Macerich Queen Creek AZ: CAM cap breach 4% NON_CUMULATIVE case study
A public-record retail CAM case study showing $13,100 in CAM overcharges: landlord billed $127,500 against a $114,400 cap (4% over prior year $110,000).
What happened
The tenant's lease at Queen Creek Marketplace set a 4% annual CAM cap. Prior year CAM was $110,000, capping 2022 at $114,400. The reconciliation billed $127,500, which is $13,100 above the cap, representing a 15.9% year-over-year increase that the lease explicitly prohibited.
Findings from the pipeline
Rule 6: CAM Cap Violation
high confidence
$13,100
CAM billed ($127,500.00) exceeds the 4.0% NON_CUMULATIVE cap. Max allowed: $114,400.00 (prior year $110,000.00). Overcharge: $13,100.00.
Lease evidence
CAM charges shall not increase by more than four percent (4%) per year on a non-cumulative basis. Section 6.3.
Section 6.3, page 11
Math proof
prior_year_billed=110000.00, cap_rate=0.04, max_allowed=114400.00, billed=127500.00, overcharge=13100.00
Lease evidence
- 4% annual NON_CUMULATIVE CAM cap (Section 6.3).
- No cap banking: unused capacity does not carry forward.
Why this matters
CAM caps are supposed to provide budget certainty, but landlords sometimes omit the cap calculation when preparing reconciliation statements. Tenants who pay without checking the cap math effectively waive the protection their lease provides.
Dispute letter draft excerpt
Request for Cooperative Review of Certain Line Items. The automated review flagged an apparent CAM cap breach of $13,100.00 for the 2022 reconciliation year.
Related Resources
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Public-record note
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