Private property that does not have an aerial

[Skinnypig96]

Hi I was just wondering I moved into my property about 2 month ago, I told my landlord straight away that the tv aerial did not work and it had been cut from the outside.. he said he would come and take a look which he did to his reply was.. well your going to have to get something that works from the inside ie a youview box which I did and that still needs a working outdoor aerial..
I've text him numerous of times to ask him to fix this problem and he's just avoiding my messages and calls. He's also told me he doesn't want me to get sky as he does not want his wall touched outside as that would require a sky dish

I've got an engineer coming out today to give a quote could I Bill my landlord?

I don't think you should install an aerial without your landlord's permission and then bill him/her.

Check your contract: it should probably say that the landlord cannot reasonably refuse you permission to install an aerial / a satellite dish. You may have to arrange for it to be removed and make good at the end of your tenancy.

As an alternative, an Amazon fire stick would allow you to stream most stuff over the internet. No aerial / dish required.

do you mean that there is an old aerial whose wire has been cut?

It might still be in working order. The digital signal is quite good in some areas. I'd ask about having a new cable fitted, or if the cut is accessible, start by having a piece jointed on.

digital aerials need to be aimed quite accurately at the transmitter, but an aerial fitter ought to know about that. I have one in the loft. Lots of people claim that loft aerials aren't much good, but I disagree.

Have you tried an indoor aerial that you plug straight into TV, then hang on living room wall/put on shelf? My last property didn't have an external aerial and we got an indoor one from Argos, and used it with a signal booster. It was about £15 and worked very well so we never got an engineer out, it was a digital one so could use it for freeview etc. Def worth a try! I wouldn't get an engineer out/pay for a new aerial myself as not sure what the landlords obligations would be to reimburse you.

@PigletJohn I've put aerials in lofts too and they've been fine

What you do is write a letter stating that if it is not fixed by x date (reasonable length of time, two months if I remembered correctly) then you will withhold rent to pay for repairs. You get three quotes and then use that contractor paying using rent money only paying the landlord the remainder. ,

AFAIK landlords are not responsible for maintaining a TV aerial so you're unlikely to get far trying to get any money back from him.

See what the guy says today and take it from there.

Do NOT withhold rent for repairs. You have no legal right to withhold rent. Quickest way to get evicted

Agree with PPs don't withhold rent!

We also have no aerial in our rented property, our letting agent wasn't interested & said it is not the landlords responsibility to install and/or maintain.

Definitely don't withhold rent. Especially over a non-essential such as a tv ariel.

He sounds like an arse to be honest, yes it may not technically be his responsibility but, surely as a good LL you would want to make the property somewhere you wouldn't mind living yourself, not many people would want to live in a house with no access to basic tv.

And if he won't sort the ariel then the least he could do is allow you to get a sky dish.

We have a loft ariel in our home (rental) and it's been fine.