I have 6-7 bt phone lines that run above my property. Can I have them removed if I don't want them there?

Question

I have a lot of trees in my garden that will eventually hit the bt lines. The lines were there when I bought the property. I am not bothered about losing my bt line as I will eventually get cable.

Answer 1

It depends if it is just BT lines you have.

I have a  problem that is similar to yours  -or not.

I asked an Open Reach man who was in the area recently and he said that they wouldn't be able to do anything about the trees because their wires were on an electricity pole and it would have to be the electricity company who would have to do the work.

When we had an extension built many years ago, BT said they would re-route their wires that would have gone over the new roof but at a cost. The wires still go over the roof and rub on the tiles in a really bad wind. I suppose it is just a matter of time before ...

The electricity board re-routed their power cables at no cost even though it meant putting in an extra pole and anchor - which later killed a fruit tree because they used to soak them in creosote or something similar! I didn't mind about the fruit tree.

Answer 2

for those not sure wot bt is its telephone company who owns these cables or lines and no u cant do nethin about the cables as they are not touchin ne part of ur property if u found this a problem u should of thought about this b4 movin. to get cable u will still need a bt line its just taken over by the cable company but as the the affect other ppls properties u cant do nethin. if at all the trees fall on this line bt will charge u for damage to their lines. i would sort the trees out b4 this happens.

Answer 3

Unless they are touching your property, then there is nothing you can actually do.

Answer 4

You can have electrical lines relocated, if they are just yours, meaning that they come from the common line and run to your house. In fact, as the building codes change, the location of the lines on a lot of old houses would be better of moved. Our utility did this at no cost.

Don't know what a bt line is, but you don't own the space above your property, just the ground, and usually utilities have rights of way to provide this kind of service.

I understand your concerns, and what you need to do is keep your trees trimmed, which will minimize any problems with the "bt" lines. We have a red bud trees, and as it grew, our tree trimmers worked on it to shape it so it didn't hit the lines near it as it grew.

Answer 5

you do not own the sky above your property or the mineral rights below ground so the cables can go over your property and nothing you can do as long as they don`t touch your property

Answer 6

I'm not sure what a bt line is, but my guess is that the utility company has a right-of-way above your property.  We have some electrical cable that runs across the rear of my property and it is a utility right of way.  They are very kind when they trim trees to let me know they're coming and promise not to scalp them.

Answer 7

I believe it's called a "wayleave", and no you can't do anything about it. When i worked in cable, we could sometimes get permission to cut across your property to install a neighbour. Not sure if that is still the case.