Your commercial property is a significant investment. Protecting that investment requires leases that clearly define tenant obligations, preserve your rights, and provide effective remedies when problems arise.

At Camelback Law Group, we represent landlords in all aspects of commercial leasing—from initial lease drafting through enforcement and dispute resolution.

Why Landlords Need Experienced Lease Counsel

A well-drafted lease is your primary protection against problem tenants. It defines the relationship, allocates responsibilities, and determines your options when things go wrong.

Consequences of Weak Lease Documentation:

  • Difficulty collecting unpaid rent or expenses
  • Uncertainty over maintenance responsibilities
  • Inability to control tenant alterations or use
  • Prolonged and costly eviction processes
  • Unexpected liability for tenant actions
  • Loss of control over tenant transfers

Our Landlord Representation Services

Lease Drafting

We prepare comprehensive lease documents tailored to your property and business objectives:

  • Full-service gross leases
  • NNN (triple net) leases
  • Modified gross leases
  • Ground leases
  • Retail leases with percentage rent
  • Build-to-suit agreements

Every lease we draft includes provisions protecting your interests on key issues like maintenance, insurance, indemnification, default, and remedies.

Lease Negotiation

We negotiate lease terms on your behalf, balancing tenant requests against your need to protect the property and maintain flexibility:

Key Provisions We Protect:

Rent security: Security deposits, personal guarantees, letters of credit

Use restrictions: Controlling tenant mix and property use

Assignment controls: Maintaining quality tenant base

Default remedies: Expedited cure periods and enforcement rights

Expense recovery: Clear CAM and operating expense provisions

Lease Enforcement

When tenants fail to perform, we help you enforce your rights effectively:

  • Default notices and cure demands
  • Rent collection and security deposit claims
  • Lease termination procedures
  • Eviction proceedings (unlawful detainer)
  • Damage claims and recovery
  • Guarantor enforcement

Critical Lease Provisions for Landlords

Rent and Security

Ensure reliable rent payment with:

  • Clear rent escalation provisions (fixed or CPI-based)
  • Late payment penalties and interest
  • Security deposits adequate for your risk tolerance
  • Personal guarantees from principals (with appropriate scope)
  • Letter of credit requirements for higher-risk tenants

Operating Expense Recovery

Structure expense pass-throughs to ensure full recovery:

  • Comprehensive definitions of recoverable expenses
  • Administrative fee allowances
  • Clear reconciliation and audit procedures
  • Capital expenditure amortization provisions
  • Management fee inclusion

Use and Exclusivity

Maintain control over your tenant mix:

  • Specific permitted use definitions
  • Prohibited use lists
  • Hours of operation requirements
  • Limited exclusivity grants (protect your flexibility)
  • Continuous operation requirements for retail

Maintenance and Repairs

Clearly allocate responsibilities to avoid disputes:

  • Detailed maintenance obligation schedules
  • HVAC service contract requirements
  • Capital repair reserves or pass-through rights
  • Landlord access provisions for inspections
  • Tenant alteration controls and restoration requirements

Default and Remedies

Ensure you can act quickly when problems arise:

Essential Default Provisions:

  • Short cure periods for monetary defaults (5-10 days)
  • Right to cure tenant defaults and charge back costs
  • Acceleration of rent upon default
  • Right to terminate or continue lease after default
  • Recovery of attorney's fees and collection costs
  • Waiver of jury trial (where enforceable)

Multi-Tenant Property Considerations

Managing multi-tenant properties requires additional attention to:

  • Consistent lease forms across tenants
  • CAM allocation methods (pro rata, square footage, etc.)
  • Exclusivity conflicts between tenants
  • Common area rules and enforcement
  • Parking allocation and management
  • Signage standards and approval processes

When Problems Arise

Despite best efforts, tenant problems occur. We help landlords navigate:

  • Chronic late payment issues
  • Unauthorized alterations or use violations
  • Assignment or sublease disputes
  • Maintenance and repair conflicts
  • Lease renewal negotiations
  • Tenant bankruptcy situations

Early intervention often prevents small problems from becoming major disputes.

Need Landlord Representation?

Whether you're drafting new leases, negotiating renewals, or dealing with problem tenants, our team provides the experienced counsel landlords need.

Protect Your Property