Tenant installed NBN without my consent

Hi everyone,

My tenant recently moved in and installed NBN without my consent. They are now asking me to reimburse the $300 initial fee, however in our rental agreement, they are supposed to ask for my written consent if they are going to do any alterations to the apartment.

Would I still be liable to pay for the fee or the tenant?

Thanks in advanced!

 

I would reimburse the tenant because they won't be taking the NBN with them when they vacate.

Would you have knocked back their request to install NBN ?

I'd also stipulate that they need to run any future alterations/improvements/repairs past you first.

 

What alterations were made to the apartment?
If it isn't to your liking ask them to remove and install to your preferred liking yourself.

 

Sorry?
NBN installation is supposed to be free!

 

There's optional $240 install fee or a $300 new development charge

 

Sounds like it's the $300 new development charge - is this a brand new apartment or one that NBN has never been connected to?
There is generally no "installation" if so as the apartment would be NBN ready, this fee is for NBNCo to do their works. The developer would have paid their fees for the NBN to be provided to the building then the first connection fee is paid by the owner - that is how the split the total cost of NBN - it's like $600 or so for the developer and $300 for the owner

 

Sounds like a new build. Tenant was probably sorting out their internet, and the provider probably mentioned that NBN connection has to be installed first. They probably agreed not thinking much of it.

Pay it.. unless you want this tenant and future tenants to have no internet.

 

The initial fee is no different to getting the phone reconnected after any great length of time. The Telco will provide the NBN equipment programmed to the property.

It stays with the property and will mean that future tenants will have NBN access (ie it's a very low cost value add).

 

I would happily pay $300 if that would mean I didn’t have to lose half my brain trying to organise it/wait on hold/get hung up on/get forgotten/make a new appointment time - need I go on ?

 

NBN connected makes your property far more rentable in the future, people want it. Consider it as an investment in minimising future vacancies.

 

So you rented them an apartment with no capability for internet service?
Would you have installed it if they asked? What actual alteration has been made

The NBN is a fixture that stays with the apartment, get a copy of the invoice and reimburse

 

Were you going to say no?

Reminds me of my ex landlord who refused to reimburse plumbing costs for a blocked sink because they didn’t approve it. They would have had to pay it anyway because it’s an emergency repair. I took them to tribunal.

 

Yes, so they got to pay extra for representation and the tribunal fees.

 

The installation of NBN should not be any issue, however the $300 fee should be discussed/negotiated with you as it was incurred without your knowledge. Its something your PM should have agreed with the tenant at lease signing as this is the case with every new build.

 

Reimburse them and drop off a bottle of wine for doing the leg work for you.

 

AFAIK, NBN roll-out meant most providers stopped offering ADSL and cable internet connections. Your tenant did the legwork of getting your property connected to the internet.

 

I agree that the landlord should pay for the provisioning of appropriate internet services. That's quite reasonable.

However one of my pet hates is when someone spend money and expecting me to reimberse them, without having the courtesy of actually discussing it with me first. If you're going to spend my money, at least ask me about it first. Assuming you can simply spend someone elses money is just rude.

At this point I'd offer to pay half, with the message that if they need non essential changes made they need to make a courtesy call first, or they'll pay for it all.

 

I consider an internet connection an essential service.

 

It's perfectly reasonable to pay for the service, but I think I'd play hardball if they didn't ask first & then go for the reimbursement later route.

In the same vein as when there's maintenance requests that have been caused by tenants, I let the PMs know that the tenant will be responsible for the payment.

 

Internet probably is considered an essential service and most people have access to the internet via their phone. I know a lot of people who don't have an internet connection directly into their home and many of them are yonger than I am.

Also the PM has authorisation to cover essential repairs in my stead, the tenants do not. The tenants at least should have at least consulted the PM.