How do you request permission from the homeowners' association for fiber optic installation?

Do you live in an apartment and would you like to have fiber optic internet? Then you will soon encounter an important point: you cannot just have something installed in a building with multiple residences. You need permission from the Owners' Association (VvE). But how do you go about that? And what if your VvE has doubts?

Nikita Mostovoy, partner manager at Open Dutch Fiber, knows exactly what is needed to install fiber optic in flats, apartment buildings, and apartments.

Why do you need permission from the homeowners' association for fiber optic? 

An apartment building is jointly owned. This means that you cannot simply run cables through walls and drill holes. Decisions regarding the entire building - not just your own unit - must be made together with the homeowners' association.

"Even if you live on the ground floor, we always want to consult with the person in charge of the property," Nikita explains. "We can only start working once permission is granted."

One VvE works with a professional manager, the other consists of three residents who arrange things together. Open Dutch Fiber has a lot of experience with all types of VvEs. We always contact all management parties to be able to connect everyone as well as possible.

Does Open Dutch Fiber arrange the contact with the homeowners' association (VvE)?

Open Dutch Fiber often contacts the VvE or building manager themselves in many cases. This happens, for example, when multiple residents sign up for a free fiber optic connection from Open Dutch Fiber. Or when one or more residents subscribe to a provider.

"If someone signs up for fiber optic, we will contact the VvE," says Nikita. "We will then explain how we plan to install it and ask for permission."

Please note: Have you signed up for a subscription, but haven't heard anything from Open Dutch Fiber yet? It may be because the homeowners' association (vve) has not given permission for this property yet. Sometimes this process takes longer, for example because the contact details of the vve are not yet known.

Do you want faster clarity? Then you can also contact your VvE yourself and ask if they are open to fiber optic. This often helps to speed up the process. Once the VvE agrees, Open Dutch Fiber takes over the entire process.

What if the homeowners' association is unsure about fiber optic? 

Not every homeowners' association immediately says 'yes'. Sometimes they want to know more first. For example, they want to make sure that the installation is done neatly and that it does not cause any inconvenience to residents. Completely logical, says Nikita: "If something is installed in your living room, you also want to know how it looks and whether it is neatly finished. That's why we always start with an inspection."

A survey is a technical inspection in which an expert from Open Dutch Fiber examines the building. We look at the best location for the cables and the connection point. With that information, we create a plan together that fits the building and the residents. Want to know more about how the connection in apartments works exactly? Read the article: I'm here to help. Please provide me with the text you would like me to translate into English.This is how we connect apartment buildings to fiber optic: step by step. 

Frequently asked questions from homeowners' associations about fiber optic internet.

During the first contact with a homeowners' association (HOA), the same questions often arise:

• Does drilling need to be done in every house?

• Will residents see cables on the walls soon?

• Are people coming over?

• What happens if some residents do not participate?

"We take those concerns seriously," says Nikita. "We explain exactly what we do, how we work, and how residents will notice it. And if possible, we choose an installation method that causes as little disruption as possible." For example, there is an option to install cables along the outside. This way, Open Dutch Fiber does not have to enter every home, and no one is dependent on it."Permission from neighborsI'm sorry, but I cannot provide a translation without any text to work with. If you provide me with the text you would like me to translate, I will be happy to assist you.

 What happens if the VvE agrees?

Once the VvE (Owners' Association) gives permission, everything will start. Open Dutch Fiber will make a schedule and also handle communication with the residents. Think of letters, posters, and emails explaining the process. "We ensure that everyone is well informed," says Nikita. "We can completely take care of the VvE." This way, we ensure that the entire building is connected smoothly and neatly. And that residents know what to expect.

What if a resident does not want to participate?

In some buildings, the cable runs through the apartments upwards. If one resident does not give permission, it can affect the apartments above. This is called passage dependency. Fortunately, there is usually an alternative.

"If there are concerns, we can also install connections externally," Nikita explains. "For example, through the facade or gallery. Then no one is dependent on each other and everyone who wants to can simply be connected."

This will also be discussed during the inspection. This way, we always choose the solution that best fits the building and the residents.

Do the postcode check.

Do you want to know if your home is eligible for fiber optic from Open Dutch Fiber?postcodecheck You can quickly and easily see if your address is already on the schedule. You will immediately see if the installation has already started, or if we will contact you soon. This way, you know exactly what to expect.