I'm in a similar position with mine as I'm paying for an aerial and don't own a television.
The subject of upgrading the dish came up and how much everyone would chip in.
The best they could come up with was that the flat would be worth more if I has a better TV capability, which I also told them wasn't important to me.
If they try to force payments on me, I'm not paying. There's a gate in one of the car parks and not mine and they pay more than I do for that. So I'm quite sure they can differentiate based on who needs TV services.
Not sure on the legal position. I think they might vote for it. In which case you need to canvas your neighbours who are in a similar position as you are.
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Background:
I live in a small block of 6 flats. In the surrounding area, there another 3 or 4 blocks like mine, each with 6 flats in each. Each of these said buildings are all managed by the same company, who look after the gardens, clean and decorate the hallways etc. Each flat pays a fee of £50 per month to the management company for this privilege.
A letter landed in my letterbox from them the other day telling me that I had two choices for the "digital switch over", which is due to happen in my area sometime around August this year. I (as does each other tenant) have the option of voting to have a communal Sky dish to be installed, at a price of £222 per flat, and then each flat will get its digital TV feed from this, or, I have the option of voting for a cheaper freeview ariel to be installed for roughly £120 per flat, and once again, we'd all be routed through this ariel.
Problem:
Now, here's the interesting bit. I, like at least 70% of the people living in these flats already have my own Sky dish, and a +HD box, with a subscription to Sky of course....so, why would I want to pay for another one to be put in?
I called the company and explained all of this, and I got the impression that the lady on the other end of the phone was trying to insinuate (like women do) that they might force me to remove my personal Sky dish, and then try and force me to pay for the communal option. Her rehearsed "line" was to say that I obviously didn’t seek permission to have my personal dish installed....at which point I explained that it was there when I moved in 4 years ago (which is true). Anyway, she asked me to put all of this in writing to the company, which I did (in the form of an e mail).
After looking at the surrounding flats, it’s obvious to me that I won’t be the only one in this situation, and I fail to see how they can force us (me) to pay for something I don’t want or need. She mentioned the word "invoice" too, which makes me think they're going to try and be forceful with it.
Has anyone ever been in a situation like this with a management company?
Essay :cool:
[Edited on 26-02-2011 by Aaron]
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