A health center in Dorchester, MA claims that T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) owes it almost $35,000 in unpaid property-tax reimbursements for a rooftop antenna, according to the Dorchester Reporter. The Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center receives about $2,000 per month from T-Mobile for hosting its equipment on the roof at Blue Hill Avenue.
The lease specifies that T-Mobile must also pay back any property taxes related to the location of their equipment. For four years, the health center covered these tax payments out of pocket without getting reimbursed, according to AirWave Lease Insights, a Lincoln, MA-based company specializing in wireless lease analysis and assisting property owners with their claims. The health center is still awaiting repayment for those taxes.
Similarly, Global Ministries Christian Church leased its steeple to T-Mobile in 2003. In 2008, the church sold future rent payments for a lump sum and stopped receiving monthly rent. The city later classified the steeple as taxable and assessed real estate taxes, which were T-Mobile’s responsibility under the lease.
Unaware of the tax bills, the church accrued nearly $188,000 in unpaid taxes and faced foreclosure risk even after T-Mobile removed the antenna in 2024. The church sued T-Mobile for nonpayment, alleging unfair and deceptive practices and breach of the reimbursement clause, reports the the Dorchester Reporter. The parties reached a settlement and T-Mobile paid the outstanding amount.
Attorney Larry DiCara, who represented the church, said the situation illustrates how easily small nonprofits can be blindsided when it comes to dealing with big companies like T-Mobile on such leases.
By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor