Dish of the day leaves a slightly bitter taste
Ever had one of those moments when you're doing something very routine, and you get a sudden inkling something's not quite right?
I had one while being very domestic and hanging out the washing yesterday. Something just felt wrong, and when I looked round, back at the house, I saw what it was.
The people next door have had a new satellite dish fitted – their second, actually – in the past week or two, and while the mast is fixed to the wall of their property, the whole of the dish/LNB assembly is above the flat roof of our living room.
Now there's a good neighbour conundrum: what do you do?
Insist on having it removed or resited? Live with it, on the grounds that it's not actually attached to your own house so what harm's it doing? Or just get a bit indignant that it was put there without anyone asking if you'd mind?
I'm tending towards option three at the moment, on the basis of a quiet life, however much Mrs E is fulminating about writing to the agent handling the letting of the house next door, the owners, the local planning department and anyone else she can think of.
She's really got very Margot Leadbetter – "Jerry, do something!" – about the situation, while I just think the whole thing leaves a slightly nasty taste in the mouth.
But one question I have to ask: what kind of satellite installer is so stupid, or so blasé, as to think that such an installation is in any way acceptable?
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If there's one thing that annoys me more than anything it's 'stupid'. It's stupid to put the Dish there when it's over your property line. So for sure ask for it to be moved, absolutely. Once you've asked and it's gone, ahh, peace of mind. Otherwise every time you see it, it is going to niggle you, now and forever more.
Hmm, bl**dy cowboys! Another question arises, the erector would have needed some time aligning the dish, attaching and dressing the cables etc. Did he do so whilst standing on your roof and if so did he do any damage?
I would prob have quick word with your neighbours starting with a comment like "you may not realise this but.....". It kind of gets you off the hook. Tell them you'll contact the letting agency and ask them to have it re-erected. Make it sound like you are doing them a favour.
The kind of installer stupid enough to install a satellite dish overhanging somebody elses property, is the kind of installer stupid enough to install it so badly it may at some point fall and cause damage.
Deal with the problem now or wait 'til it falls and try to explain to your insurance company why you let it remain in place. They may well take a dim view, especially in the current economic climate...
Of course if you come to sell your property it may devalue it. Alternatively, if you're renting, and the dish come down, your landlord will blame you for not informing him/her.
There are too many if's and but's in not doing anything about it. Get it sorted, you know it makes sense.
That's a terrible install,and can tell from the photo that apart from the fact it's overhanging your property,it's shoddy workmanship in general....
Well, polite letter written to be delivered tonight, acknowledging that neighbours are probably blameless and it's down to a poor installation by a contractor – benefit of the doubt and all that.
Will keep you posted...
Letter delivered, spoke to the neighbour and - it was installed by a Sky engineer.
Engineer apparently coming back next week, so neighbour's going to ask for it to be moved.
I should think so too!!!
Gets moved on Friday.
Biiig stick called for :)
Few days late, but then it was hammering down with rain on Friday, and the dish has gone...