Commercial leases are the wild west of contracts. Unlike residential leases which have endless tiers of protections, commercial leases can be drawn up in a way that is strongly biased against commercial tenants. Before signing a commercial lease, it is important to have an attorney review it and advise you what the terms mean in real life. You almost always can negotiate terms in commercial leases as well to get a deal that will give your business more flexibility to grow and use the space to its fullest potential.
Entering into a commercial lease in Florida is significantly different than renting an apartment or house. First, commercial leases are typically a longer duration, often three, five, ten, or twenty years. Additionally, commercial leases operate differently than residential leases and can be written a variety of ways to pass different types of expenses onto the renter. Some of these include gross, modified gross, and triple net. Additionally unsophisticated lessors may be surprised to learn about a “CAM” expense.
If you are considering renting a commercial property in the State of Florida, contact Fairway Law Group to schedule a time to have your lease reviewed by one of our attorneys. For smaller leases, our firm offers a flat rate “lease review” that includes a consultation with an attorney where your lease will be explained to you. This is a great option for small businesses who are leasing their first space.