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.
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.
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