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The National Broadband Network (nbn) is taking steps to keep tabs on its hardware, teaming up with the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) to make sure occupiers know “the connection box belongs with the sold sticker”.
A new paid partnership between nbn and REIA sees the pair soliciting help from real estate agents and property managers to discourage home occupants from taking the connection boxes with them when they move out.
The initiative is intended to avoid protracted wait times in connecting new occupants to the internet, and carries the tag line “home is where the nbn box is,” – perhaps a less sentimental message than the original phrase, but certainly one with occupiers’ best interests at heart.
“With Aussies spending more time at home than ever due to widespread working-from-home and more reliance on technology, internet connection has become one of the first questions prospects ask real estate agents,” REIA president Adrian Kelly said.
“However, if the nbn connection box does not remain at the property in which it was first installed, customers may be impacted by delays in connecting to services of the nbn network.”
While avoiding hassle for occupants and nbn customers is the goal, Mr Kelly noted that a greater awareness of the need to leave connection boxes in situ would ultimately make the lives of agents and managers easier.
“Agents ultimately get contacted by new home owners and tenants when the nbn connection boxes are missing.” Mr Kelly explained.
“Agents are now actively encouraged to treat the nbn connection boxes as a permanent fixture of the home, which in effect belongs to the home in the same way an oven or heating appliance does,” he said.
The campaign includes an e-book that businesses are being encouraged to distribute to all members of their team, outlining how to make occupiers’ responsibilities towards their nbn connection more transparent during inspections and in sale and leasing documents.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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