A charge for the landlord's internal or third-party accounting costs associated with preparing CAM reconciliations and operating expense statements. Accounting fees are not universally permitted in CAM and may violate management fee caps.
Some leases allow accounting fees as a component of the management fee or administrative overhead. When accounting fees are separate from and in addition to a management fee, they may violate the lease's management fee cap.
A lease capped management fees at 4% of gross revenues and was silent on accounting fees. The landlord charged a 4% management fee and a separate $12,000 annual 'CAM accounting fee.' The tenant paid the additional fee for 5 years ($60,000) before an audit revealed it lacked lease authorization.
Ask your landlord to identify the specific lease section authorizing any accounting, administration, or overhead fee beyond the management fee. If the lease is silent, the fee may be unauthorized.
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Find My OverchargesThis page provides general educational information. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the most current law in your state. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.
