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UK must allow satellite dishes
There are many thousands of UK residents who – at least so far – have been forbidden to have satellite dishes because of restrictive covenants on their homes or apartments. People living in so called ‘conservation areas’ and listed buildings are particularly limited in what they may fix to their homes. Those restrictions may now have been deemed illegal by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
A test case (23883/06) where Swedish tenants were evicted because of their use of a satellite dish has been ruled as a violation of the applicant’s human rights under Article 10 (Freedom of Expression) in that they were not allowed to receive satellite signals. The Court ruling has effectively established that the possession and use of a satellite dish for the purposes of exercising one’s right to freedom of information is a human right.
The case, brought by Swedish tenants, has found in favour of the tenants – who are of Iraqi origin – and who had taken their government to court after being evicted by their landlord after installing a dish. The Court ordered that €13,950 be paid to the tenants as compensation.
Importantly, the ruling shows that even if the applicants were technically in breach of their tenancy, the right to information is superior to the landlord’s right to enforce the contract.
UK Housing Minister Grant Shapps said the decision could drive a ‘coach and horses’ through planning and similar legislation. The decision seems to rule that landlords – which includes local authorities – can no longer ban the use of satellite dishes.
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Trust me the devil allways wins ,no matter how hard we resist
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Re: UK must allow satellite dishes
This is not necessarily good news!
There has to be some control over where and how many dishes can be put up, otherwise they really do become an eyesore.
When I was in Hungary some time ago, walking through the streets looking at ancient city walls and historic buildings, with a multitude of aerials and sat dishes sticking out of them, I was struck by how truly awful it looked. Hidden Content
We have seen a photo posted somewhere on WOD, where what looked like hundreds of dishes on a block of flats not only looked awful but were actually blocking out the light from some flats!
The right to daylight is also a very basic human right as well.
Perhaps the regulations do need to be relaxed in some areas, but if satellite reception is so important to you, common sense tells you to check if building regulations allow you to install one, before you take up the tenancy?
Common sense really, with no requirement for European courts to interfere or become involved! Hidden Content
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