Landlord did not inform us of tv reception problems before we rented. What can we do?

Computer_User

hope you may be able to help resolve an issue with our Landlord/agency regarding the fact that they failed to inform us of problems with TV reception before moving into the property. They neglected to tell us that we would have to subscribe to a satellite or cable service to recieve TV in the property, and it only came to light when we contacted them reporting a problem with the aerial.

We paid a deposit for the property on the 29th December, moved in 2 months later on the 29th of February. We viewed the property on several occasions during this period, in the company of an agent who informed us of phone and TV points but at no point mentioned problem reception. I also checked in advance for freeview reception via the postcode and bought a freeview box accordingly. However, despite what the landlord said since we moved in 3 weeks ago we have not been able to get reception for any channels.


Having looked at our options we face upwards of £400 for upgrade of the aerial, or a one off payment of £150 to have Sky Free Sat installed, or £11 per month plus £30 activation fee for Virgin.

We are not opposed to having to pay for TV services but are annoyed at the additional costs we face as not being aware of any reception problems, we took out contracts with BT for the telephone and O2 for broadband, activated when we moved in. Had we been aware in advance we could have bundled all these services into one package with Virgin which would have been a much cheaper option than what we now face.

In the circumstance I think it is reasonable for the landlord/agency to cover the cost of this, but am unsure of how I stand legally.

Thankyou for your time, and I hope you can help.

barnaby-bear

Computer_User wrote: »

hope you may be able to help resolve an issue with our Landlord/agency regarding the fact that they failed to inform us of problems with TV reception before moving into the property. They neglected to tell us that we would have to subscribe to a satellite or cable service to recieve TV in the property, and it only came to light when we contacted them reporting a problem with the aerial.

We paid a deposit for the property on the 29th December, moved in 2 months later on the 29th of February. We viewed the property on several occasions during this period, in the company of an agent who informed us of phone and TV points but at no point mentioned problem reception. I also checked in advance for freeview reception via the postcode and bought a freeview box accordingly. However, despite what the landlord said since we moved in 3 weeks ago we have not been able to get reception for any channels.


Having looked at our options we face upwards of £400 for upgrade of the aerial, or a one off payment of £150 to have Sky Free Sat installed, or £11 per month plus £30 activation fee for Virgin.

We are not opposed to having to pay for TV services but are annoyed at the additional costs we face as not being aware of any reception problems, we took out contracts with BT for the telephone and O2 for broadband, activated when we moved in. Had we been aware in advance we could have bundled all these services into one package with Virgin which would have been a much cheaper option than what we now face.

In the circumstance I think it is reasonable for the landlord/agency to cover the cost of this, but am unsure of how I stand legally.

Thankyou for your time, and I hope you can help.

You rented a house not a telly connection - I can't really see what legal grounds there would be for complaint or compensation.

clutton_2

what does it say in your tenancy agreement about these matters ?

there is no legal obligation for a landlord to provide an aerial ..... but, if you were to explain that you have had to pay more because you did not know, and maybe ask for half of the additional amount - (depending on how much it is) - this shows you are being reasonable.

mlz1413

As I doubt you specifically asked 'is there tv reception' then i doubt the LL or LA will enter into any conversion about reimbusing costs.

Where did the £400 for an digital aerial come from? Mine cost about £40 quid and my fella put it you. If you don't want to do it yourself but have the fixing points for an exsisting one surely you could get an odd job man with a roofing ladder to put it up?

Generali

If you specifically asked whether the house had TV reception and was told yes then I guess it would be a part of the contract. If you didn't think to ask and they didn't think to say then I would think caveat emptor covers the situation.

Sorry.

PasturesNew

I think it's unfortunate you've been stuffed, but the bottom line is it's tough.
It's not something people would normally point out and reading it again, it looks like you are talking about receiving freeview channels, not TV channels. But either way, that's life.

I'm stuck with a sh1tty Virgin broadband speed where I am. I thought there was cable in this town and there is, even in my road, just not to the block of flats where I am. I had visions of having a bundle. In the end it took me 3 months to sort out phone line/broadband/what to do about TV. And it's a nuisance, but as was pointed out above, I rented a home.

This is what's called Life, where we live and learn.
It sucks. But you just dig in and get on with it.

sooz

Are you getting any reception, or is it just that the signal strength is not enough to get freeview channels?

merlinthehappypig

Same for us, unfortunately. We can't get standard TV reception at all in our rented place. There is nothing that you can do unless it was in the agreement.

Our house is smack in the middle of a forest with no neighbours for a mile. It never occured to me that we might be able to get normal TV. Part of the 'charm' of the place according to the LA!

Save your money and read some books!

PBA

You could always ask the landlord if he'll go halves to get Freesat installed. It'll be an extra feature of the property next time it's rented so he ought to be happy to do it, might even pay the whole amount.

barrymoney

[ beaten to it by others ]
see if you can go halves with the landlord and get the freesat?
Or, I'd think about getting a basic, but decent, aerial and put it in the loft. actually, if I had no loft, a big aerial somewhere inside would hopefully give a picture? (even if it makes a room ugly...).
I have to use freesat, freeview reception is bad where I am.

mr.broderick

Computer_User wrote: »

hope you may be able to help resolve an issue with our Landlord/agency regarding the fact that they failed to inform us of problems with TV reception before moving into the property. They neglected to tell us that we would have to subscribe to a satellite or cable service to recieve TV in the property, and it only came to light when we contacted them reporting a problem with the aerial.

We paid a deposit for the property on the 29th December, moved in 2 months later on the 29th of February. We viewed the property on several occasions during this period, in the company of an agent who informed us of phone and TV points but at no point mentioned problem reception. I also checked in advance for freeview reception via the postcode and bought a freeview box accordingly. However, despite what the landlord said since we moved in 3 weeks ago we have not been able to get reception for any channels.


Having looked at our options we face upwards of £400 for upgrade of the aerial, or a one off payment of £150 to have Sky Free Sat installed, or £11 per month plus £30 activation fee for Virgin.

We are not opposed to having to pay for TV services but are annoyed at the additional costs we face as not being aware of any reception problems, we took out contracts with BT for the telephone and O2 for broadband, activated when we moved in. Had we been aware in advance we could have bundled all these services into one package with Virgin which would have been a much cheaper option than what we now face.

In the circumstance I think it is reasonable for the landlord/agency to cover the cost of this, but am unsure of how I stand legally.

Thankyou for your time, and I hope you can help.

If you haven't reported the problem yet cut the cable and report a fault with the aerial.