TV aerial in rented accommodation

PZH

Hi all

Just a quick query

I rent my flat and it has a TV Aerial connection faceplate on the wall. It works ok for analogue signals but my Digibox does not even hint at a digital channel.

Would it be cheeky to ask the landlord to upgrade the aerial to a digital one ? or is this something that I should be responsible for ?

The other problem is I do not know where the aerial is. I assume it's in the loft - but I am not sure if I should even attempt to go up there ( I rent the top floor of a house that has been converted into 2 flats - one downstairs and one upstairs - each with it's own front door )

I am fairly sure it is not mentioned in the tenancy agreement - but I will have a read through that tonight. Just wondered what the general opinion was :T

poppysarah

You can ask.

Normally though it's the tenants problem.

JoeA81

If the external aerial doesnt work, just spend 15 quid on something like this:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9004272/c_1/1|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|14419512/Trail/searchtext%3EAERIAL.htm

caeler

I'm having a very similar problem (sorry to hijack). I originally couldn't get any channels. An expensive and apparently powerful indoor aerials didn't get any reception so I brought a booster which has allowed me to tune most channels. However I do not get BBC channels! I've wondering if its my responsibilty or the landlords I've decided to ask them to sort it out. I'll see what happens, I can't decide if its reasonable to want TV channels or if I'm being cheeky!

N79

Aerials are not included in a LL's S11 repairing obligations, nor are they generally considered like appliances so unless specifically mentioned in the tenancy agreement as being the responsibility of the LL then aerials are, I'm afraid, the responsibility of Ts.

Although not relevent here, the same applies to telephone lines.

Good LL's, in the right sort of market and where the house is inhabited by good Ts will probably be willing to do something to keep good Ts happy so it is always worth an approach to the LL with a reasonable request.

caeler

N79 wrote: »

Aerials are not included in a LL's S11 repairing obligations, nor are they generally considered like appliances so unless specifically mentioned in the tenancy agreement as being the responsibility of the LL then aerials are, I'm afraid, the responsibility of Ts.

Although not relevent here, the same applies to telephone lines.

Just checked my AST and its silent. However the aerial appears to be a shared aerial so I must check with my neighbours to see if they have problems!

techno12

Just buy a cheap aerial booster from Argos (the indoor aerials don't work - trust me - unless you're in a very very strong signal area. Far better to boost a signal from an big aerial already in place).

Also, if it's still marginal, buy a shielded coax cable (about £7) to run from the wall socket to the booster.

I can get a few channels with no booster or cable, most with just the booster, and all of them with both. Of course, the aerial you have at the moment might not be 'wideband' and if that's the case it will never be able to receive all of the multiplexes (they contain the blocks of channels), so I'd say try to borrow a booster first and see if that helps.

BTW - you could also go down the indoor Sky dish route, as I have done in the past, so long as you have a window that allows line of sight to the satellite.

mikey72

I'm a LL, and I consider the aerial my responsibility. I expect my tenant to watch tv, and a digital aerial is the basic I'd have. I wouldn't want them running new cables round either. If they wanted Sky, I wouldn't refuse though.

Joe_Bloggs

The analogue switch off is now a reality. This may well bring a boost to digital signals. If your aerial if of the wrong type and pointed in the wrong direction then there are going to be problems.
J_B.

DawnW

mikey72 wrote: »

I'm a LL, and I consider the aerial my responsibility. I expect my tenant to watch tv, and a digital aerial is the basic I'd have. I wouldn't want them running new cables round either. If they wanted Sky, I wouldn't refuse though.

I agree. If my tenants were having this problem I would get the aerial replaced, particularly given the digital switchover. There is lots of advice about this currently available through NLA.

I wouldn't object to them having Sky (though would not pay for this). I would not pay for a landline installation either - too many possibilities of headaches caused by unpaid BT (or whatever) bills. Again, if they wanted to install it, I would not see it as my place to refuse. Basic TV reception is different though.

Saving_spree

You should check with him. Never know he might take care of the entire thing for you.