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How will you ensure local housing authorities, landlords and tenants are prepared?
Digital UK will contact local authorities, housing associations and landlords of properties with communal TV systems to ensure they are aware of the need to prepare for switchover. Tenants should contact their private landlords to make sure the aerials in their homes or Flats are set for digital.

I am a property manager, why should we switch now?
The UK’s TV broadcasting system will be switching to digital, TV region by TV region between 2008 and 2012. If communal TV aerials haven’t been checked, upgraded or replaced, residents in blocks dependent on receiving their TV signals through these aerials may not be able to watch TV, even though they have upgraded or converted their own equipment. By starting the process now, property managers will have sufficient time to consult and prepare the appropriate systems for the buildings that they are responsible for.

It is not only public and private sector housing providers that need to take action. Those with responsibility for care homes, hospitals, hotels, student accommodation, commercial buildings, barracks and prisons will all need to carry out work - the laws of supply and demand are likely to impact on prices the closer digital switchover gets.

I live in a flat, what should I ask my landlord/property manager?
There are a number of questions you can ask your landlord or property manager to ensure the aerial in your flat will be ready for switchover, they are:

• Is my building served by a communal TV system?
• If yes, have you ensured that the existing communal TV system is able to receive a digital TV signal through the main aerial (providing a digital box is connected)?
• Does the communal TV system allow me to connect to other digital TV services such as satellite?
• If work is planned, can I have input into the choice of options?
• If work is planned, how will this affect my service charges?

My Halls of Residence doesn’t have a built-in aerial system. Can students still use set-top aerials?
Set-top aerials can receive digital TV, providing the signal strength is sufficient and the set-top aerial is good quality. A general rule is that if a good quality pictures can be obtained with today’s analogue signal, then good quality digital signal should be obtained after switchover using a digital box or a TV with integrated digital tuner.

The Halls property manager will need to decide if students should continue to rely on set-top aerials after switchover, or whether to upgrade the building with, for example, a communal TV aerial system.

What are the options for conservation areas and listed buildings?
Listed building and conservation areas are subject to specific planning requirements.

There are restrictions as to the number and location of aerials and satellites dishes on buildings. This may restrict the options that are available. You can usually replace like with like where permission has been previously been granted, but do check first.

It’s always advisable to speak to the local planning officer to check the current situation.

What can I do if my landlord won't take action?

• Check your tenancy agreement, licence, lease, title deeds or transfer documents to check the respective roles, rights and responsibilities of all parties.
• You can act independently but if there is a residents’ association or tenants’ group who could represent your views, you and the other residents could act together through them to talk to or petition your landlord or property manger.
• If you are a tenant of a social housing organisation then you can make a formal complaint to the organisation. If this does not work, then you can escalate the complaint to the appropriate Housing Ombudsman.
• If all else fails, you could, take legal action through the courts to enforce the terms of the agreement but initially you can take the matter to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal or the Rent Assessment Panel.

What happens in a block of flats?
If you share an aerial with others then you will need to talk to your landlord or council about how they plan to upgrade the system ahead of digital switchover.

You may have a communal TV system. If so, this will need to be adapted to receive digital television. Your landlord or managing agent should be aware of this and be making plans, ask them for more information.

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