Search CAM Line Items
Common Area Maintenance (CAM) reconciliation statements contain dozens of line items, each one a potential source of overcharges. This guide covers all 26 standard CAM line items, explains what is recoverable under each lease type, and identifies the red flags that signal a disputable charge.
Most commercial tenants sign leases agreeing to pay their pro-rata share of Common Area Maintenance costs without fully understanding what those costs include. The result: landlords routinely bill for expenses that are excluded under the lease, misclassify capital expenditures as operating expenses, or apply incorrect pro-rata calculations that overcharge each tenant by thousands of dollars annually.
Research shows that 40% of CAM reconciliations contain billing errors. The most common violations cluster around controllable expenses that exceed lease caps, management fees calculated on a broader base than the lease permits, and capital work like roof repairs or parking lot resurfacing expensed as single-year maintenance instead of being amortized.
Each of the 26 line items below is governed by specific lease language and standard industry practice. Knowing which charges are controllable, which are subject to exclusion, and which are most commonly abused is the foundation of any effective CAM audit. CAMAudit automates this analysis, running 14 forensic detection rules across your lease and reconciliation documents in under 15 minutes.
How Common Are CAM Overcharges?
Routine maintenance of exterior grounds including mowing, pruning, mulching, irrigation upkeep, and seasonal planting in common areas.
CapEx RiskRoutine upkeep of parking surfaces including sweeping, crack sealing, pothole patching, and standard surface maintenance.
CapEx RiskElectricity and maintenance for lighting fixtures in parking areas and exterior common areas, including bulb replacements and fixture upkeep.
CapEx RiskElectricity and maintenance for interior common area lighting including lobbies, corridors, stairwells, and shared restrooms.
CapEx RiskRoutine maintenance of HVAC systems serving common areas, including filter changes, inspections, fluid top-offs, and minor repairs.
CapEx RiskRoutine cleaning of common lobbies, restrooms, corridors, and shared spaces including trash collection and supply replenishment.
Guard services, security monitoring, camera systems maintenance, and access control upkeep for common areas.
CapEx RiskDumpster rental, scheduled waste hauling, recycling collection, and routine waste disposal for common areas.
Routine extermination and pest prevention services limited to common areas including lobbies, mechanical rooms, and exterior perimeters.
Periodic exterior and interior cleaning of common area glass surfaces including lobby windows, storefronts, and shared glass elements.
CapEx RiskMonthly safety inspections, lubrication, minor adjustments, and regulatory compliance for common area elevators.
CapEx RiskInspection, testing, and monitoring of fire suppression systems, sprinklers, extinguishers, and emergency exit systems in common areas.
Plowing, salting, and sanding of parking lots, walkways, and common area surfaces during winter weather events.
Upkeep and repair of monument signs, directory boards, pylon signs, and wayfinding signage in common areas.
CapEx RiskLandlord's property and general liability insurance for the building and common areas, allocated pro-rata to tenants.
A fee charged by the landlord or its management company for overseeing day-to-day property operations, typically calculated as a percentage of operating expenses.
A separate fee charged by landlords to cover back-office administrative costs such as accounting, record-keeping, and lease administration.
Tenant's pro-rata share of real property taxes and assessments levied on the building and land.
Water and sewer charges for common area irrigation, lobby restrooms, cooling towers, and other shared utility uses.
Electricity charges for common areas including lobby lighting, elevators, exterior signage, and shared mechanical equipment.
Natural gas charges for common area heating systems, lobby heating, and shared mechanical equipment.
Minor patching of leaks, clearing of roof drains, and routine preventive maintenance of the existing roof system.
CapEx RiskRepairs to the building's load-bearing structural elements including foundation, exterior walls, roof structure, and building envelope.
CapEx RiskExpenditures that extend the useful life of the property, add new functionality, or restore an asset to substantially better than its original condition.
CapEx RiskFunds set aside annually to cover future major capital replacements such as roofing, HVAC systems, and parking lots.
Attorney fees, CPA fees, and other professional advisory costs incurred by the landlord in connection with property operations.
Ongoing maintenance, calibration, and software updates for the building management system (BMS) that controls HVAC, lighting, and access systems in common areas.
CapEx RiskPeriodic inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm panels, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and emergency lighting required by local fire codes.
CapEx RiskAdministrative costs for maintaining roof warranty compliance, including required periodic inspections, minor preventive repairs, and warranty documentation management.
CapEx RiskRoutine upkeep of multi-level parking structures including concrete repair, expansion joint maintenance, waterproofing touch-ups, lighting, and elevator servicing within the garage.
CapEx RiskRoutine upkeep of loading dock areas including dock leveler servicing, bumper replacement, door maintenance, lighting, and surface cleaning.
CapEx RiskMajor servicing of central chiller plant equipment including compressor rebuilds, tube cleaning, refrigerant management, and control system recalibration.
CapEx RiskPeriodic painting, pressure washing, caulking, and surface treatment of the building exterior, including walls, trim, soffits, and facade panels.
CapEx RiskUpkeep of property monument signs, pylon signs, and directional signage in common areas, including lighting, panel replacement, and structural inspection.
CapEx RiskMaintenance of stormwater systems including catch basin cleaning, retention pond upkeep, drainage pipe inspection, and compliance with municipal stormwater permits.
CapEx RiskModifications to common areas required for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including ramp installation, accessible door hardware, signage, and restroom modifications.
Costs associated with environmental cleanup, contamination assessment, soil or groundwater remediation, and hazardous material abatement on the property.
Maintenance and updates to building directories, lobby directories, floor maps, and interior wayfinding signage in common areas.
CapEx RiskSeasonal decorations for common areas including holiday lighting, lobby displays, exterior decorations, and installation/removal labor.
Maintenance and operation of building amenity spaces including fitness centers, conference facilities, tenant lounges, and rooftop terraces in common areas.
CapEx RiskUpkeep of shared food court areas including seating, flooring, grease trap servicing, exhaust system maintenance, pest control, and common area cleaning specific to food service zones.
CapEx RiskMaintenance and operation of shared delivery receiving areas, package rooms, and mail handling facilities in common areas, including staffing, equipment, and security.
CapEx RiskCosts for organizing tenant appreciation events, community programming, and social activities in common areas, including event planning, catering, and entertainment.
Routine cleaning, pumping, and inspection of grease traps and interceptors that serve food service areas in the property, as required by local plumbing codes.
CapEx RiskCosts for property recycling programs, waste diversion, composting, sustainability certifications, energy audits, and green building compliance initiatives.
Upload your lease. CAMAudit runs 14 detection rules in under 15 minutes.
Upload two PDFs. 14 detection rules. Under 15 minutes. Free.
Find My Overcharges