Lease Admin Nightmares: Ep 3 – CAM Charges from the Crypt

“It felt like opening a coffin: shocking, unsettling, and too late to run.” 

The Setup: Quiet Before the Storm 

It was the calm after the close of a good year. Payments were timely, renewals handled, and the books neatly closed—or so we thought. But then, like a horror film jump scare, the landlord’s CAM reconciliation arrived: an invoice clawing back nearly $50,000. 

Our stomachs dropped. This wasn’t a minor discrepancy—it was a full-fledged ambush, resurrected from the prior fiscal year. 

The Invoice from Beyond 

We quickly demanded details. The landlord reluctantly sent a generic spreadsheet with vague line items: 

• Building repairs (no invoices) 

• Security enhancements (for the entire complex, not just our building) 

• Management fees far above lease limits 

Red flags were everywhere, yet no real backup—just broad-stroke summaries and hollow reassurances of accuracy. 

Digging Up the Truth 

We dove into the lease like grave robbers desperate to uncover the facts. Quickly, we realized: 

• Many charges labeled “maintenance” were actually capital improvements. 

• Management fees were inflated—far exceeding our clearly capped percentage. 

• Security costs were unfairly allocated across properties we didn’t occupy. 

But the clock was ticking. The lease gave us only 30 days to dispute charges—and we’d already lost a third of our window. 

The Haunting Negotiations 

Panic set in. Legal got involved. Emails flew back and forth. We had to push hard for every detail, every invoice, every justification. The more we pushed, the more inaccuracies we found. Eventually, after weeks of exhausting back-and-forth, we whittled the charges down significantly. 

But the damage was done: wasted hours, strained relationships, and shaken confidence internally. 

The Lesson from the Crypt 

CAM reconciliations can hide costly surprises if left unchecked. As a tenant, don’t trust blindly. Instead, always: 

• Demand transparent documentation. 

• Cross-reference all charges with your lease. 

• Watch closely for capital expenses and improper allocations. 

If you don’t actively manage your reconciliations, you might just uncover a CAM nightmare rising from the crypt. 

Protect Your Lease from Ghostly Charges 

Put systems and processes in place to proactively track and validate CAM expenses throughout the year. After all, you don’t want last year’s costs haunting this year’s budget. 

Remember, transparency and vigilance are your best defense against unexpected charges. 

This is Episode 3 of the Lease Administration Nightmares series. 

Coming soon: The Lease That Vanished 

Need help taking control of your lease expirations? 

Let’s talk about how centralized systems and automated alerts can save your portfolio—and your budget. 

#LeaseAdminNightmares | Real Mistakes. Real Lessons. Real Results.