Talk to anyone who’s built a home and they’ll probably have a few scare stories relating to the connection of the mains services. From a professional point of view, dealing with the service providers (network operators) is frustrating as you have little control, and it’s highly likely to go wrong. If you’re embarking on your first build, don’t worry, this article explains what you need to do to deal with the mains services and get them connected on time.
WHAT ARE THE MAINS SERVICES?
When we say ‘mains services’ we are referring to the key services that enable a house to function. These are the foul and surface water drainage, mains water and electricity and could include the gas service, depending upon the renewable technologies you intend to install. Since October 2022, Approved Document R of the Building Regs required the installation of electronic communications — so if you didn’t know it before, broadband is now an essential service. Of all the contractors you’ll have to deal with, the network operators are the trickiest and to varying degrees, a law unto themselves. They have endless rules and regulations and can be inflexible with long lead times. You’ll therefore
