Think Twice Before You Click “Send” – AIR Allows Notices By E-mail

Could a quick e-mail from a Buyer’s broker to a Seller’s broker stating “Buyer finds the environmental report unacceptable” accidentally terminate a purchase and sale agreement? Could an e-mail from a tenant's broker to a landlord's broker stating "tenant is going to exercise the option” be an unintentional exercise of an AIR option to extend [...]

AIR Option – 2 Key Provisions You Should Know

The AIR Option To Extend Addendum is frequently an afterthought when completing AIR lease documents. This Addendum is a well-drafted form and relatively straight-forward. Nevertheless, there are at least two key provisions that every real estate professional should know. 1.  Fair Market Rental “Floor” Provision: If it is a fair market value option, the Addendum [...]

The Automatic Security Deposit Increase Provision

The AIR leases contain an often overlooked Security Deposit provision. When there is an increase in the Base Rent, the Security Deposit increases proportionately. Therefore, if Base Rent increases by 3%, the Security Deposit also increases by 3%. This landlord-friendly provision is not the standard in custom leases drafted by attorneys. Nevertheless, when lawyers are [...]

Is Lessor Penalized for Delivering Possession Late?

According to the various AIR lease forms, Lessor is required to use its “best commercially reasonable efforts” to deliver possession of the Premises on the Commencement Date. If Lessor uses such efforts and is unable to deliver the Premises on time, is Lessor required to compensate Lessee? No, Lessor is not “subject to any liability” [...]

Are Brokers Entitled to a Commission When a Tenant Exercises an AIR Lease Option?

Yes. Even if the Brokers did not participate in the exercise of the AIR Lease Option to extend the term, the Brokers are entitled to a commission. Paragraph 15 of the AIR lease forms state that “if Lessee exercises any Option, . . . Lessor shall pay Brokers a fee in accordance with the fee [...]

AIR’s Inducement Recapture Provision: When Free Rent Is No Longer Free

Tenants love free rent.  But they would hate to pay it back. Under the AIR lease, if Lessee commits a Breach, it is required to immediately pay Lessor the value of any free rent or other inducement (TI allowance, etc.) it received (Paragraph 13.3). This type of provision is included in many custom leases as [...]

Ensure Your AIR Lease Guaranty Is Enforceable: 5 Tips for Brokers/Landlords

After you successfully negotiated for a lease guaranty, the last thing the landlord wants to discover later is that the Guaranty is not enforceable or difficult to enforce. Here are 5 tips to help avoid such a problem when completing the AIR Lease Guaranty: Entity as Guarantor – Identify Name and Title of Person Signing: [...]

Think Twice Before You Click “Send:” AIR (And Other RE Contracts) Now Allow Notices By E-mail

Could a quick e-mail from a Buyer’s broker to a Seller’s broker stating “Buyer finds the environmental report unacceptable” accidentally terminate a purchase and sale agreement? Could an e-mail from a tenant's broker to a landlord's broker stating "tenant is going to exercise the option” be an unintentional exercise of an AIR option to extend [...]

Two Ways For Landlords to Maximize Recovery of Expenses (AIR Multi-Tenant Lease-Gross)

The AIR multi-tenant lease (gross) is a "modified" gross lease. A tenant pays its share of any increase in taxes and insurance over a base year. However, there is no base year for CAMs (Common Area Maintenance Fees).   A tenant therefore pays its share of the total CAMs for the year.  Many owners of [...]

AIR Lease Revises Key “Hazardous Substances” Provision

A recent change to the AIR lease will benefit certain tenants that bring Hazardous Substances onto the Premises. Before the revision, when a lease term was expiring, a tenant was required to remove all Hazardous Substances brought onto the Premises during the lease term. Tenants frequently performed work that exceeded statutory requirements. Now, a tenant is [...]