Starlink, but you rent.

Mounting without drilling, address transfers, and the federal rules that protect tenants who want satellite internet. The renter-specific stuff nobody talks about.

The short version for renters

Yes, you can get Starlink as a renter. The 30-day return policy means you can test it without commitment, the service is month-to-month with no contract, and you can transfer the dish to a new address when you move. The two real challenges are: getting clear sky view from your specific unit, and mounting without damaging the property. Both are usually solvable.

Sky view: the make-or-break test

Before anything else, check whether your unit can actually see the sky. The Starlink app has a free obstruction check tool. Walk around your space, hold up your phone, scan the sky from each potential dish location. The app shows you exactly which patches of sky are blocked.

What you need: a clear cone of sky, roughly 100 degrees wide, mostly facing north (in the northern hemisphere) or south (in the southern hemisphere). Other buildings, roof overhangs, and trees count as obstructions. The dish does not work pointed at a wall or under a balcony ceiling.

Common renter wins:

• Top-floor apartments usually have rooftop access or balcony sky view that works.
• Houses with backyards almost always have a clear spot somewhere.
• End units often have one side facing open sky.

Common renter losses:

• Ground-floor apartments in dense urban blocks. Buildings on every side, no sky.
• Units with only south-facing windows in the northern hemisphere (or vice versa). The satellites pass mostly to the north or south depending on hemisphere.
• Heavily wooded properties. Even one large tree directly south can ruin the install.

If the obstruction check shows red, no amount of clever mounting will fix it. Do not order in this case. Save your time.

Mounting without drilling

The default Starlink mount expects you to drill into a roof or wall, which most landlords will not love. Renter-friendly options:

Ground stand (zero damage)

Starlink sells a basic ground stand and includes a pipe adapter in every kit. If your unit has a backyard, deck, patio, or balcony floor with sky view, the dish can sit on the ground. Heavy enough not to blow over in normal wind. No installation required. Best option when it works.

Tripod or weighted base

Photo-style tripods designed for Starlink run $40 to $80. Sit them anywhere flat, including on a balcony or rooftop. Some include weight bags for high-wind areas. Zero damage to the property.

Railing mount

Clamp-on railing mounts attach to balcony rails, deck rails, or rooftop parapets without drilling. $30 to $80. Works great if your balcony has sky view.

Pole-in-bucket

The classic temporary install: a metal pole stuck in a bucket of concrete, with the dish on top. Looks rough but works. $20 to $40 in materials. Move it when you move out.

Window or wall mount with no-drill adhesive

Heavy-duty 3M VHB tape or removable construction adhesive can hold a small bracket on an exterior wall. Risky in extreme weather. Worth considering for ground-floor or balcony walls.

What about HOA and landlord rules?

In the United States, the FCC's Over-the-Air Reception Devices (OTARD) Rule limits how much landlords and HOAs can restrict satellite dishes. The rule generally protects your right to install a dish under one meter in diameter on property you exclusively control (your private balcony, your rented backyard).

The rule does not protect you on common property (shared rooftops, hallway exteriors, the building facade). And it does not override leases that explicitly forbid satellite installations.

Practical advice:

• Read your lease carefully before ordering. Look for clauses about satellite dishes, antennas, or "alterations to the property."
• If your lease is silent on dishes, OTARD likely covers you on private space.
• If your lease forbids dishes, ask the landlord in writing. Many will say yes, especially if you frame it as a temporary install with no damage.
• Outside the US, rules vary. Some EU countries have similar protections, others do not. Check local tenant law if it matters.

Address transfers when you move

When you move to a new place, you can take Starlink with you. The hardware is yours. The service follows you to a new address, with one annoying step: you have to update the registered service address in the Starlink app, and Starlink has to confirm coverage at the new location.

If your new address is in a covered area, the change is instant. If it is not, your service pauses until you set up at a covered address. No refund for the prorated portion, but you also pay nothing while paused. Resume anytime.

For renters who move frequently, the Roam plan is sometimes a better fit than Residential. It treats the dish as portable by default, so address changes are not required. Works across one continent (Regional Roam) or globally (Global Roam). Slightly higher monthly cost but much less hassle.

The Mini is the renter's dish

For renters specifically, the Starlink Mini often makes more sense than the Standard. It is small enough to sit on a windowsill or balcony floor without any mount at all. It has a built-in router. Power runs over USB-C, which means a single cable to a wall outlet. And if you move, it fits in a backpack.

For someone in an apartment with a balcony, the Mini setup is genuinely just: take the dish out of the box, plug it in, set it on the balcony, point at the sky, done in 5 minutes. No mount, no drilling, no commitment.

The 30-day trial protects you

If after install you discover the obstruction is worse than the app suggested, or you cannot find a good spot, or the landlord changes their mind, return the hardware within 30 days for a full refund. Starlink has been good about this. The trial is the renter's biggest friend: it lets you test the actual service before committing to anything.

Worst case for a renter who orders, tests, and returns: you spent maybe two hours unboxing and testing, plus the cost of return shipping. Best case: you found rural-quality internet in your apartment.