CAM (Common Area Maintenance) is often the most misunderstood line item in a retail lease. It covers shared services — security, housekeeping, HVAC for common areas, landscaping, and mall management — but inclusions vary widely between assets.
What to ask before signing
Request a CAM breakdown: what is included, what is capped, and how escalations are calculated. Compare CAM per sq ft against comparable buildings in the same micro-market.
Negotiation levers
Tenants can negotiate CAM caps, audit rights, and exclusions for services they do not use. In high-street formats, clarify who maintains frontage and shared access.
How OREA helps
Our leasing team benchmarks CAM across comparable assets and supports negotiation as part of retail and corporate mandates.
Contact OREA for lease advisory support.