Fibre optic is being installed in apartment buildings — and questions come with it. Can the syndic refuse access to technicians? Is a general meeting vote required? Who bears the costs? The legal answer is simpler than many believe: the framework is clear, the obligations are limited, and the procedure is free for the co-ownership.
Can the syndic refuse fibre optic installation in a co-ownership building?
No, in most cases. The Belgian Act of 13 June 2005 on electronic communications grants telecoms operators a legal right of access to common areas in buildings to install fibre optic, provided they use the existing infrastructure. A syndic who refused this access would be exposed to a legal challenge from the operator.
The only valid exception: the syndic can refuse the deployment of new internal infrastructure (new cables, new conduits) if a fibre network already exists in the building. The law requires the sharing of infrastructure already deployed.
How does fibre deployment in a building work?
Understanding the technical mechanics allows the syndic to manage access calmly and in an informed manner.
The entry point: the basement technical room
The operator arrives via the basement or technical room. This is the main access point to the building's infrastructure. The operator installs its technical equipment there — a cabinet or box — alongside equipment from operators already present.
From this point, connections to each flat run through the existing cabling in the building's conduits. No new cables in the walls, no significant works in the common areas.
What the syndic must do
The list is short and practical:
- Grant access to the technical room at the operator's request
- Coordinate technician access through common areas
- Inform co-owners of the ongoing deployment
That is all. The syndic does not need to evaluate offers from different operators, negotiate contracts, or take a position on the technology choice. Their role is to open the door and note the visit.
What the syndic must not do
- Require a prior general meeting vote to grant access (access is a legal right of the operator)
- Charge access fees to the operator
- Require a deposit or specific financial guarantees
- Impose unreasonable scheduling conditions on the intervention
The principle of infrastructure sharing: when a second operator arrives
Infrastructure sharing is the key mechanism for buildings where an operator is already present. It considerably simplifies management for the syndic.
The sharing scheme
When a second operator wishes to deploy its network in a building already equipped:
- It contacts the operator already present for access to the internal infrastructure
- The existing operator ensures that the new arrival can reuse the existing cabling and conduits
- The syndic only intervenes to grant access to the technical room — they are not party to the negotiation between operators
This sharing logic, required by European Directive 2014/61/EU, avoids repeated interventions in common areas and protects the integrity of the building.
Why this is good news for the co-ownership
Infrastructure sharing means that co-owners can benefit from multiple operators' offers without the building being subjected to repeated works. Once the infrastructure is deployed by the first operator, subsequent ones connect to it without impact on common areas.
Frequently asked questions from syndics and property managers
Does fibre installation need to be on the AGM agenda?
No, for access to existing infrastructure. The operator's right of access is a legal right and does not require a vote. However, if the operator wishes to deploy new internal infrastructure in a building that does not yet have any, an AGM decision may be required.
Can the operator work at weekends or in the evening?
The legal framework does not specify exact hours, but professional usage and courtesy imply interventions during working hours. The syndic can reasonably request that interventions take place at times compatible with the building's tranquillity.
What if a technician causes damage in the common areas?
The operator's liability is engaged for any damage caused during the intervention. The syndic must document the condition of common areas before and after the intervention, and report any damage to the operator promptly. A timestamped photo before technicians arrive is sufficient to constitute admissible evidence.
Can a co-owner oppose fibre installation?
Not for common areas. An individual co-owner's objection cannot block an operator's legal right of access. However, in their own private unit, each co-owner remains free to accept or refuse the connection.
The syndic's traceability obligations
While the right of access is automatic, the administrative management of interventions remains the syndic's responsibility. Documenting each visit has several advantages:
- Evidence in case of dispute: a before/after inspection prevents arguments about liability for damage
- Informing co-owners: the annual syndic report can mention the operators present and the infrastructure deployed
- Monitoring the condition of common areas: some interventions may reveal existing problems (dampness in the basement, electrical issue in the technical room)
With Seido, every technical maintenance request in the common areas is tracked: access request, technician visit, before and after photos. The syndic has a complete history of fibre interventions, accessible online — useful in case of a dispute or for informing co-owners at the annual general meeting. Discover Seido →
This article is part of Property Essentials #2 — February 2026. Also read: Energy renovation in co-ownership buildings: the real figures — Building manager and court proceedings: when does the AGM need to agree?.
Sources and references
- Act of 13 June 2005 on electronic communications (Belgian Telecom Act)
- European Directive 2014/61/EU on reducing the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks
- Homeowners and apartment owners, infofibre.be
- Apartment building owners, syndics and property developers, infofibre.be