Home Q&A Forum What's CAM charge in a commercial lease?

Real Estate

Commercial Building Lease

California

Asked on Mar 21, 2023

What's CAM charge in a commercial lease?

I am currently negotiating a commercial lease for a property where I plan to operate my business. As part of the negotiation process, the landlord has mentioned the concept of a CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charge, which I am unfamiliar with. I would like to seek the advice of a lawyer to better understand what a CAM charge is, what it covers, and what my responsibilities as a tenant would be in relation to this charge.

Answers from 1 Lawyer

Answer

Real Estate

California

Answered 1323 days ago

CAM charges are for common area maintenance. For example, in an office building, CAM charges are for maintaining the lobby, elevators, corridors, and outside areas (such as the parking lot). If you are looking at renting a space, the landlord should be able to provide you with CAM numbers for that space for the past several years, so you know what to expect.

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I have found gas lines in my newly leased restaurant building that never had tge proper permits. The last restaurant owner went into bankruptcy. How could this happen? I am now being told that I have to pay $ 350,000 to make this right before i can open.0

There is also a large pizza oven that the property owner will not remove . Isn't it owned by creditors?

View Fema B.

4.8 (5)

Fema B.

Answered Sep 22, 2026

This situation should be reviewed before you agree to pay the $350,000. The first documents I would examine are your commercial lease, any landlord representations regarding code compliance or permitted use of the premises as a restaurant, the certificate of occupancy and permit history, and the notices or reports identifying the gas-line violations. Tennessee currently applies the International Fuel Gas Code to regulated construction, but the governmental authority responsible for permitting and inspection can depend on where the property is located. Whether the cost ultimately falls on you or the property owner will depend heavily on the lease. Commercial leases frequently allocate responsibility for code compliance, repairs, pre-existing conditions, tenant improvements, and governmental requirements differently. If the gas work predated your tenancy and the premises were represented as suitable for restaurant use, there may be substantial issues concerning the landlord's obligations, representations, and potentially your remedies under the lease. I would not assume that simply because the municipality is requiring corrective work before opening, you are contractually responsible for the entire cost. The pizza oven is a separate ownership issue. The fact that the prior restaurant operator filed bankruptcy does not automatically mean the oven belongs to its creditors. You would need to determine whether the oven was owned by the former tenant, leased, subject to a perfected security interest, abandoned or transferred through the bankruptcy, or legally became a fixture of the real property. Tennessee law recognizes separate creditor and priority rules for goods and fixtures, including circumstances in which a secured creditor may have rights to remove fixtures. Before removing, using, or disposing of the oven, I would review the prior tenant's bankruptcy docket and asset schedules, run a UCC lien search, and determine whether the landlord received title to or abandoned-property rights in the equipment. I would also obtain the complete permitting history for the building and have counsel review the lease before accepting responsibility for a remediation bill of this magnitude.

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Commercial Real Estate

Commercial Building Lease

Florida

Asked on Mar 21, 2023

What's permitted use in a commercial lease?

I am in the process of negotiating a commercial lease for my business and I am interested in understanding the concept of "permitted use." Specifically, I am curious about what activities are allowed in the leased space and what limitations there may be. I would like to consult with a lawyer to ensure that the terms of the lease align with the needs of my business and that I am not at risk of violating any provisions.

View Diane D.

4.9 (13)

Diane D.

Answered Mar 21, 2023

Permitted use means that you can only use it for the reason you rented it. For example, you cannot rent a place to use as a gym but then use it for a nightclub.

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Real Estate

Purchase Agreement

California

Asked on Sep 5, 2021

seller is a divorced man whose ex lives across street. She turned him in for not permitting a deck. Court applied restraining orders on both. seller had plans drawn and submitted but pandemic hit, He is in financial crisis and has a buyer for home whose bank has agreed to lend . seller has paid all violation fees but county is slow in helping him. he is evacuated from Caldor fire with his other home. Seller needs to due a subordination and let sale happen while county reviews his plans and inspects. Is there anything else he can do? California ..e

code violation paid in full but County is not open and working from home. have not been able to handle this issue in timely manner has been 2 1/2 yrs since first submitted drawings . he is not permitted to go in the area due to a nasty divorce and wife living across street..he also is diabetic and has been hospitalized and needs medicine not covered by insurance

View Donya G.

4.9 (61)

Donya G.

Answered Sep 24, 2021

You will need an attorney to advise you, as such, you will need to post your project on the website Here are the steps you need to take to accomplish this 1. Post the job you need to get accomplished – for example “ I am looking for a California attorney to assist me in the sale of my property and to help me get the county to approve the sale -------------“ 2. Once posted, attorneys on the website that are interested and qualified will respond to your posting 3. Choose an attorney/s based upon their qualifications and cover letter to have a quick call so that you can decide who you would like to hire. 4. After talking with attorneys, choose who you will decide to proceed with. Remember to discuss the cost of the project as well as how long it will take to be completed as well as when payments will be made. 5. Once you have decided who to hire, click “HIRE” and that attorney will now be hired by you. Donya Gordon, Esq.

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Real Estate

Property Deed

California

Asked on Sep 17, 2021

Please my client daughter write me about her properties , how can I reply her back, because her father said I should give her the properties when she's get married

View Donya G.

4.9 (61)

Donya G.

Answered Oct 5, 2021

Can you please reenter your question as I don't understand it. Thanks

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Real Estate

Commercial Lease

California

Asked on Apr 21, 2023

What's the property description in a commercial lease?

I am a small business owner who is looking to lease a property for my business. I am currently reviewing a commercial lease and am trying to understand what is included in the property description in the lease. I am hoping to gain more clarity on what the property description entails and how it affects my business.

5.0 (1)

Gagandeep K.

Answered May 24, 2023

A property description in a commercial lease has to sufficiently identify the extent and boundaries of the property being leased. For example, it can be described by a map reference or by metes and bounds, or include a description such as "that certain building on the south-westerly corner of California and Larkin Streets." The commercial lease will include defined terms such as "Building," "Property," and "Premises". The defined terms define/describe the "Property" on which the "Building" is located which has the "Premises"/"Space" that is being leased. A sample definition of is Property Description in a Commercial Lease: ""Property" means the real property on which the Building is located together with the Building and all appurtenant fixtures and personal property of Landlord used in the operation of the Building and/or the Property, and any other improvements now existing or hereafter constructed thereon[, including the parking lot, walkways, and landscaped ground as depicted on the site plan attached hereto as Exhibit [LETTER]]."

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What's CAM charge in a commercial lease?

Answers from 1 Lawyer

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People Also Asked

I have found gas lines in my newly leased restaurant building that never had tge proper permits. The last restaurant owner went into bankruptcy. How could this happen? I am now being told that I have to pay $ 350,000 to make this right before i can open.0

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