The added charge for common space is called CAM, or common area maintenance. For example, if rents are $16 per square foot, and you rent 1,000 square feet, the total annual base rent is $16,000, or $1,333 per month. CAM charges are added to the base rent, but not initially quoted, so you need to ask. CAM charges could easily be $3-$7 extra per square foot. In addition, you are charged on rentable square footage, not usable square footage, which means you pay a pro-rate share of all common area including lobby, hallways, restrooms and more. For more information on office leasing including CAM charges, read our article Office Market Trends.
