Is a broken coaxial cable something I can ask my landlord to fix (details)?

It is a pretty simple fix, but one that you can ask the Landlord to do.

It’s your responsibility. The Landlord does not need to repair this unless cable is provided free with your rent.

@blueiiznh I know that it’s simple, but coaxial cables (especially ones that are at least 15 feet, like this one is) can get expensive. Plus, it’s attached to the ceiling via some special thingymabobs (technical term).

@SpatzieLover It is provided free with my rent. Or rather, it was there before I moved in, and I think I’m supposed to leave it there when I leave.

Is the cable TV provided with your rent? not the coaxial

@Aethelflaed agreed. I was refering to changing the end. But as you might have trouble with the thingamabobs, you may be over your head in changing an end.

Simply ask.

@SpatzieLover Yes. There’s a reason I put (details) at the end of the question.

@blueiiznh You can change the end???!?!? Alone?!?! How would I do this? Where would I go?

I read quickly so sue me
As a Landlord: Yes, this is the Landlord’s job.

When we don’t provide the service, we don’t repair the cables. When we do, we do. Actually, we call the cable company to repair it, because we pay for their services.

If it was presented to you as if cable was available in that room then they should fix it. Good landlords like residents who have maintenance requests. It means they care about maintaining the landlords investment.

@Aethelflaed If it is covered,(as @SpatzieLover stated) tell the Landlord.

As a homeowner, this is all the fun you miss. Yes you can change the end, even alone.

Here is a step by step on how to trim a coaxil cable by taking off one end and putting on a new end. If you follow all the steps except for actually cutting off the origianl piece because it fell off, you should be all set.

Ask the landlord, the worst that will happen is he says you have to repair it.

I don’t bother the landlord with stupid stuff I can fix myself and that makes for a very happy landlord not having a tenant always crying over little things. Probably why I have never had a rent increase since I moved in this apartment in 2002 and some have.

@creative1 You are so smart ;)

@SpatzieLover @creative1 Ok, so then that brings up a good point: Do I ask the landlord to fix it, because it is his responsibility and you’re supposed to call the landlord to fix things instead of doing it yourself (and probably something about not being a doormat?), or do I do it myself because I shouldn’t bother him with it, even if it’s technically his responsibility?

Setting aside the issue of responsibility, I don’t agree with those who said you can fix it yourself. I’ve been making my own cables since the 80s—it’s easy for me but I have special parts and special tools & lots of experience. You cannot re-use the old connector because they’re almost always crimped on. If you can get hold of the right kind of new connector (RG-6 or RG-59?) and know what you’re doing, it could be done using just a razor blade and pair of pliers.

This weekend attempt to repair it. If you think it’s too much for you to do, ask for the repair when you turn in your rent.

BTW- Do you have to call the cable company to turn on your cable? If so, they may do this at the time of install.

@Aethelflaed almost any store carries the ends. target, radioshack, drugstore chains…

Give it a go and let us all know!

@SpatzieLover I don’t believe so, though I’ve never actually used the cable tv part of the cable before, only the internet.

Do you have a cable box in your apartment?

No. But unless something’s changed in the last 2 years, you don’t need one.

Here you do. And a lot of tenants don’t know that even though they’ve been informed prior to move in that they need to schedule the install.

Then try to repair it.

Your landlord probably has a contract with the cable company and it won’t cost them a dime to send the cable company out to fix it.

I would look at it as a reason to finally get the tool (and the fittings themselves) to repair / replace a coaxial cable connector.

I look at the apartment as the training area for owning my own home the more I learn to do on my own the better prepared I am to own a home where you have to do alot more work and are responsible for either fixing it yourself or paying someone to fix it. So if its a simple job to do I will learn how to do it and then do it myself. If it something more complex such as wiring or plumbing, the refrig no working properly I call the landlord. I also make it a point to help my friends who own their own place with different home improvement projects so to learn new things to do. I have learned how to tile, lay a brick patio, change a faucet in both the bathroom and the kitchen as a result. These are all things that will be helpful when I move into my new home next month.