Telecoms
Telecoms Expertise for Property and Land Owners Across the UK.
If an operator wants to install, renew or review a mast on your land, the rules of the Electronic Communications Code work firmly in their favour. Our telecoms advice for landowners covers the full range, from a single installation to a nationwide portfolio, so your rent and terms reflect what the site is actually worth.
Telecoms advice for landowners, wherever the Code applies
We act for landowners of every size, from local authorities, police forces and utility companies managing large rent rolls across complex portfolios, to farmers, charities and sports clubs with a single mast on their land. Whatever the scale, the advice works the same way: protecting your rent and your terms.
We have represented landowners since 1991, through the introduction of the Electronic Communications Code in 2017. The Code gives operators a statutory framework for accessing land, but it can also impose rights at a fraction of what the site was previously worth. Knowing where that line sits, and how to hold it, is where we add the most value.
We have contributed to the Code’s ongoing consultations and given expert evidence in several Upper Tribunal cases, work that has helped establish our telecoms advice for landowners as among the most respected in the UK.
Telecoms Advice for Landowners, Handled by Specialists
We act for landowners with telecoms apparatus on their property, from a single mast to a nationwide portfolio. Our team combines specialist knowledge of the Electronic Communications Code with day-to-day negotiation experience, so your agreement reflects what your site is actually worth, not a standard operator template.
Our Telecoms Services Include:
Please contact a member of our Telecoms Team to discuss how we can help you
Offices in Battle, Haywards Heath, Pulborough, Surrey Hills and Tunbridge Wells.
Telecoms Insight & Opinions
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Telecoms Rooftop Training
On the 28th July 2022, the Batcheller Monkhouse Telecoms department attained their Rooftop Training certification…
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Farmers and Landowners Agree to Electronic Communications Operators
Many farmers and landowners agree to electronic communications operators, such as mobile phone companies, installing…
READ MORE about Farmers and Landowners Agree to Electronic Communications Operators
Common questions about telecoms
There is no fixed rate. Since the 2017 Code, rents are based on the underlying land value rather than what the site is worth to the operator, which is often far lower than landowners expect. The right figure depends on your location, the type of installation and the terms of the agreement, so it is worth getting a proper valuation before you negotiate or renew.
Not without an agreement in place, but the Electronic Communications Code gives operators strong rights to apply for one through the courts if a landowner refuses reasonable terms. Getting advice early, before you respond to an approach, puts you in a far stronger position than trying to push back once a request has already been made.
Renewal is a chance to reset the rent and terms under the current Code, not simply extend the existing agreement. Operators will often propose renewing on their own terms, so it is worth having your position reviewed before you sign anything.
It is possible, but the Code gives operators security of tenure, so removing an installation is not always straightforward. The process depends on the type of agreement in place and how much notice is given, so it is worth taking advice as early as possible in your planning.
Many wayleaves are actually Code agreements in disguise, which carry different rights and obligations than a simple licence. It is worth having any wayleave checked before signing, since the terms can affect your options much further down the line.