full fibre ready by speaking with your developer/landlord/freeholder/managing agent, or by identifying a fibre ONT device installed within your home.
If an Openreach ONT is already present, then you should be able to order a service from our website and get a remote activation.
New Build MDUs - no full fibre pre-installed
Some developers are not really on the ball when it comes to broadband, and so don't engage or early enough for the full fibre infrastructure to be installed, or the building is located too far away from the nearby fibre infrastructure to make it economically viable for both parties.
Therefore, some new MDU buildings may not have the fibre infrastructure installed.
You will need to ask your landlord/freeholder/managing agent to register the MDU's interest for full fibre using the below link. This must be completed by the landlord of the block, and not a leaseholder.
https://www.openreach.com/fibre-for-apartment-buildings
There is no guarantee that after submitting the request that Openreach will be able to provide the full fibre infrastructure in the building, as the costs may be too high, or the existing full fibre network is not nearby, or there are not enough flats to make the scheme viable. If Openreach do commit to installing the infrastructure, this process could take many months to be installed.
However the first step is asking the landlord to complete the form above.
If the news is positive, and the full fibre infrastructure is installed, once this is completed, you should then be able to order a service from our website. Until this time, full fibre is not ready for ordering.
Existing built MDUs - full fibre available to order
If full fibre is available in your area, and our order portal allows you to order a service, but you are in an MDU (definition above), then we may encounter difficulties with your order due to the wayleave requirement.
Important Note: Openreach's availability database is sometimes not accurate, and they may be providing false hope that full fibre can be ordered when in fact it can't.
If we do encounter a problem during your order, we will advise you as such. In the worst case scenario, your order will have to be cancelled. We will cancel the service free of charge in this circumstance if the pre-survey/survey identifies these challenges and we're not able to help.
We recommend that you forward the below link to your landlord/freeholder/managing agent for the MDU so that they can register their interest (and by definition all occupiers within their MDU) in full fibre broadband.
https://www.openreach.com/fibre-for-apartment-buildings
Openreach will then asses the requirements to enable the MDU for full fibre, and if successful plan the infrastructure build within the MDU. This may take considerable time. Once you have
Existing built MDUs - full fibre not available to order
If full fibre is available in your area, and our order portal allows you to order a service, but you are in an MDU (definition above), then we may encounter difficulties with your order due to the wayleave requirement.
We recommend that you forward the below link to your landlord/freeholder/managing agent for the MDU so that they can register their interest (and by definition all occupiers within their MDU) in full fibre broadband.
https://www.openreach.com/fibre-for-apartment-buildings
Converted home into flats - full fibre available to order
If you live in a flat in a converted house into flats (e.g. a house has been split up into 6 flats from lower ground to 3rd floor), then you may be able to have a full fibre connection. The rules that apply to purpose-built MDUs or larger developments and the associated wayleave problems do not usually apply as much in these situations.
However, this being said, if you are located in a flat above the 1st floor in a converted house, then there may be problems if there's no way the fibre can be safely run internally.
If we do encounter a problem during your order, we will advise you as such. In the worst case scenario, your order will have to be cancelled. We will cancel the service free of charge in this circumstance if the pre-survey/survey identifies these challenges and we're not able to help.
FAQs
I live in an MDU (your definition above), and your website says that I can order full fibre, so what will happen in my case?
This depends on what type of MDU you live in:
- Converted house into flats:
- We may find that if you live in a basement, ground floor or 1st floor flat, then it may be possible to provide your full fibre service.
- If you live above the 1st floor, then it will probably not be possible to provide the service without further infrastructure works being required in the communal areas of the building. This may require a wayleave and permission from the freeholder. They will be required to complete this form https://www.openreach.com/fibre-for-apartment-buildings, and once Openreach assess the situation, they will be able to advise the freeholder what is possible.
- Purpose built MDU with Openreach ONTs already installed:
- This is the idea scenario, as you can order a service, and we can remotely activate the service. This usually takes around 11 working days (to allow for the cooling off period).
- We will ship our router, and this connects to the existing Openreach ONT.
- Purpose-built MDU, but no Openreach ONTs:
- It's highly likely that your order will instantly be rejected after the pre-install survey checks due to the wayleave/permissions required.
- Please ensure that the MDU's freeholder/managing agent register the MDU here https://www.openreach.com/fibre-for-apartment-buildings.
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