Legal advice regarding putting a satellite dish up

Lilly1977

Hi everyone

We have just bought a flat and have just found out there is no cable or satellite tv at all. We have exchanged already, although the seller did say to us there was cable when we viewed the flat, this was not in writing and we took his word for it.

The flat is in a converted church with 17 flats, there are 3 floors and we are on the 2nd floor up. In the lease it says 'no television arial or antennae allowed' - the lease dates back to 1986. However there is a big communal tv arial on top of the church.

We fully understand that the leaseholders do not want lots of dishes erected and we are prepared to pay more for a bespoke satellite dish that blends with the surroundings, or for one to be erected on the roof that is not visible from the street.

We have leasehold and share of freehold. The management company have told us that we are not allowed to erect a dish, and that even though some flat have cable, ours does not and is not able to. We feel this is grossly unfair and are willing to fight and contest this to the end.
Apparently the director lives in the building and is adamantly against satellite dishes being installed on the building.

We feel that living in London in this age of 2012, to not be able to receive satellite or cable is ridiculous, especially as parents to two children and living in a country where there is grim weather most of the year!

Please can anyone give us any legal advice and do we have a leg to stand on?!?

Lilly1977

I should mention that the church is not in a conservation area and is not a restricted or listed building.

many thanks

shegirl

Yeah,absolutely ridiculous to not have cable when you have small kids...they may have to play instead.Shock horror

Anyway,have you asked why you aren't able to have cable?I wouldn't push for satellite but would query the reason for not being able to have cable.

Kurtis_Blue

Then why buy it then? that is what you employ a solicitor for.

If these things are important to you then make an effort before purchase, it is grossly unfair to unilaterally make a fuss now when you should have made an informed choice at purchase.

It is again grossly unfair to have all the other tenants pay out of communal funds to fight a legal challenge by you.

Is there space for 17 "hidden" dishes on the roof for every one? how would the property look with 17 flats having Sky+ cabled from the roof?

Lilly1977

Of course my kids play most of the time!! The point I was making is that my husband and I do not go out often, being parents to small children and living in a country where it is not lovely weather even half of the year, we really enjoy our current Sky tv package.

We find it outrageous that we are not allowed this basic consumer right. The cable company have said that to install cable in our flat they would need to go through two other flats with the lead, which apparently is not ideal and they would have to give permission - but we will press this issue. We don't mind having either sky or cable, but seeing as everything is digital nowadays we believe the lease is in the dark ages with regard to satellite dishes.

I just want to know any legal advice if anyone knows as I've heard about an EU law regarding satellite dishes?

Thanks for your quick reply though.

Lilly1977

I should also mention that the flats below us all have cable, the ones with balconies have Sky, yet our flat is one of four that does not have anything. And as I said in my original post I understand they don't want lots of dishes on the building, we are totally happy to come to an agreement and to fund the cost of a communal dish.

Regarding buying it before we knew - yes this was an oversight and we took the seller's word that he was cable ready instead of 100% confirming it before purchase.

I just want to know about legal advice if anyone can be helpful.

Thanks.

DevCoder

Basic consumer right to have a satellite dish? Are you having a laugh?

Also EU Law regarding must have a satellite dish?

This must be a windup surely.

If it meant that much to you then you should have instructed your solicitor to make sure it had cable/satellite.

Kurtis_Blue

If other property's already have dishes that are visible from the street, then just fit one of these on to one of your walls, making sure the sticker goes on before install and mention it to no one.

http://www.sqish.co.uk/

shegirl

Well,good luck with your 'basic consumer right'.I won't give any advice but to ask for cable permission,as tbh I think it's a fuss over nothing and you should've checked properly in the first place if it's that important to you.

Other than that look at freeview and something like netflix in the meantime?(I assume you have broadband?)

Lilly1977

No, not having a laugh at all.

Regarding checking it before, we were a bit silly in not confirming it but didn't realise that nowadays in a big city there are houses/flats with neither cable nor satellite, especially as everything has gone digital. We took the sellers word for it, as I've stated before.

With everyone so far just attacking my reasons, instead I'm only interested in helpful replies and if anyone doesn't know anything legal before I present my case to them - does anyone know of other options to watch television other than cable/satellite?

Thanks

Lilly1977

oh, as a newbie I'm not allowed to post links but I've just googled EU Law Satellite dish, interesting.