Phone mast proposal

[Yantantethera]

Our Landlord wants to allow an emergency telecoms mast in one of "our" fields. I have no issue in principle but wondered what others experiences are, especially tenants like ourselves?

I guess the selfish question is what is in it for us as I am sure he will be getting a tidy rent for it, yet it is us who will have to put up with fields being dug up for services and the site and then have to look at the thing everyday. All that and we still won't get a signal!

Any thoughts/experiences would be very much appreciated.

 

[Kidds]

Not really much disturbance during installation and not much inconvenience once installed.
Soon get used to it being there.
That's my experience with an ordinary telecoms mast.
Rent is no fortune either.

 

[TWi58630]

Beware! once built you can not get rid without a very expensive battle. You will be tied to them forever. When or if you wish to build anything larger than a garden fence you will have to seek their permission. If you or your L/L are thinking of wind mills or solar power schemes be very careful the mast people can stop it on the grounds that any development can affect signal. I have lost £1,000s through this (3 large turbines and 14 acres solar).
Also beware the telecoms law on rentals are being reviewed and there is talk that rent may be changed to a rental similar to electricity pylons so the L/L will only get a few hundred pounds a year instead of a few thousand.
Pass these points out to your L/L and ask him to seek proper advice from people in the know.
Ask your L/L what is in it for you as it will influence your business.

 

[TWi58630]

Also advise L/L "Short term gain long term pain".

 

[Y Fan Wen]

The emergency telecoms mast I know of is about 8 feet long and mounted on the gable end of a cattle shed.
Provides comms for police, fire & ambulance in a no mobile area.

 

[Yantantethera]

Thank you all for the input - met with the Landlord and it seems it will be a 10mx10m square, only hassle for us being during construction and when they cable the power through fields.

 

[Andrew K]

He is surely being paid, why not you as well?

 

[caveman]

Find out who his agent is and get him to get you a disturbance payment.

 

[Part timer farmer]

As a tenant the benefit to you is minimal. As Caveman suggests find who the LL agent is. There should be some consideration given when the mast is built - loss of crop/ reinstatement, having to move stock about. A mast will take around 3-4 weeks to build out of the ground. Elec power is nearly always the last part of this process - the wayleave for this will go to your LL but if I were you I'd ask for a plan of the power route - does it go through any drainage schemes or water pipes to cattle troughs ? There may be BT fibre too that will be in another trench. Also they may want to deploy a generator while the elec co connect the supply - consider gates being left open / diesel leaks. So you want disturbance payment for the hassle at construction - this could be anytime of year and that your LL agent/ solicitor has a clause in the lease that makes reference that the emergency services tenant to re imburse you for any proven damage they cause to your agricultural operations. Also, The emergency services will want 24/7 access in case something on the mast needs replaced etc - it rarely ever happens but just something to be aware of. Hope this helps.

 

[Jim Jackson]

If it were me I would get an agent in to work on my behalf. His costs should be covered by the telecoms company and he will get you far more compensation than you would. Even small things like covering your costs and time meeting with your landlord or telecoms representatives need to compensated for.