I just bought a pre-construction home, and to my surprise, I found out that a telecom box was placed right in the way of my driveway! They had to do a zigzag on the concrete to get around it, and I'm wondering what options I have to get them to either move it or fix the situation. I wasn't informed about this at all, and it wasn't in any plans. Is there any way I can charge them rent since it's on my property?
3 Answers
That sounds really frustrating! I dealt with a similar situation where a utility vault was in the way of my sidewalk, and I couldn't even get a hold of the utility company because they had merged with another firm. I ended up reporting it to my state's Public Service Commission, which really helped. They organized for the vault to be leveled, which made a huge difference. You might want to try contacting your local utility company or their Public Service Commission too; they might take your situation seriously, especially since it’s a tripping hazard now!
You could look into utility box lids that are designed to withstand the weight of vehicles. If the box can be leveled to your driveway, it might solve your problem. Ideally, they should have done that in the first place! I’d suggest reaching out to the telecom company and see if they can make adjustments to help you out.
Just so you know, in many cities, the front few meters of your property technically belong to the city. This means they can put utilities there and you may have to deal with it. But don’t lose hope — check your local regulations, because it's not the same everywhere!