A mobile phone mast lease represents a valuable financial asset. Rather than relying solely on periodic rental income, property owners may be able to receive an upfront payment through a lease premium. Whether you are considering access to capital or reviewing the terms of your agreement, understanding how lease premiums work can help you make an informed decision about your property.
What Is a Lease Premium?

A mobile phone mast lease represents a valuable financial asset. Rather than relying solely on periodic rental income, property owners may be able to receive an upfront payment through a lease premium. Whether you are considering access to capital or reviewing the terms of your agreement, understanding how lease premiums work can help you make an informed decision about your property.
An Established Market Practice
The market for telecoms lease premiums emerged in the early 2000s and has grown steadily since. Radius Global has transacted with thousands of landlords and more than 80 operators across Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia.

How Telecoms Site Leases Work
TowerCos and mobile operators typically install mobile phone masts and rooftop antennae on land or buildings they do not own. They therefore agree a lease with the property owner permitting their equipment to be installed and operated. The TowerCo or mobile operator can extend its network without acquiring the underlying property, while the owner receives rent under the telecoms site lease.
How Telecoms Site Leases Work

TowerCos and mobile operators typically install mobile phone masts and rooftop antennae on land or buildings they do not own. They therefore agree a lease with the property owner permitting their equipment to be installed and operated. The TowerCo or mobile operator can extend its network without acquiring the underlying property, while the owner receives rent under the telecoms site lease.
Understanding the Lease Premium
A mobile phone mast lease premium is an upfront payment to a property owner in return for the right to receive future rent from the telecoms site. The owner retains ownership of the underlying property, subject to a registered property interest relating specifically to the area occupied by the communications site.

Understanding the Lease Premium

A mobile phone mast lease premium is an upfront payment to a property owner in return for the right to receive future rent from the telecoms site. The owner retains ownership of the underlying property, subject to a registered property interest relating specifically to the area occupied by the communications site.

Contractual Certainty & Property Rights
As with other property transactions, the terms of a mobile phone mast lease premium are set out in a legal agreement, with the relevant interest typically registered in the appropriate land register. This helps protect the parties’ rights if the property is sold or the mobile phone mast tenant changes in future.
Contractual Certainty & Property Rights

As with other property transactions, the terms of a mobile phone mast lease premium are set out in a legal agreement, with the relevant interest typically registered in the appropriate land register. This helps protect the parties’ rights if the property is sold or the mobile phone mast tenant changes in future.
Valuing the Lease Premium
Location is one consideration when assessing a lease premium, but the valuation also reflects a range of other factors and risks. These include the terms of the mobile phone mast lease, prevailing interest rates, the operators using the property, the timing of future payments and the level of rent.

Valuing the Lease Premium

Location is one consideration when assessing a lease premium, but the valuation also reflects a range of other factors and risks. These include the terms of the mobile phone mast lease, prevailing interest rates, the operators using the property, the timing of future payments and the level of rent.
