Public record
Macerich Queen Creek AZ: CAM cap breach 4% non-cumulative case study
A public-record retail CAM case study showing $13,100 in CAM overcharges: landlord billed $127,500 against a $114,400 cap (4% over prior year $110,000).
What happened
The tenant's lease at Queen Creek Marketplace set a 4% annual CAM cap. Prior year CAM was $110,000, capping 2022 at $114,400. The reconciliation billed $127,500, which is $13,100 above the cap, representing a 15.9% year-over-year increase that the lease explicitly prohibited.
Findings from the pipeline
Rule 6
CAM Cap Violation
$13,100
CAM billed ($127,500.00) exceeds the 4.0% non-cumulative cap. Max allowed: $114,400.00 (prior year $110,000.00). Overcharge: $13,100.00.
Lease evidence
CAM charges shall not increase by more than four percent (4%) per year on a non-cumulative basis. Section 6.3.
Section 6.3, page 11
Math proof
prior_year_billed=110000.00, cap_rate=0.04, max_allowed=114400.00, billed=127500.00, overcharge=13100.00
Lease evidence
- 4% annual non-cumulative CAM cap (Section 6.3).
- No cap banking: unused capacity does not carry forward.
Why this matters for your firm
CAM caps are supposed to provide budget certainty, but landlords sometimes omit the cap calculation when preparing reconciliation statements. Tenants who pay without checking the cap math effectively waive the protection their lease provides.
Dispute letter draft excerpt
Request for Cooperative Review of Certain Line Items. The automated review flagged an apparent CAM cap breach of $13,100.00 for the 2022 reconciliation year.
Frequently asked questions
What findings did CAMAudit surface in the Retail Tenant (Macerich Queen Creek Marketplace) case?
CAMAudit flagged 1 finding with an apparent overcharge of $13,100. Each finding cites the specific detection rule, dollar amount, and the lease provision that grounds the dispute.
Can my firm reproduce these findings on a live client engagement?
Yes. Your firm uploads the lease and CAM bill. CAMAudit checks them against the same rule set. Your firm reviews the findings. Then your firm sends the branded report to the client.
Is Retail a common property type for CAM audit engagements?
CAMAudit handles all commercial property types: retail, office, industrial, mixed-use, and specialty. The detection rules apply wherever a tenant pays CAM or operating expenses under a lease with specific definitions, caps, or exclusion lists.
What is a dispute letter draft and does CAMAudit generate one?
A dispute letter draft is a factual starting point that specifies each overcharge by rule, dollar amount, and lease provision. CAMAudit generates a draft grounded in the specific audit findings for advisor and counsel review.
Next engagement
Run these same detection rules on your client engagements
Upload a client lease and CAM bill. CAMAudit applies the same rule set used in this case study. Your firm reviews the findings and sends the branded report to the client.
Public-record note
This page summarizes public-record documents and CAMAudit output for educational and marketing purposes. It does not imply endorsement by Retail Tenant (Macerich Queen Creek Marketplace) or any third party. Readers should review the underlying lease, statement, and dispute timeline for their own facts.