LANDOWNERS who have leases with telecom operators have been advised to be careful to understand and protect their rights when it comes to re-negotiating terms.

Tom Jackson from the Northallerton office of Strutt & Parker land agents, said landowners were often unaware of their rights when it comes to dealing with telecom companies.

He said operators, who are frequently looking to reduce costs and make other improvements to their lease terms, often attempt to force landowners to sign new lease agreements - sometimes with veiled threats of decommissioning and loss of income for the landowner.

Mr Jackson said: "Landowners may also be under the impression that there is an obligation for them to permit access or provide additional ground space to operators, although this is not always the case.

"Many operators make demands on the grounds of 'modernisation', although it is only when this has to comply with new regulations that there is any legal necessity to concede to their demands. Land owners are also often told that they must cover their own legal costs or are unaware that they can recover costs in some circumstances from the operators.

"Unless they seek expert advice they may well be doing themselves an injustice. For example we have advised dozens of landowners and farmers not to agree to any proposed changes to existing leases, all of whom are delighted that two to three years later none of the decommissioning threats have taken place.”