Apt Renter's Rights Regarding Dishes

[wrenjosh]

What is the name of your state? OK

I just moved into an apartment and had my installation for my Directv satellite dish scheduled today. My landlord stopped the installation and told me that dishes were not allowed on property, I proceeded to inform her that the dish was set on a pole in a concrete bucket and that the cables would be going underneath my patio door and there wouldn't be any damage made to property. She then said that it was company policy that dishes were not allowed on property I countered by saying that I wanted that in writing as I did not find that in the lease anywhere. She said that it's not in my lease it's just a policy they have. She then said the only way I could have it was if I showed proof of renter's insurance and I said show it to me in writing, she couldn't.

Now I don't have a problem getting renter's insurace at all. My problem is rules being added after I've signed a contract.

Is it legal for my landlord to prevent me from installing the dish without damaging her property?

 

[longneck]

yes. the LL is protecting their property. dishes in cement buckets fly around and crash through windows.

 

[wrenjosh]

have you ever experienced this? I worked for Directv for over 2 years and never heard of this happening. The bucket is 75 pounds, and this wasn't even one of their reasons. The primary reasons were it being unsightly (right in front of an empty pool) and them not wanting me to drill into the apartment wall (which I have no plans of doing).

 

[south]

Your lease also does not say you cannot have a Dolphin Aquarium and Lion Pit on the property.

If the dish was small and sat on your TV that is one thing but visual dishes on the outside is another you would need to gain permission.

I made this same mistake on one of my buildings I gave one tenant permission to put a satellite dish on the rear wall out of sight I come back 4 weeks later I see another 3 dishes on the building one was bolted through the roof shingle.

I ended up giving up on the arguments I received about how I gave one permission, what an eyesore.

What is the name of your state? OK

I just moved into an apartment and had my installation for my Directv satellite dish scheduled today. My landlord stopped the installation and told me that dishes were not allowed on property, I proceeded to inform her that the dish was set on a pole in a concrete bucket and that the cables would be going underneath my patio door and there wouldn't be any damage made to property. She then said that it was company policy that dishes were not allowed on property I countered by saying that I wanted that in writing as I did not find that in the lease anywhere. She said that it's not in my lease it's just a policy they have. She then said the only way I could have it was if I showed proof of renter's insurance and I said show it to me in writing, she couldn't.

Now I don't have a problem getting renter's insurace at all. My problem is rules being added after I've signed a contract.

Is it legal for my landlord to prevent me from installing the dish without damaging her property?

 

[ENASNI]

Yup it was a policy when I was an apartment manager as well. Luckily we had it in our handout for what was allowed and not allowed on patios.


otherwise our upperfloors would have looked like this.EEK!

 

[longneck]

have you ever experienced this? I worked for Directv for over 2 years and never heard of this happening.

actually, yes. we had a bad thunderstorm about 3 months ago that blew at least 4 dishes in buckets through the sliding glass doors on patios. the management ammended the rules and prohibited dish-in-a-bucket's. this paricular complex has railings on the balconies and patios that are easily compatible with U bolts, so the management allows it, but only at this complex. at their other complexes, they completely prohibited them.

 

[wrenjosh]

My biggest complaint is that they weren't upfront about it. If they felt so strongly about the way it looked why didn't they say anything when I passed all the grandfathered in dish buckets when I took the tour of the Apt.

Also a small detail: I had previosly lived in this very same apt for over year, I left for work reasons for 2 months and came back to the very same apt. Management changed partway through my previous lease, the previous landlord was pleased with my installation as it did not harm the building at all. Now I realize that my previous agreement was voided as soon as I left for 2 months but shouldn't they have said anything about policy changes?

Since some of you are previous apt managers I'd to ask you a question. For an apartment complex that is not at half capacity and undergoing renevation and remodeling would you make a tenant as unhappy as they made me? I only signed a 6 month lease and I told my LL that I don't think I will be renewing it after all the unnecarry grief they've caused me. Remember, the aparment set empty for 2 months, and right in front of the spot were my dish is going to sit is an ugly nasty empty pool... and they consider my dish "unsightly".