Office Lease Review: What to Check Before Signing Office Space
Signing an office lease is one of the most significant financial commitments your business will make. Office leases typically run 3–7 years and include complex cost structures, operating expense pass-throughs, and obligations that can dramatically exceed the base rent. SaferLease reviews your office lease with AI precision, identifying every provision that could affect your business's cost structure, flexibility, and long-term viability.
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Why Use SaferLease?
True Occupancy Cost Analysis
Office leases often have significant costs beyond base rent — operating expenses, electricity, cleaning, HVAC after-hours fees, and parking. We surface every cost so you can budget accurately.
Tenant Improvement Allowance Review
We review the TI allowance terms, including what it can be used for, disbursement conditions, and whether unused TI converts to a rent credit or is forfeited.
Premises Description Accuracy
Office leases often charge rent on a rentable square footage (RSF) basis that includes common areas — sometimes 15–25% more than the actual usable space. We flag and explain this.
After-Hours Services and Costs
HVAC, security, and building services outside standard hours often carry additional charges. We identify all after-hours service provisions and associated costs.
Assignment and Subletting Flexibility
The ability to assign your lease or sublease excess space is critical for business flexibility. We analyze the conditions and restrictions on your ability to do either.
Renewal and Expansion Rights
Option to renew, right of first offer on adjacent space, and expansion rights are valuable provisions. We identify what options you have and what terms apply.
What Your AI Lease Review Looks Like
Here's a preview of the kind of analysis SaferLease provides for this type of lease.
Risk Score
Flagged Issues
Many office leases "gross up" operating expenses to 95% or 100% occupancy — meaning you pay a share of costs as if the building were full, even if it's not.
Without the right to audit operating expense statements, you have no way to verify that the expenses charged to you are legitimate or accurately calculated.
Force majeure clauses that excuse landlord performance broadly — including for the landlord's failure to provide essential services — can leave you without recourse.
Some office leases allow the landlord to relocate your office to another space in the building with minimal notice — highly disruptive and potentially costly to your business.
Office leases may not include exclusivity provisions, allowing the landlord to lease space to a direct competitor in the same building.
Restrictions on running cable, installing equipment, or choosing your own internet service provider can significantly affect business operations.
Disclaimer: SaferLease provides AI-powered informational analysis and is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
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SaferLease provides AI-powered informational analysis and is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.