Going Digital

Consumer Affairs VIC

Friday, 29 April 2011

Consumer Affairs Victoria has received calls from tenants and landlords asking who is responsible for the costs associated with switching from analog to digital television. The switch is due for completion by 2013.

In cases where an external antenna is part of the property and cannot receive digital signals, the landlord must upgrade or replace it if the:

• original antenna could receive analog signals when the tenant moved in, and
• lease is covered by the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (RTA).

If a television set does not have capacity for digital input and the TV is part of the lease, the landlord must arrange the upgrade (e.g. by providing a set top box) or replacement. If the tenant owns the TV, then any upgrade or replacement is the tenant’s responsibility.

If a lease is not covered under the RTA, a tenant may still argue that having a working TV signal is an implied condition of their agreement – and therefore the landlord’s responsibility – but tenants in this situation should seek legal advice.

If a tenant is not sure if their lease is covered by the RTA, they should contact Consumer Affairs Victoria.

For more information about digital television, visit the Digital Ready website.