New Sky+ account problem

LilacLillie

My son has been in rented (private landlord) flat for 2 yrs. The flats are not very old, at a guess 5yrs. When he got there the previous tenants had wires through the place, from sky to an non exsistant dish (must have taken it with them).
He wanted sky+ for some time. In Dec: he took up their offer of £49 dish, 3 months 1/2 price etc: in one room (its only a 1 bed flat), and has been pleased as punch with it.
Today he recieved a letter from the buildings owner, stating that all sky dishes must come down before Jan 20th!!!!!!
If he doesn't take it down himself, they will get their contractor to do it and charge him.
I know in my circumstances (ex local authority), you are supposed to get permission to put them up, so its probably the rules. And we all know rules is rules..........................however is there a way to get round this pickle?
He's signed a 12 mth contract, so if it comes down he'll still have to pay for it, so sky has just told him.
He isn't the only one in the block that has a dish and they don't look unsightly.
He is trying to contact his landlord at the moment, but he never answers or returns calls. I've just got off the phone to him and he's really fed-up.
I know there must be a way round this but have only just come in myself from a mega blagging day at Boots
So guys any ideas please????????????
LL

sockospice

He needs to check his lease, to see if there is any mention of needing permission. I know my old lease specified that you had to get permission for sky dishes (in fact, any sort of tv arial attached to the outside of the flat.

If the landlord insists on it being taken down, he could see if he could negotiate down to the cheapest possible package and then at least he'd be saving some money.

Alternatively, if there is anyone else in the same situation, they could try to negotiate to have one dish serving everyone (I think this can be done but I'm not sure).

LilacLillie

Thanks for that quick reply. I know there HAS to be a way round it, or to minimise his outlay. He's so dissappointed, he's been ringing us up driving us mad with his new toy. We have 'ordinary' full sky package and he has been trying to get us to upgrade, saying we won't regret it.
LL

lynn44

I thought sky had a policy of 30 days if your unhappy then they will take it back for free, sorry I know he wanted to keep it, but try and purchase freeview box ? No aerial needed.....good luck

dreaddan

How long has he had sky installed? IIRC he has 30 days to cancel his contract.

Apart from that there's not mutch he can do. It's his responsability to ask for permission from the land lord - who is probably only doing it to prove a point.

Communal sky is possable but requires special equipment.
Though if one of the nebours has sky and has a quad LMB and is not using 2 ports then he could run cables to that and share the dish.

Dan

geo555

If you check on most planning sites, they ALL recommend that you "obtain permmission from the landlord or freeholder before installing a satellite dish."
The only alternative may be to mount the dish on a 2" pole stuck in the ground.

Gem+Dave+Kaci

Depending which way his flat looks out at, is there any way of having the dish inside? Maybe if it pointed out the window then it wouldn't look great and might not get as good a signal, but would it still work?

Just throwing up an idea so don't bite my head off!! lol!!

dreaddan

Gem+Dave+Kaci wrote:

Depending which way his flat looks out at, is there any way of having the dish inside? Maybe if it pointed out the window then it wouldn't look great and might not get as good a signal, but would it still work?

Just throwing up an idea so don't bite my head off!! lol!!

Hmm could work if it's not double glased..

outbidder

I was listening to Steve Wright's Radio 2 show today (yes I listen to R2 sometimes but then that's where Martin's show airs so don't beat me up over it LOL) and he was saying he remembers there being something that looked like a "pipe" with the LNB sticking out the top of it.

Might be worth looking into if you are not allowed a dish. Not sure if this would keep the wolves from the door but you could look into it.

Failing that you could always check with the neighbours that do have dishes and see if they still use them...if not maybe a cable along the wall...

LilacLillie

Thank you all for the sensible replies. Had a call from his new wife this evening, saying that she'd rung someone to do with the buildings.
They told her that they have withdrawn the request to take the dishes down, as 3 of their committee members (that live in the block), complained.
So they can now all keep them and should get letters to that effect on Monday.
She rang because he's out on the razz tonight. Hope its not only celebrating keeping his sky+........................... Honestly some people any excuse for a P up.
LL

dreaddan

Well...
Typical for some commities to deicde things like that - no dout they have there dishes . Glad about the good news though..

I hope this is a reminder for ppl - if you rent ask your landlord if you can put a dish / areial up before you do it...