In your case, it's a better policy. Depending on the location, the tenant will have the option to pick the best choice for themselves and budget. You'll save money not having to pay for the internet, and won't have any liability regarding. On the downside, you'll probably end up with satellite dishes littering the roof at some point. That would be irritating for me if cable was an option in the area, as no satellite company can compete with even the worst cable companies.
I personally think the internet connection should depend on a long-term tenant too. I have a friend who rented an apartment for years and it was his option to have internet connection in his flat. He had to ask permission from his landlord first and upon approval, he got his own internet connection. Having that option would make the lives of both the landlord and the tenants less complicated. This way the landlord wouldn't be questioned much if ever the tenant would get involved in illegal internet activities. Although of course the landlord still has the responsibility to check on his tenants every now and then just to get an update on how they're doing and be able to monitor the activities in his property. It's also a different story on short term rentals. Whenever I travel and rent a room either from a transient house or a hotel, I really see to it that the place has an internet connection first before I decide to rent a room. It's a plus for the landlords if they can offer internet access for short-term tenants.
I don't think landlords should be expected to pay for the internet. It's not like it's something that is necessary to the upkeep of the property or anything like that, and while it definitely comes in handy, it's something that a lot of people have to live without. I think most internet bills are split into two parts, landline and usage. I think a fair compromise would be the landlord pays for the fixed line, while the tenant pays the usage part of the bill.
Pardon me but that issue on the free internet is a laughing matter here. Landlords here have that attitude of giving only what is due based on the law like providing electricity and water although the bill is shouldered by the tenant, clear access and other standard amenities. But we cannot discount that free internet because there are some landlords who are generous. If I have an apartment, I would probably share my wifi with my tenants.
Internet is not considered a utility by management and letting companies. From my experience when letting out, we allowed the tenants to transfer the account to their names to be nice and save them the hassle of waiting for a connection. Instead they did us over when they left and ran up a bill, didn't terminate the contract and left it my name (and pretended to switch it) and so I was liable. Because they didn't give the months notice or access to the account I was left with the bill. We tried to take them to court for costs, but they said it was a private arrangement and not covered by the law. Internet is not covered by utilities like gas, water and electricity even though it is considered to be the norm. I would now not offer it unless it was a short term let (and they would pay for it) because people can buy mobile wi-fi if they want it. It's not worth the hassle if they misuse the wi-fi and it's in your name.
As I said before, and so have others here also, its not a good idea. If a landlord DID provide that service at an extra charge, there's no way to know what the tenant would be using the internet for in the first place. At the end of the day its the bill payer, the landlord that would be responsible for the useage, so its simply not worth taking the risk.
The agreement on utilities can be made and that would be reflected in the price of the rent, it can happen or not, it's a matter of reaching an agreement.
I chanced upon our former landlord last week in the supermarket. We had snack so we can talk. She said that now the wifi is part of the utility. Although it is not stipulated in the lease contract, most of their new tenants would be asking (inquiring actually) if they have a wifi in the apartment. So what they did was to get a connection for that purpose. Now their tenants seem to be contended with the free wifi which is also something in terms of expenses. Our former landlord is that generous to their tenants but it's not a standard yet in apartment rentals.
Yep, I consider she is being very generous, I mean, not that many apartments have free wifi right, so I think the rent should not be low either.
I think it depends on the situation. If you are renting a room in a rooming house then it should be provided as an all inclusive. However, if you are renting an apartment then it should be your own responsibility to get your own internet hooked up. There are few place around here that provide the internet with the rent but it is usually like I said previously in a rooming house or if you are renting a basement apartment from an owner of the house. They live upstairs and provide internet.
