Free broadband for tenants?

It has been revealed that a southern housing association has pledged to provide all of their tenants with free broadband, within the next five years.

Hereford Housing, who have around 5,500 homes, have teamed up with Allpay to trial run the scheme. With broadband speeds of up to 10Mb’s, the scheme will be starting at Innesfield in Clehonger, followed by Southgate in Ross Road, Hereford, and Bryngwyn Court, off Barrs Court Road.

“Broadband is increasingly becoming the fourth utility and we want as many of our tenants as possible to benefit from having high speed internet access in their home,” said Herefordshire Housing chief executive Peter Brown.

“Access to the internet can change people’s lives.”

At Landlord Referencing we can understand how free internet usage would benefit the unemployed, but then we would like to know how Hereford Housing are planning on funding this new scheme?

If it is funded by the tax payer then surely there will be a lot of hard working people out there wondering why they should subsidise free broadband, which they have to pay for?

As a free, on-line company we understand the importance of the internet but as landlords (dealing with massive rent defaults and property damages, on a daily basis) we also understand that if we give our tenants an inch more of what was originally agreed in their tenancy they’re more than likely to take a mile.

Paul Routledge, Property Developer and CEO of LandlordReferencing.co.uk, comments:
“I used to give all of my tenants the access code to our personal broadband, fully believing that they would have enough respect not to abuse my good nature and that it may encourage them to stay for longer. That was until one of them started up an “adult” film factory, straight from their flat! Not only did it rack up an extortionate phone bill for me but I also had a backlash from other tenants; when I completely banned them all in the end. Just as I used to include televisions in each one of my properties – until one such tenant decided to throw their television out of the window at another tenant! Over time I’ve learnt that if you run your property like a hotel then don’t be surprised if your tenant treats you like one!”

Do you provide your tenants with free broadband?

Does your landlord provide you with free broadband?

Are you a tax payer in Hereford? Let us know your views!