Iain Westerman, who lives in a block of six flats at Woodsley Fold, in Thornton, is frustrated that his building management company, Inspired Property Management (IPM) Ltd, will not allow fibre installation works to take place on the building so he can upgrade his internet connection.
Mr Westerman, who works in the IT sector as a software engineer, said: “I’ve been trying to get this resolved but the internet providers say ‘we can’t do it because you have this kind of property’.
“I’ve lived in this block of flats since September 2019.
“For five-and-a-half years, I’ve been working from home for the majority of the time.
“My internet connection often drops, so if I’m in a meeting at work I have to scramble to try and sort it. This affects my job as a software engineer.”
“I’m looking at different solutions and spoken to different internet providers who can’t offer any better speeds because of the internet connection.
“I pay my own mortgage on the flat, but the building is run by a property management company.
“I’m afraid my only option is going to be to move house, and it’s not the kind of thing that I’d want to have to move house for.
“I’m just frustrated with the situation as it is.
“I put it down to my area,” said Mr Westerman. “I live in a quiet village. If I lived in the city centre, I think it would be different.”
Mr Westerman explained that there are six flats in his building with occupants who would benefit from a faster internet connection speeds.
Mr Westerman explained: “I’ve contacted building management to vent my frustration and to try and help with the situation.
“They haven’t provided an answer to solve the problem. I’m getting road blocks and red tape.
“I’m sort of stuck and caught between a rock and a hard place. It’s very frustrating.”
A spokesperson for IPM Limited said: “We have communicated with a Leaseholder at the Grace development previously regarding their request to change their broadband supplier.
“A supplier contractor attended to prepare a quote, which they have confirmed would involve fitting surface mounted cables throughout the entirety of the block across the communal hallways and stairwells to serve this one apartment.
“The communal areas are shared, and such works require consent from the Freeholder.”
