Most people don’t spend much time thinking about the cables, poles and electricity equipment around their home until a letter arrives or work starts nearby.
But if electricity infrastructure crosses your land or is installed within your property boundary, you may be entitled to compensation.
Many homeowners are surprised to discover they have rights, particularly if the equipment has been in place for decades or was installed before they bought the property.
Here are seven signs that it could be worth investigating.
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There are electricity poles on your property
If there is an electricity pole within your property boundary, especially if it carries cables supplying neighbouring homes or businesses, you may be entitled to a payment.
This is because electricity companies normally require legal rights to keep their equipment on private land. Where those rights don’t exist, or where existing agreements are outdated, there may be an opportunity to negotiate compensation.
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Power lines cross your garden or land
Overhead electricity lines don’t have to be attached to your house to affect your property.
If cables cross your garden, driveway, paddock or other land you own, they could be covered by a legal agreement known as a wayleave or easement. If no suitable agreement exists, or if it needs updating, compensation may be available.
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There are underground electricity cables
Just because you can’t see electricity equipment doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Underground cables often run through private gardens, driveways and fields. In many cases, homeowners are unaware they’re there until building work or utility searches reveal them.
If underground electricity infrastructure crosses your property, it’s worth finding out whether the necessary legal agreements are in place.
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You’ve never signed an agreement
Many people assume that because electricity equipment has been there for years, everything must already be legally documented.
In reality, that’s not always the case.
Previous owners may never have signed an agreement, paperwork may have been lost over time, or the existing arrangement may no longer reflect current legal requirements.
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You inherited the property or bought it years ago
If you’ve lived in your home for a long time, or inherited it from a family member, you may never have questioned why electricity equipment is there.
Likewise, if you purchased the property years ago, any information about utility infrastructure may have been buried in conveyancing paperwork or never fully explained.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve missed your opportunity to investigate.
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Electricity equipment serves other properties
If the cables or equipment on your land don’t just serve your own home but also provide electricity to neighbouring properties, this can often strengthen the case for reviewing the legal arrangements.
Every property is different, but it’s one of the factors worth considering.
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You’re planning building work
Extensions, garden rooms, new driveways and landscaping projects often bring hidden electricity infrastructure to light.
If planned works are affected by electricity equipment, it’s an ideal time to understand exactly what rights exist and whether compensation could be available.
What happens next?
The good news is that you don’t need to understand complex legal documents yourself.
At Thomson Broadbent, we help homeowners establish whether electricity equipment is present, review the legal position and advise whether compensation may be available.
Every property is different, so there is no simple yes or no answer. However, if any of the signs above sound familiar, it’s worth having your situation reviewed.
A quick conversation could help you understand your rights and whether you may be entitled to compensation.
If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the Thomson Broadbent team for an initial discussion.
