Although you may be enjoying Freeview before switchover, problems could occur when the signal is broadcast at full power and the signal strength increases. Communal aerial systems are likely to need changing when the cable is old and unable to adequately carry the stronger digital TV signals when switchover happens. Cabling deteriorates over time, and the TV signal could be more prone to interference and loss of service, particularly the further away a receiver is from the aerial, and as the number of homes served by the communal system increases. Digital UK recommends that as a general rule, systems with cables over 30 years old should be replaced.

Property managers may also want to consider changing the communal system where residents want access to satellite services as well as Freeview services via a communal system. To minimise the potential for ‘satellite rash’ with the proliferation of dishes on the outside of a building, property managers could upgrade the system to an Integrated Reception System (IRS), that will be able to offer the choice of Freeview and subscription digital terrestrial TV services as well as Sky and freesat to all properties.

Listed or registered building and conservation areas are subject to specific planning requirements. There are also 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 is always advisable to speak to the local planning officer to check the current situation.

If you live in England and Wales the first place to look is in your lease. There is likely to be a reference to the provision, maintenance and upkeep of communal services including cables and aerials, and it should identify how the costs are to be met. These will depend on the terms of your lease. If you live in Scotland the first place to look is in your title deeds. There is likely to be a reference to the provision, maintenance and upkeep and cost implications of communal TV services including cables and aerials. If there is no clear reference to this in your title deeds you may need to refer to the Tenements Management arrangements for more information.

If the problem is with a social landlord, residents can join together to petition the landlord. If they still have no satisfaction they could refer to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (leases/RTB purchasers) or the Rent Assessment Panel (tenants), if the tenancy agreement has a presumption that the landlord is responsible. Housing Association Tenants can put in a formal complaint to the Housing Corporation (England) or The Scottish Executive or Community Wales (Wales) or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NI), if a complaint to their landlord has failed to resolve the problem. All housing associations are registered/ regulated by these bodies who will expect the complainant to have exhausted the Housing Associations internal complaints procedures before they will intervene. Any UK resident could contact their MP or local councillors to ask for assistance in persuading their landlord/leasor to take action.

Landlords and property managers should consult with residents about the existing system and the implications associated with a potential upgrade (see ‘Calling All Landlords’ leaflet).

In many instances where the cabling is being replaced, the preferences of the residents may lead the property manager to offer multiple options even though the costs are higher. The property manager may decide on an Integrated Reception System (IRS) to ‘future-proof‘ the property, recognising that the higher specification will make the property more attractive to future purchasers and tenants. Residents are still free to decide which TV services, if any, they take up.

The UKs TV broadcasting system will be switching to digital, TV region by TV region between now 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, prepare and procure 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.

This is a certification mark that is awarded to a public or private sector property manager or developer that can demonstrate and guarantee that all the homes with a communal aerial that they are responsible for will be ready at least 3 months in advance before switchover in that TV region. For full details of the criteria for the Homes set for digital accreditation scheme visit "homes set for digital" Accreditation scheme.

The Tenement Management Scheme can give flat owners the opportunity to have services installed in their block, including communal TV aerials, even if the Title Deeds are silent on that specific matter. Owners are advised to seek legal advice but if the Title Deeds meet the following criteria the potential to arrange for the provision and long term maintenance of the new services exists.

Residents’ views should be taken into account when arriving at a decision, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so. If there is a residents’ association or a tenants’ group who could represent residents’ views, residents could act together through them to talk to or petition the landlord or property manager. However, it is not always possible to arrive at a consensus and the person responsible will have to make a decision particularly if a decision to do nothing could affect lettability or saleability of the properties.

Residents need to establish whether the existing communal TV aerial system will provide access to TV services and other options , such as satellite TV, that may be wanted. Frustration can arise where residents are not adequately consulted and/ or the costs seem excessive. In England and Wales, Leaseholders may have recourse to a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to challenge the decision or proposed course of action, and Tenants the Rent Assessment Panel. In Scotland, the Tenements (Scotland )Act 2004 provides some protection for flat owners.

When they were constructed, it was expected that most, if not all, the homes built by Development Corporations (New Towns such as Milton Keynes, Harlow, Stevenage, Skelmersdale) would receive communal TV services. These homes are often connected to a “piped” cable TV service and there is a ban on aerials and satellite dishes.

A number of cable providers were involved in the provision and maintenance of this cable TV- Eurobell, Cable and Wireless, NTL, Telewest. As a result of acquisition and mergers, most cable TV is now provided by Virgin Media and a significant minority of cable viewers still receive a basic five channel analogue service. Some pay for the service as a direct charge, whilst others don’t. With the growing interest in accessing a broader range of digital services and the continuing planning ban on aerials and dishes, Virgin Media is increasingly offering digital bundles to households, on an individual basis. For many people in houses who are taking up the digital bundles, this can become a point of dispute with their landlord or freeholder as they may be required under their transfer document (if they have purchased) or their tenancy agreement to continue paying for a service that they no longer use. In blocks of flats the situation can become further complicated. With the transfer of ownership, it can become unclear who owns or is responsible for the system. It can be difficult to find out who should undertake the upgrade. Both the cable provider and the property manager may have different expectations, whilst many residents want a wider TV choice than currently available.

Virgin Media is also moving away from the supply of analogue and communal services and has announced, in some areas, the date when they will be switching off the analogue service. Affected viewers in individual homes will need to decide whether to buy the new digital cable services on offer, or talk to the local planning authority if they want to put up an aerial or satellite dish to receive those services. Residents in flats will need to speak to their property manager about installing a communal TV aerial before the cable service is withdrawn, that will give everyone access to free-to air services,(MATV) as a minimum, but also potentially satellite services (IRS).