Website Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we’ll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website.
See our cookie policy for more information.

Practice Areas

More Information

thepartners@wrigleys.co.uk

Leeds: 0113 244 6100

Sheffield: 0114 267 5588

FOLLOW WRIGLEYS:

Send us an enquiry
Close

The new Electronic Communications Code

15 November 2017

Statutory rights enjoyed by electronic communications operators are set to change.

A new regime to be introduced under the Digital Economy Act 2017 will apply to electronic communications apparatus installed and retained on land. With the exception of certain transitional provisions, the new Code will replace the existing code and any provisions to exclude the new Code will not be enforceable.   

The new Code, which is expected to come into force next month, is long overdue, with current legislation very much out of date and not suitable for today's technology. The shift this new legislation will bring about for landowners and operators alike will be significant.

Some material provisions to be introduced under the new Code:

  • Alienation – an operator will benefit from what will be seen as a single, composite right in relation to its interest in land. As such, restrictions on upgrading and sharing apparatus as well as assignment (such as the need for landowner consent or additional rent/payments) will be void. A possible safety-catch for landowners is the test applicable to sharing rights; any additional apparatus cannot have "an adverse impact" and must not create an additional burden on the landowner. This is particularly subjective however and could lead parties towards dispute. 
  • Statutory right to remain – when the old code was established the law-makers did not think about parallel statutory rights which operators may also benefit from under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. This has now been resolved with the new Code removing this overlap; an agreement under the new Code cannot also be a business tenancy under the '54 Act.
  • Termination - if the new Code applies a more drawn-out termination process follows, with particular grounds for termination to be given by a landowner alongside an initial 18 months' notice. Further notice then needs to be given to enable removal of the apparatus which may involve applications to Court. Landowners will need to carefully consider future plans for their property before agreeing terms with an operator.  
  • Rent – historically, operators paid rent negotiated on the open market.  Under the new Code, rent will no longer be agreed based on the value of the site to the operator and telecoms use will be disregarded.

A new Code of Practice accompanies the new Code and is available to landowners, occupiers and operators. Compliance with this is voluntary. It therefore remains to be seen how much this will ultimately be adhered to.   

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this article further, please contact Alexandra Slater by email or call any member of the property team on 0113 244 6100.

You can also keep up to date by following Wrigleys on X.

The information in this article is necessarily of a general nature. The law stated is correct at the date (stated above) this article was first posted to our website. Specific advice should be sought for specific situations. If you have any queries or need any legal advice please feel free to contact Wrigleys Solicitors.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alexandra Slater View Biography

Alexandra Slater

Managing Associate
Leeds

02 Dec 2024

How can community-led organisations get involved in the ownership of land for nature recovery?

We recently hosted an online event to look at this question. Here’s a summary of the event and some of the key takeaways….

28 Nov 2024

Work experience and employing children - what employers and schools need to know

A look at the overlapping laws, regulations and obligations around employing young people and children.

27 Nov 2024

What are the requirements for a smaller-scale redundancy consultation?

Court of Appeal clarifies smaller-scale redundancy consultation requirements.