You might be struggling with a set top aerial or have an antenna in the loft because your letting agent or landlord won’t give you permission to have a satellite receiver installed. Their argument is that mounting the dish on the wall and putting a hole through a wall or window frame for the cable to come into the property will cause unnecessary damage to the masonry and woodwork or that there is a possibility that you will depart at the end of your tenancy with money owing which will impact the credit rating of the property, making it harder for subsequent tenants to get goods and services.
Most tenancy agreements will say that you can’t fit aerials or other structures to the property, however, it’s not unreasonable to ask if the landlord will give you permission as an exception. Under part a1 Landlords and Tenants Act 1985 your letting agent is required by law to tell you the name and address of your landlord, and you can then approach them for permission. However, be sure to get everything in writing as verbal agreements, understandings and even email can be disregarded in the event of a dispute.
Your Landlord Says Yes. What Then?
If the landlord says yes, but the agent sticks to their guns that there is a standard agreement which they use for everyone it may be possible to persuade them if more than 50% of tenants are interested in having satellite TV, especially if you are able to arrange for a single communal satellite dish.
In the UK we don’t have the same rights as they do in the US when it comes to satellite dish installation. Over there renters have the right to install satellite TV provided certain criteria are met, and these restrictions seem very reasonable.
- The dish can’t exceed 40 inches diameter
- It must be located on the tenant’s private rented space
- It must be installed by a professional, and the landlord has the right to supervise the work and stipulate the final location
- The landlord also has the right to stipulate the method used to attach the dish to the property
- The landlord can also insist on insurance so the tenant is responsible for any accidents or damage to person or property
- The tenant is responsible for all the costs of maintenance and servicing, final payments and the cost of removal and repairs needed upon moving out. These repairs include things like repainting, filling screw holes and repairing any damage to brick or woodwork that is incurred when the work is carried out.
Back here, stipulations often written into tenancy agreements include those that all accounts with third party providers must be paid in full when you vacate a property, if not you face a charge from the letting agent or a deduction from your security deposit.
Contact The Local Authority Whether You Think You Need To Or Not
Not getting permission is not a viable option. If you don’t get permission you could well be required to remove all of the equipment immediately the landlord or property management company discover it at your expense. No matter how long you have left on your contract with the broadcasting company, you’ll have to keep paying them unless you can negotiate a cancellation if you fail to have the permission you need in place.
While it’s not commonly necessary, it’s a good idea to contact your council’s planning department to make sure there are no restrictions on the property. Restrictions could include not having the dish located on a wall facing the street and neighbours. If the property is listed, a heritage site or otherwise of historical note. Another stipulation could be that if the dish is located in a prominent position the colour of the dish should be sympathetic to the exterior of the property, meaning that while visible it’s not overpowering. If the dish is located poorly, too visible, not safely attached or interfering with your neighbours’ views or access to sunlight the council can also require you to have the receiver removed.
Discreet Location, Professional Installation
We usually try to position your satellite dish high up on your property as an elevated location will generally be clear of overhanging branches and other objects which might interrupt the signal, move or damage the receiver. If the dish can’t be placed on the front of the house we will try to put it on a chimney or out of view peeking over the apex of the roof. If it’s simply not possible, we can situate a dish at ground level, although this is far from our ideal option.
And don’t worry if other satellite dish installers have said that it’s impossible to put a dish where you want it. We employ engineers who are trained in overhead, special heights working and abseiling. If a ladder or cherry picker can’t reach the spot, we swing into action at the end of a rope. In some ways it’s actually more exciting than what you’ll get to see on TV!
Customers who need a larger than usual receiver dish will certainly have to approach their local council for permission before carrying out any work. Larger dishes are often used if you are looking for foreign satellite channels, and they may need to be located aiming in a slightly different direction to the rest of the dishes on your street, so it’s always better to be on the safe side and checking before going ahead with something which might contravene local planning regulations.
Share From The Communal Dish
If you live in a block it’s possible to preempt the council’s options to having a large number of dishes attached to one building by having a single communal dish installed instead. The equipment is identical to the satellite dishes used for an individual property, but it has been cabled in order to supply multiple dwellings. Briant Communications use splitters and amplifiers to ensure that each home which has signed up to receive signal from the communal dish receives a good strong signal which will ensure their viewing is every bit as good as good as if they had their own dedicated satellite receiver.
In summation, if you liaise with the local authority, the other tenants in your building, your landlord and property management company, there should be few objections to you having a satellite TV system installed where you live. Agree to all reasonable terms and conditions for installation, maintenance, insurance and removal and there should be no reason that you shouldn’t have the receiver of your choice installed.