How do you keep the satellite dishes off your roof?

Question

My tenants aren’t allowed to have a satellite dish installed on the roof, however I keep seeing more and more of them popping up, what do you do to prevent this?

The dish installers simply climb up the ladder and bolt them in place without asking or getting anything in writing from the owner.

No one ever asks - I'm guessing the installer doesn't earn any money if they don’t complete the installation, they need the roof to get a clear shot at the satellite - Uugh!

Max T. · Answer

drone strikes

Ted Trost · Answer

There is some incorrect information above. Landlords can indeed restrict the installation of satellite dishes to areas that are controlled by the tenant (such as the balcony) and can prohibit installations in areas not under control of the tenant (roof, exterior walls), and can prohibit drilling holes in exterior walls.

From the FCC: "The rule applies to individuals who place antennas that meet size limitations on property that they own or rent and that is within their exclusive use or control, including condominium owners and cooperative owners, and tenants who have an area where they have exclusive use, such as a balcony or patio, in which to install the antenna."

Link to FCC Site

I would tell tenants to contact me prior to installing satellite dishes to determine if there is a low-impact way of getting them what they need and that unapproved modifications to the roof, exterior walls, etc will be considered damage for which they must pay.

Roy N. · Answer

We have standing "no drill" orders on our properties with all the local communications service providers.  We also prohibit tenants from attaching anything to the building (including satellite dishes and HAM radio antennae) without our written consent.  This is spelled out very clearly in our lease.

If a dish is installed on the property without our consent, we hold he tenant responsible for the costs of removal and repair of any damages caused during the installation (this includes holes drilled in through the building envelope).  When we do consent to the installation of a satellite dish on a property, we either provide a mount on the roof (with an existing chase way/conduit into the building) or require them to erect a pole on the premises and run the cable to a designated location (conduit into a mechanical room).

A few years ago, we had an installer for a local Internet service provider arrive at one of our properties  - for an install we requested - and, before we arrived on-site, he had drilled a hole in through the new siding and freshly rehabbed and air-sealed building envelope to run a feed ... despite the fact we had supplied a conduit for just that purpose.   We pressed the issue with the ISP who ended up paying for all repairs needed to re-seal the buildings envelope and replace the damaged siding.

Tyler Brown · Answer

Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, you cannot restrict a tenant from installing a satellite dish on the unit, as long as its under 1 meter in diameter and it is installed in an area where the tenant has exclusive use (patio or balcony, or a roof if a SFH).  This was passed by Congress, and as such is a Federal law and supersedes any local or state ordinances, and the text of the act is quite clear that it also supersedes any HOA bylaws or any text you may have in your lease to the contrary.

Now you're free to tell the tenant anything you want, and cross your fingers that they go along with it, but if they spend a few minutes on Google and want to push the issue, you don't have any recourse.

Roy N. · Answer

@Ted Trost

Now that seems more in-line with reality ... and how we operate (even though we are not governed by the FCC edict).

Deanna McCormick · Answer

We required a $250.00 Deposit paid by the tenant to cover the Dish and to insure it was removed when they moved. We had flat roofs and our stipulations were installers had to arrange appointments with our maintenance tech for access to the roof. the dishes were required to be on a Sleigh.

Eric F. · Answer

@Roy N. in this case (as is the case quite often in America) it is actually "the land of the industry which provides the most lobbying dollars to Congress."

I just rehabbed a house and refi'd into a rental. We removed 3 old dishes from the roof. The day after my tenant moved in DirecTV was out there installing a new dish. I just laughed (since I can't do anything else!)

Roy N. · Answer

@Tyler Brown

Normally one would suspect Canada to have laws telling folks how they may maintain their property, strange to see the that in the land of the free.

Are you also restricted from making the tenant pay for damages incurred during installation?   A thoughtless hole through the sealed envelope of an energy efficient building can lead to problems aside from the obvious loss in efficiency.

Tyler Brown · Answer

Under the text of the act, you (the LL) cannot do anything to prohibit or impair the installation, maintenance, or use of a dish.

Roy N. · Answer

Thankfully, that does not apply to our properties ... though the OP is not so fortunate.

While you may not be able to prevent them from having a dish installed, I cannot imagine you would be restricted from providing conditions under which it may be attached to your property (and whether holes could be drilled through the envelope).

How do you keep the satellite dishes off your roof?

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