Housing associations and antennas

Hi all.  I am looking to see what experiences people have had with their housing associations regarding antennas.   I used to live with my Grandmother who sadly died in the Summer.  I moved out shortly before she went into a home.   Until recently, prior to the house being sold, I was able to go over at the weekends and use my radio.     Since then I have been reliant on going up on the hills, which now is no longer a possibility due to the current lockdown.   

I am now in a ground floor housing association flat with no garden to speak of, just a small lawn outside my front door which isn't strictly "mine".   In a bid to keep myself sane I bought a mobile mast, an Antron 99 and a tripod stand to get myself on air.    I used it with great success, setting it up on the bit of grass out front at night and taking it down when I've finished.    Alas, shortly after setting it up this evening, suddenly the signal on T5 dropped out and noise level went to zero.   I'm not sure if I believe in premonitions, but last night I dreamt that the mast had come down and and antenna was broken.   With a heavy heart, I went to the window already sure what had happened.   Alas, a light Northerly breeze had sent the mast crashing to the ground.   It narrowly missed my upstairs neighbour's car.   Luckily, he is a very relaxed sort of bloke and didn't go mad.    The only damage was to the antenna, as per my dream!   The top section has split;   a great opportunity to replace it with the fire up kit.   Needless to say, I won't be putting the tripod and mast up again.

My tenancy agreement has a section about "attachments" and "modifications" to the building, stating that they will not "unreasonably" refuse permission.   I am thinking now that I really need to get this antenna installed to the building.   Bloke upstairs doesn't have any issue with aerials, he used to use CB himself.  I am interested to hear of any positive results people have had with their housing association.   My instinct is that they will initially say no, but I have mental health issues, which radio helps with and I could lay this on a bit.    A lot of people tell me just to stick it up there and hope for the best .   But to be honest, I would rather be told now "no, absolutely not" than enjoy my radio at home for a few weeks then suddenly be told I've got to take it down.  Worst case, I will dig up the little bit of grass and concrete in a tube to drop my mast into, but having a permanently mounted antenna would be so much better.  Any anecdotes or advice please?

There is a saying: “Tis easier to seek forgiveness than seek permission....”  I’ll leave you to decide how you wish to proceed!

It's a new build and my tenancy agreement has a specific covenant on making changes to the building.   So I decided to do things legitimately and ask permission.   I was resigned to having to apply for planning permission, however, I didn't realise the housing association would want to dip into my pockets too!   Housing officer says it's a £40 fee just for her to check my tenancy agreement.  Then it would have to to their technical team, fee £200.   After paying out £240, they could still say no.   Then it's fees for planning permission application.   I would be looking at a punt on £500 which could all go down the drain.   I simply cannot afford it.    Sadly, an antenna on the building is a non starter at least for now.   Maybe I might just do it next year, when the covenant conditions expire.   For the time being, I have a drive on mast stand coming, so at least I will be able to get on air from home.   I just need to make sure I don't rush out in the car to go to the shops when my aerial is up!   I think a large "DO NOT DRIVE" note on the steering wheel may be required.   I'm also looking at a wire antenna along the guttering for working skip.

when we got our very nice bungalow we were told no brackets no holes in the walls but put it in the garden so i have two antenna up 446mhz and 11mhz and there happy at that

Hi, Sorry No name in profile.

I feel for your predicament,  it’s not easy when you have such issues with housing and planning to contend with.

It’s a little difficult to try and suggest alternatives not knowing how your lay of the land is.
Can I suggest if it is possible, to upload a couple of photos of your building, garden area, nearby trees etc.?

Hopefully someone will have an alternative option for you that have worked for them in the past.

73
Graeme

Just a thought - do you have a washing line in the garden, or can you put one up? You could use that as an antenna if it’s got a wire core, or wrap a wire around it spirally. I do that where I live to get around the “Thou shalt not attach an antenna to the building” bit. It might not be the ultimate Dx antenna, but at least you can get a signal out!

Sadly no garden, just a bit of grass out the front door (which I treat as a garden).    I thought about a washing line pole style tube to go in the ground, but there are a few manhole covers about and I'm not sure where all the utilities run.    Drive on mast stand arrived today and is working fine.   Only takes two mins to put up and take down;  which I've done about twenty times today trying to tune the Antron with the "fire up" kit (another thread).  

Chris

stephen Gunrunner wrote:

when we got our very nice bungalow we were told no brackets no holes in the walls but put it in the garden so i have two antenna up 446mhz and 11mhz and  there happy at that

I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to drill a hole through the wall for the coax.  it runs out and just under the window ledge to a PL259 with a female to female on the end so that I can quickly hook up the coax to my Antron without opening windows.    Hopefully they won't notice, but if they want make a fuss then I will make a bigger fuss about them charging tenants extortionate fees just to consider an antenna going up.