Falling Revenues As The Impact of the Comms Code Bites

If you own or manage a property portfolio that includes telecommunications tenants you must be having sleepless nights worrying about the loss of revenue.

What’s Changed?

The New Electronic Communications Code (the “Comms Code”) allows for the mobile operators to use “Code Powers” to access sites and demand substantially lower rents at renewal – in some cases 95% lower rents and in one case 97.2% reduction.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Revenue Stream?

We work with property owners to drive a fairer position between operator and landowner.Our business model allows us to offer substantially more consideration and compensation than code valuations.

Recent Case Study

Working with one Public Body, with multiple sites up for renewal, we have successfully maintained revenue at £54,500 in the face of a renewal offer of £5,000!

Who Are Michael Aubrey Telecoms*?

We are a Wireless Infrastructure Provider with 30 years industry experience, firstly rolling out networks, over the last 20 years working exclusively for site owners. 


We have been awarded code powers by Ofcom to develop and extend an independent network of sites for use by multiple network operators. 


Who Do We Work With?

We work exclusively for Local Authorities and Blue light organisations such as the Fire and Police service.




Book A Free 15 Minute Consultation

Talk to one of our experts today and discover how we can help you protect your revenue. 

Contact Us

* Michael Aubrey Telecoms is a brand name of Michael Aubrey Partnership

The Electronic Communications Code (the Comms Code) is a set of rights that are designed to make it easier for network operators to facilitate the installation and maintenance of electronic communications networks across the UK.

What Is The New Telecoms Code (Comms Code)?

The Code provides for telecoms operators who are granted rights under the Code, to install and operate telecommunications apparatus such as telecoms masts and fibre optic cables, on land and buildings.

Who Does The New Comms Code Affect?

Property owners who have leases (licences) with mobile operators to install and operate telecoms equipment on their land and rooftops.

How Will The New Telecoms Code Affect UK Property Owners’ Rental Incomes?

When current leases expire the negotiating position taken by operators with code rights is simple; take our very low offer or we will go to tribunal and the valuation rules set out will derive an even lower ‘rent’.

What Do Code Powers Allow

Operators To Do?

New rights make it easier for telecommunications operators to deploy and maintain their infrastructure and it gives them new automatic rights to upgrade and share apparatus.

In summary, the new code will allow the operators to

  1. force a reduction in rental income, as the change in the basis of valuation, will move to a “no scheme” rule reflecting the underlying value of the land.
  2. Operators will be allowed to install telecoms equipment on, under or over land and
  3. gain access to the land to inspect and maintain the equipment.

Click here to read the detail.



What’s Happening In The Market At The Moment?

Where leases are coming up for renewal, operators and landlords aren’t able to agree terms which is leading to stagnation in the marketplace.

Up to a 95% Loss of Income for Property Owners

Property owners are seeing mobile operators offering significantly lower rents than have been previously agreed and the Code has been written to allow operators to force their way onto sites they need at negligible cost.

We are currently managing sites across the UK for numerous “blue light” organisations, Police and Fire Authorities.

Typically where leases have come up for renewal, we are seeing offers of £500 per annum where previous rents passing were £5k, £10k even £15k per annum!

How Can Property Owners Protect Their Rental Incomes?

Our business model allows us to offer substantially more than code valuations, by adopting a fairer position between operator and landowner.

Extended rights allow sub-letting/sharing and upgrading of sites for no additional payment to you as the landowner. 

Our model addresses this. Click here to read more.

Are you about to lose 95% of your income?

Register for the 15-minute consultation that will help you protect your income.

Register NOW

December 2019 marks a milestone for Michael Aubrey Partnership as we celebrate 25 years of delivering innovative design solutions to our Customers.

BIM cake


Celebrating this achievement Managing Director, John Staves said,

“We’re so proud that Michael Aubrey Partnership has reached this milestone 25th year anniversary!  We count local, regional, and national businesses among our client base, including commercial businesses and homeowners.

 From our humble beginnings working from a back bedroom, to renting small office spaces, to finally in 2015 purchasing our Head Office building in Finchampstead.”


“Over the years our business has evolved into three distinct streams. 

  • Structural Engineering within commercial projects; full range of services for Clients, and Contractors working with other professionals as members of the team delivering residential, mixed use, industrial, residential care home and educational buildings. 
  • Services for homeowners; new build and alterations to homes as well as defect diagnosis. 
  • Wireless Sites; from design to managing sites and following Ofcom recently granting Code Powers, the first steps in development of our own portfolio of sites.

All of these areas are underpinned by our professional team and our early adoption of Building Information Modelling. 

I am proud that we have supported three graduate engineers through to Chartered membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers over recent years, and this year employed our first degree apprentice.

But of all the changes and growth over the years, I am very pleased that our ethos of putting quality before quantity has prevailed.”

“We wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for our brilliant team, most of whom have been with us since the early days. Our first employee, Andrew Campbell is still with us!  so, I’d like to say a big thank you to him and the rest of our team.”

 Also thank you to everyone who has been part of our success, we truly appreciate your support and we very much look forward to another successful twenty-five years.”




25 Years

Thank you to all our customers who have supported us along the way and to Sharni Smith for making our cake!


Our Way of Saying “Thank You”

During our 25th year, we are giving existing customers the opportunity to “refer a friend” and receive a

£25 M&S voucher*


*£25 voucher is claimable once the new customer places an order with us