Sky installed neighbours dish on my property

[shaneybaby55]

I emailed Sky to complain about this and what they will be doing about it, as they have encroached on my property and have done permanent damage by drilling into my property, their response was they can only move it if the people whom it has been installed for phone up Sky to request this, yet I do not get on with the neighbours. So Sky are basically saying that even though I have a dish on my property, installed by them, there is nothing they can do until my neighbours start the process, how crazy is that? Where would the law stand on this?

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

You've posted this under the 'Criminal' section but it's really civil law which applies here. (A criminal court would throw out a charge of 'criminal damage', to your property, on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence of intent to cause damage).

If somebody attaches something to your property, without your permission, you have every right to remove it. (In doing so, you must take reasonable precautions to avoid or minimise any damage to the other person's property. You must also return their property to them or ensure that they can collect it from you at any reasonable time).

So you have every right to remove the dish. You could also bill the relevant person (or company) for the cost of any necessary repairs (and pursue them for payment, under the small claims procedure, if necessary). The problem with this could be in identifying the 'relevant person/company'. To the best of my knowledge, Sky always sub-contract installation work. (So that means that there are two separate companies who might try to 'pass the buck'). Both Sky and the sub-contractor might claim that they were acting as agents for your neighbour, and that he told them that he'd obtained your permission for the installation on your property. Things could get very complicated; it might be wisest to forget about claiming for the costs of any repairs. (Drilling a hole into masonry and inserting a wall plug doesn't usually cause any significant damage to a property).

[Buenchico]

As stated, you have every right to remove the dish, without giving notice to anyone. However, you've still got to live next door to your neighbours, even if you don't get on with them. Removing their satellite dish, without warning, could result in relationships becoming even more strained than they are now.

I suggest a letter to your neighbour, as follows:
"Dear Mr Bloggs,
I note that contractors, working for Sky, have installed a satellite dish (serving your house) on my property, without permission from me. I have complained to Sky about this. They advise me that a request to re-site the dish must come from you.

I have also sought legal advice regarding the situation. I have been advised that I may remove the dish, without notice, and without liability to yourself, to Sky or to their contractors.

Obviously, I do not wish to deprive you of your satellite TV service. I therefore give you notice that I intend to remove the dish on, or after, Monday 10 September 2007. My reason for delaying the removal of the dish is to give you sufficient time to contact Sky regarding resiting of the dish. I trust that you will make contact with Sky, regarding this matter, at your earliest convenience, in order to ensure that the dish is removed from my property without interruption of your satellite TV service.

Yours faithfully"


Chris

[skyfitter]

whereabouts are you cos i would come and shift it for a few quid and a beer

[shaneybaby55]

Thanks for the comments
but are we basically saying that a company can tresspass onto my property and drill into my property, and there is basically nothing wrong with that? It may only be 4 holes but even if the holes are filled in it will never look as it did prior to the holes being drilled. So it has cosmetically changed the look of my property forever. Also I do not want to remove it as say I fall from the ladder?

[Aquagility]

Buenchico has given you �50 of advice and �50 of letter, all for free. Don't knock it!

[olly8080]

if it was me i would carefully remove the dish and chuck it in the nearest river

[shaneybaby55]

Who says I am knocking it, If I was knocking it I would not have thanked him for the comments!
I am greatful that people give their time and knowledge for free to others. I do the same with others and sometimes I don't even get thanked!
If you knew my neighbours you would not want to be nicey nicey to them and I don't live in the flat, it is rented out, they have also created trouble with my tenants.
So sometimes it is best to try and understand the problem from the other persons side, yes I am very angry that my neighbours may have done this on purpose, and that Sky maynot be accountable, all these big companies think they can do what they want and if some of us do not make a stand they will never change.
If Sky are not held accountable, as they should be making more of an effort not to be making these mistakes, yet what procedures are in place to stop this from happening, none, and when something like this happens, they have informed me that, they can only start to act when the neighbours contact them, but what is to say the neighbours will contact Sky?
My best option is to pay someone to remove the dish and pass the bill on to Sky, but if the repair stands out as it could be difficult patch 4 holes in to look the same as the surrounding masonary, if I have to paint it I would have to paint all the upstairs, do I then pass this onto Sky
Anyway thanks again Buenchico, and your comments were helpful and were not being knocked like someone else suggests
Thanks again

[THECORBYLOON]

No-one has said "basically there is nothing wrong" with the actions of the folk installing the dish and no-one has said you need to climb a ladder yirsel. The advice given is of a practical nature.

I have never looked closely at a dish so I don't know how large the fixtures and the resulting holes are but I imagine the holes could be plugged and painted if need be. I doubt that if the house were to be put on the market the price would reflect the "cosmetically damaged" appearance.

I would be mumping if the same happened to me but there is a huge difference between theoretical actions and the practicalities of everyday life.