Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Part 4A of the Electronic Communications Code within the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021 in enabling broadband operators to obtain access to multi-dwelling properties where a landlord or freeholder is unresponsive; and what steps she is taking to reduce delays and administrative burdens associated with that process.

As of January 2026, Ofcom report that 88% of UK premises can access a gigabit-capable connection. The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021 enables network operators to seek time-limited Code rights through a streamlined court process where a landlord has repeatedly failed to respond to access requests. While stakeholder engagement indicates landlord non-responsiveness remains a barrier in some cases, wider issues also affect broadband deployment in multi-dwelling buildings. Following a recent consultation on broadband rollout in leaseholds, the Government intends to take forward measures to address wider access barriers through the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill when parliamentary time allows.