“A satellite has no conscience.” Edward R. Murrow

Do you get tired of unsightly satellite dishes on the eaves of your multi family building? I have been looking into this issue and there are limits as to what the property owner can do, there are some laws regarding these things.

FCC Order 98-273 or the “FCC Satellite Rule” Under this rule, landlords cannot restrict tenants from installing these devices, As long as the device has a diameter of 40 inches or less and is installed by a professional, landlords are prohibited from restricting the dishes.

The devices may be installed in the tenants “private rental space” such as a balcony, a deck or terrace, as long as it is completely within the tenants rental area. This is, however, subject to “reasonable restrictions”

REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS There are restrictions that can be placed on dishes for instance:

1) You could restrict location to be within the inside wall of the complex and require that they do not hang over a common area like a sidewalk.

2) You could require that you be present for any installation and you would have the final say regarding drilling of small holes.

3) You could require (as you should in all cases) that the tenant carry renters insurance to cover any accidents or injuries occurring as a result of the dish. Additionally, there are stands available through Amazon that could be preferable to installation onto your building.

REMOVAL I recently went through a building I own and counted at least 4 inoperable satellite dishes, which I am planning to remove. The cable companies are quick to install these devices, but when the tenant leaves or cancels the service, they become a free billboard on your property. The best thing to do is have them removed. It seems to me that if you are somewhat vigilant and check every year or two to discern which tenant is or is not using the devices, you can avoid getting a collection of these things on your property.

“Winning isn’t always championships.” Michael Jordan

What we at PRS PROPERTIES CAN DO. We can give you a good idea of the current value of your building. We can suggest changes you might want to make before sale to give you an idea what type of building you would be able to exchange into. You may decide to stay in the rental business. We are always available to chat. We can give you referrals for professionals, such as lenders, contractors, and engineers, so that you can decide who you feel best with. We can supply you with rent and sale comparable in the area of your properties, so that you know what rental values are in your area. It is important that you know the true value of your rental units, so that you can get them rented right away at market value, or at least as much as possible with rent control restrictions. We can look at potential purchases that you may be interested in to make the property more desirable, and maybe look at potential issues that an insurer might require you to repair.

If you should decide to sell your building, we can help you exchange into a larger or smaller properties. We can even help you move into something with less management responsibilities. We can also help with getting the paperwork together for a refinance if that is your desire. We can also recommend experienced licensed contractors who can perform any repairs or installations you may need prior to selling. We can also look at your building for other easy and inexpensive changes that might allow you to get a higher value. We can help you to get the maximum value for your property, should you decide to sell, or the maximum return if you are planning to keep your building.

We are currently looking for “as-is” properties and are willing to purchase with low rents, deferred maintenance or even with a problem tenant in place. We can offer a 7 day escrow and all cash at closing. Give us a call. We have also put together numerous transactions over the years which involve properties that are not listed for sale. Many investors are currently in 1031 exchanges and need to identify a replacement property before their 45 day identification period runs out.

Should you decide to put your property on the market, we will put together an aggressive, targeted and professional campaign to get your property sold fast. We have been doing this for over 40 years, and we will use all the tools available to bring you the most dollars at closing. If you are thinking of selling or are just curious about the value of your property, don’t hesitate to give us a call.