Do I Need Consent to Get Fibre Installed?

More than 87% of the population in New Zealand is connected to a UFB fibre network. The rest, mainly in rural areas, become more interested in installing fibre broadband each year, with more than 300,000 appointments set in 2022 alone.

That's because, with this new era of digitalization, fast internet has become an essential asset for freelancers, remote workers and simple people looking for easy-to-access entertainment.

But many still ask, "Do I need consent to get fibre installed?", so we'll give you all the information you need to get a fibre installation appointment and get the job done.

Do You Need Consent to Install Fibre Broadband?

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Yes, you need consent to get a fibre installation at your house, rental property or office.

However, according to the New Zealand Government, not all property owners need consent to get some work done on their property. It depends on what type of building you live in and other important circumstances.

Do You Need Consent If You Own a Standalone Property?

This case is very straightforward. You can, without any consent, contact your local fibre company and get your ultra-fast fibre broadband installed on your standalone property.

This goes for any type of property, be it an office, a storage building or a private school you own or manage.

In What Cases Do I Need Consent to Get Fibre Installed?

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If you're not a standalone property owner but still want to install fibre broadband, you need to know there are different types of properties for whom the consent process is a little different.

Here are the types of properties you'll need consent to install fibre broadband.

Renting a Standalone Property

In the case of a rental property, you'll have to get the consent of the property owners or the property manager to start the fibre installation process.

The property manager can either sign the installation agreement for you or can give you written or verbal permission to sign it. This depends on the terms and conditions of your prior rental agreement.

Many landlords are happy to go for it as long as the fibre installation process doesn't in any way harm the property itself, so the consent process should be quick.

In most cases, the property owner or the manager doesn't have to be on-site when the technicians install the devices and the cables, but he can choose to be there if he wants.

Shared Driveway

In this case, you'll have to get consent from your neighbours. But there are still some nuances you'll have to take into consideration.

Many broadband service providers have different installation categories for which they require different consent forms. Check our website to find out more about other providers.

If the technician that'll install fibre broadband at your shared driveway house tells you that the installation process will have a great impact on shared areas of the property, he'll need the consent of all property owners before starting the work.

However, if the impact is smaller or even non-existent, you'll just have to notify your neighbours about the building work, and if there won't be any objections, the work can begin.

Multi-Dwelling Units or Apartment Buildings

The same with shared driveways; you'll need consent from your neighbours to get your fibre installed.

Likewise, it depends on the impact the installation process will have on shared areas of the building.

If the technician confirms that the impact will be ample, you'll need signed consent from all the neighbours. If not, you'll only have to notify them 5 or 15 working days prior to the start of the installation process.

Also, here's a great tip for you to skip that part. If the whole apartment building doesn't have fibre broadband, you can talk with all the people living there and get internet for all the multi-dwelling units at once.

This way, you'll probably get the broadband provider to install it cheaper while cutting the need for a consent process.

How to Get Consent?

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Now that you know when to get consent, it's time for you to understand how to do that correctly from a legal point of view.

Step 1

Talk to the technician and find out if the installation process will involve damaging/interfering with the shared area too much.

If it will, you'll have to get consent from the neighbours/other property owners, so read further.

For people that rent standalone properties, you can skip this step.

Step 2

If the technician was positive about a great impact on the shared areas, you'd have to get written or verbal permission from your neighbours to start the work.

However, we advise you to always get written consent as it is safer in case there are further problems with the people you've taken permission from. Here's a detailed guide on how to get consent.

In the case of a rental property, your landlord must give you consent unless one of the points described here can be applied to your situation.

Step 3

After you get all the documents and signed consent from your neighbours, you can start the installation process.

Even then, notify your neighbours about every detail of the process and try to be as polite as possible. You don't want any extra trouble.

Step 4

Enjoy your ultra-fast fibre broadband Internet capable of working with VoIPs, TVs and many other technologies that require a fast Internet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can My Neighbours Refuse to Give Me Consent?

Yes, they can. If they do, you can politely ask what it is about, and if they have a structured argument about it, listen to what they have to say and comply.

However, if they don't want to give consent, you should discuss it with a lawyer and see what you can do in court.

How Long Does it Take to Get Fibre Installed?

It depends on how much work the technicians have to complete. Usually, the installation part takes the least time in this long process.

For the biggest part, you'll have to wait - sometimes, up to 15 days. If you want to read more about it, you can check this article out.

What Can I Do If My Area Doesn't Have Fibre?

If you're the first to start the fibre installation process, you should contact your local authority before doing anything else.

They'll be able to tell you who to speak to and what you need to do to get your fibre internet faster.

You can also check out this page for more information about getting fibre.

Wrapping Up

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To sum everything up, you will need consent to install fibre unless you are the owner of a standalone building that has no shared space with other buildings/neighbours.

In all other cases, you'll either have to obtain written consent, or you'll have to notify your neighbours about the work you'll do.