Switching over to digital TV A guide for tenants and leaseholders www.homesforharingey.org Switching over to digital TV Contents Section Page 1 Why are you replacing the communal TV aerial system in our block of flats? .............. 3 2 What choice of system will we have? ........................................................................ 4 3 How will you consult me? ........................................................................................ 4 4 How much will tenants and leaseholders have to pay towards the new system? ............ 5 5 Can I apply to install my own satellite dish? .............................................................. 6 6 What will happen if I put up a dish without getting permission? .................................. 7 7 Why is Homes for Haringey going to remove residents’ dishes? .................................. 7 8 What will the satellite system provide? ...................................................................... 8 9 Which additional channels will I be able to receive? ................................................ 8 10 Who does what? .................................................................................................... 8 11 Will the contractor let me know when they are coming to do the work in my flat? ........ 11 12 Where will the contractor install the socket box? ...................................................... 12 13 What if I want to have sockets installed in more than one room? ................................ 12 14 Will my current TV set work with the new system or do I have to buy a new one? ...... 13 15 Will I have to adjust my TV, Video, DVD and so on when the new system is installed? 13 16 I already have digital TV – do I have to pay for the new communal TV service? .......... 13 17 What will I need for the digital switchover in 2012? .................................................. 14 18 Can my TV be converted? ...................................................................................... 14 19 Will recorders still work? ........................................................................................ 14 20 When do I re-tune my set-top box? .......................................................................... 14 21 What help is available for people who have problems switching to digital TV? ............ 16 22 Glossary .............................................................................................................. 17 2 Homes for Haringey 1. Why are you replacing the communal TV aerial system in our block of flats? The Government has set the end of We will only carry out the work to those blocks 2012 as the deadline for the which currently have communal TV aerials. So to switchover from analogue to digital be ready for the digital switchover, Homes for TV. All TV broadcasts after this date will be Haringey has appointed contractors to replace digital. The communal aerials in most of the all the communal aerial systems in the blocks Council’s blocks of flats will not receive digital TV which have them. At the same time the Council or the reception will either be poor or very has decided to give residents a say in the unreliable. They are also generally coming to the upgrading of the system in their building – end of their useful life spans. For these reasons please see the next section . all the communal TV systems will have to be replaced by the end of 2012. If you have any questions not answered in this booklet please phone us on 0800 195 3404 or Furthermore in order to give residents a wide 020 8489 5611 (cheaper from a mobile), or range of free channels and a good choice of visit www.homesforharingey.org subscription services it is necessary to install systems with satellite reception. A guide for tenants and leaseholders 3 Switching over to digital TV not be possible for some residents to have 2. What choice of system will Option 1 and other resident to have Option 2 we have? in the same block. Residents in each building will be asked to In some estates the communal TV system serves choose which of the two options for the more than one building, where they are close communal aerial/satellite systems they wold together. In these cases the decision as to prefer to be installed in the block. These which option will be installed will be made on options will be as follows: the basis of the choices expressed by all the buildings using the system. a) Option 1: the fully integrated reception system (IRS)consisting of: If you are a leaseholder and you are subletting you should note that only you will be able to i. Freeview TV and DAB radio tell us which system you prefer – your ii. satellite services including: sublessees will not. You must let them know • Sky Plus/High Definition and Freesat, what is happening and tell them they must • Hotbird allow the contractors into your property to • Turksat. install the new socket box. b) Option 2: integrated reception system Please remember that we will not allow (IRS)consisting of: residents’ satellite dishes on blocks so the type i. Freeview TV and DAB radio of system the Council installs in the property ii. satellite services including Sky will be final. In addition it will be important to Plus/High Definition and Freesat let future owners or tenants know what television services they can receive. See Sections 8 and 9 for some details of the different services. See Section 4 for how Drop in sessions. At the same time we send much it will cost. you the form, we will invite you to a drop-in session in your area. The purpose of the drop- in session will be to answer any questions you may have about the two options or about the 3. How will you consult me? work. You will receive a form giving you two options. Each session will normally be attended by a We are sending one form to every home. Since Project Manager, an Engineer, a Tenancy there is only one form for each property, you Management Officer, a Resident Liaison will have to agree as a household which Officer and a representative from the option you prefer. contractor who we have chosen to do the work. The date for the return of the form will be You must return the form in the prepaid shortly after the drop-in session. We will let you envelope enclosed with it. If you have any know what system we will install after the questions you can attend the drop-in session closing date to return forms has passed. for your area before you complete your form. Residents’ choices will be kept confidential. Section 20 Notice. If you are a leaseholder Only one type of system can be installed in you will receive a Section 20 Notice at least a each building, so if most of the residents month before the work starts. This will contain choose Option 2, then no one will be able to a description of the proposed work, an receive the Turksat or Hotbird channels. It will estimate of its cost and it will inform you that 4 Homes for Haringey you have the right to make observations in writing for a period of 30 days from the date of the notice. We must send you this legal notice since it is required under section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. 4. How much will tenants and leaseholders have to pay towards the new system? The Council has decided to cap the charges at Leaseholders will have to pay a one-off £400. The charges will vary depending on the charge as shown in the table below. The actual size of the building and which option all the cost will only be known when the work is residents in your building choose. The carried out. Obviously the cost of Option 1 will maximum (shown capped at £400) and be a bit more than that for Option 2, but in minimum charges are shown in the table both cases the charge to leaseholders will be below: capped at (limited to) £400. Block with Block with Block with less than between 25 over 50 flats 25 flats and 50 flats Option 1 £391 - £400 £381 - £400 £372 - £400 Option 2 £350 - £400 £333 - £400 £322 - £400 Tenants will have to pay through their service If you have already received an invoice for charges. You will not have to pay anymore more than £400 for a digital installation you than 77 pence per week over 10 years. (You will receive a credit to your account for the will not have to pay more than £400 in total.) additional amount. You will only have to start paying this after the work to install the new system has been carried out in your building. If you receive housing benefit the charge will automatically be advised to the Council’s Housing Benefit team who will in turn advise individual tenants. The charge is eligible for housing benefit. A guide for tenants and leaseholders 5 Switching over to digital TV Tenants and leaseholders must get our 5. Can I apply to install my permission in writing before putting up own satellite dish? anything on the outside of the building, including TV aerials, satellite dishes and so on. The Council has decided that individual dishes Both the tenancy agreement and the lease state will not be allowed in a building with a new you must get the Council’s permission (through communal system. However, if we do not plan us) before you put anything on the outside of to install a new communal TV system in your the building. building, we may allow you to install your own dish. Planning permission If we agree to you putting up a dish outside We generally do not plan to install communal your flat you must contact the Council’s systems in very small blocks of flats and in Planning Department to find out if planning houses which have been converted into several permission is required. If planning permission flats. If you wish to put one up you must first is not necessary a letter must be obtained from obtain our permission (landlord’s consent) and the Council’s Planning Department to confirm planning permission: that this is the case.