Is it true that you can't get Satellite TV in a rented apartment, it's only available to home owners?

you can, you just have to get something in writing from who you rent from that say's you can place a dish on there property because most of the time they have to drill into a building or put a post out front and they have to know that the owner of the building is ok with this!

No, not true. Check with apartment management to find out what the rules are. Some places won't let you mount hardware on buildings in common areas or require them to be mounted on the ground. The satellite provider will probably require the management to sign off on the installation. The other snag is being sure you have a clear line to the signal. Call the satellite provider to inquire about what direction your satellite needs to face and ask about whether or not there are fees for failed installations. They will free installation but only if they are actually able to install. Dish Network will not charge you for failed installation if you order directly through them BUT if you go to a licensed dealer they will. Do your homework!

I live in an apartment that has its own dishes installed on the roof. Then you can go with Dish Network or Direct TV. They think the dishes on each patio is unnecessary and unsightly so they did it that way. Every landlord is going to have different rules. I would just talk to them to see what type of television services you are allowed.

Most apartments will not allow satellite TV because you need to attach a dish to the building and since you're only renting they don't want any permanent scars to the structure. You can always ask the office manager though - your place may be different than place I've lived in.

I live in a apartment and receive DirecTV (which is a satellite service). The satellite service was set up and is paid for by the apartment managers, the tenants aren't the ones who set up the service for themselves.

No that's not true, as far as the satellite provider is concerned anyway. Some building owners don't allow satellite dishes to be mounted on the building though, it all depends on the management.

No. But you must have written permission from the owner or property manager for them to install the dish. The owner can forbid it but the satellite company will install it if they're allowed.

Not at all. You just have to call the provider and make sure your unit can either access a signal with your own dish, or if you can be forwarded off of one already installed in your building. :)

I think the only issue is that some apartment complexes will say "no satellite dishes" just because they're sorta tacky looking and they don't want 1000 of them all over the building.