TV Antenna fell down because storm, who has to repair it?

aparra58

I´m leaving my current house in two weeks, unfortunately last night due to a storm the TV antenna fell down from the roof to the road with no other damage that the antenna itself. I communicated it to the Landlord and he told me that I have to repair it before leaving.


Is this right? Is it not the liability of the Landlord as it is an external element?


Can him refuse to return the deposit or part of it if I would not do it?


Regards,
Angel

kinger101

The TV aerial is fixtures and fittings, but you'd be responsible if you broke it, or it was your aerial. Which you didn't. It was the wind.

If the deposit is protected, just dispute any deduction he makes. If I were him, I'd be concerned whether the falling aerial had caused any other damage to the roof and chimney.

G_M

Did you get the antenna installed?

If not, it is the landlord's responsibility.

Write to him. At the address provided.

"Further to our conversation yesterday/today, this is to confirm that the antenna blew off in the recent heavy wind. I am not aware of any further damage the antenna, or wind, may have caused, but cannot guarantee this.

If access to the property is required by you or your contractors to replace it, kindly contact me to arrange a suitable date.

I look forward to hearing from you."

Don't get into a dialogue about libility, just get your letter on record (keep a copy).

aparra58

I didn't installed it so I'll send the letter.
Thank you it has been a great help.

Regards,
Angel

HouseBuyer77

I would add that you you still need to act in a tenant like manner so if there's anything simple you can do to prevent further damage consider doing so (e.g. don't just leave it lying on the ground, see if you can unplug it from the cable and store it somewhere safe if you haven't already).

If it's lying on the roof still or in some otherwise inaccessible/dangerous place then it's reasonable to leave it.

stator

Typical landlord!
Oh well, at least you had an aerial for most of your tenancy.

csgohan4

stator wrote: »

Typical landlord!
Oh well, at least you had an aerial for most of your tenancy.

Maybe the OP was told by the EA who tried to pull a fast one

s_b

stator wrote: »

Typical landlord!
Oh well, at least you had an aerial for most of your tenancy.

yes typical landlord eh
up the tooting front says plenty mind
my landlord used to wash my socks and bring my washing in
how times change

op as said unless in your contract this was listed as fittings and fixtures and you were to keep in good order then what would be classed as an act of god would not be seen as negligence on your part but normal wear and tear so you could be liable for reinstatement of said aerial seeing as you had fair usage of it

the terms are in what you signed

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

s_b wrote: »

yes typical landlord eh
up the tooting front says plenty mind
my landlord used to wash my socks and bring my washing in
how times change

op as said unless in your contract this was listed as fittings and fixtures and you were to keep in good order then what would be classed as an act of god would not be seen as negligence on your part but normal wear and tear so you could be liable for reinstatement of said aerial seeing as you had fair usage of it

the terms are in what you signed

Rubbish.

Are you honestly claiming he somehow wore the aerial out by watching tv, causing it to fall off the roof in a storm?

Do you think he's also responsible for replacing the roof if that "wears out"?

antrobus

aparra58 wrote: »

I´m leaving my current house in two weeks, unfortunately last night due to a storm the TV antenna fell down from the roof to the road with no other damage that the antenna itself. I communicated it to the Landlord and he told me that I have to repair it before leaving.

Is this right?

Probably not. Even if, in the lease, the landlord disclaimed responsibility for the operation of the aerial (which they sometimes do) and said it was the tenant's responsibility to maintain it, it still wouldn't be your responsibility if it was destroyed by an act of God.

Any more than it would be your responsibility if a bus hit your house and demolished the kitchen.

aparra58 wrote: »

...Is it not the liability of the Landlord as it is an external element?...

Probably. Certainly the the LTA 1985 requirement "to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house" would probably cover an aerial.

aparra58 wrote: »

...Can him refuse to return the deposit or part of it if I would not do it?....

The landlord can certainly try to charge the cost against the deposit. You, of course, should dispute it.

s_b

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

Rubbish.

Are you honestly claiming he somehow wore the aerial out by watching tv, causing it to fall off the roof in a storm?

Do you think he's also responsible for replacing the roof if that "wears out"?

theres a clause in my lease for maintainance of my property roof and fittings but this is a commercial lease so it is at least possible that the aerial could indeed be up to the tenant to keep in good order,i havent seen the contract