A.CRE

Occupancy Cost

The total cost incurred by a tenant in order to occupy space in a building. These costs are all stipulated in the lease agreement and include items such as base rent, tenant reimbursement expenses, percentage rent, parking charges, etc.

Putting ‘Occupancy Cost’ in Context

Gulfstream Capital Partners, a real estate private equity firm, recently acquired Cypress Grove Marketplace, a 75,000-square-foot grocery-anchored retail center in Tampa, Florida. The center is anchored by a regional grocery chain occupying 40,000 square feet, with an additional mix of 15 in-line tenants including a nail salon, a fitness studio, a pizzeria, and a local bank branch.

The property was acquired for $23 million, reflecting a 6.75% cap rate based on current net operating income (NOI). Gulfstream Capital sees this as a core-plus opportunity, with a strategy to stabilize occupancy and renegotiate lease terms to enhance cash flow over time.

Calculating Occupancy Costs for Tenants

One of the critical aspects Gulfstream Capital evaluated during due diligence was the occupancy cost ratio for the tenants. This ratio helps assess whether the tenants are paying a sustainable amount relative to their sales. Occupancy costs for tenants at Cypress Grove Marketplace include the following:

  • Base Rent: $20 per square foot for smaller tenants and $15 per square foot for the grocery anchor.
  • Tenant Reimbursements:
  • Percentage Rent (for applicable tenants): 6% of gross sales above a negotiated sales threshold.

For example, the fitness studio leases 3,000 square feet at a base rent of $20 per square foot. Here’s how their annual occupancy cost breaks down:

  • Base Rent:3,000 SF × $20 PSF = $60,000
  • Tenant Reimbursements:3,000 SF × ($5 + $2.50 + $0.50) PSF = $24,000
  • Percentage Rent: If the studio generates $500,000 in annual gross sales with a sales breakpoint of $400,000:6% × ($500,000 – $400,000) = $6,000
  • Total Annual Occupancy Cost:$60,000 + $24,000 + $6,000 = $90,000

Insights from Occupancy Costs

The fitness studio’s total occupancy cost is $90,000 per year. Dividing this by their gross sales:

Occupancy Cost Ratio = $90,000 ÷ $500,000 = 18%

This ratio aligns with typical benchmarks for fitness tenants (15-20%), indicating their lease terms are sustainable. For the grocery anchor, with its lower base rent and higher sales, the occupancy cost ratio is even more favorable, providing a stable anchor to attract foot traffic and benefit the smaller tenants.

Application of the Term

By understanding and analyzing occupancy costs, Gulfstream Capital ensures that lease terms are competitive and sustainable, which is crucial for tenant retention and long-term value creation for Cypress Grove Marketplace. Occupancy costs also serve as a metric to assess risk—tenants with disproportionately high occupancy cost ratios may struggle to meet their lease obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Occupancy Cost in Real Estate

Occupancy Cost is the total expense a tenant incurs to occupy space in a building. It includes base rent, reimbursements for operating expenses (e.g., CAM, insurance, property taxes), and sometimes percentage rent or other fees.

Typical components include:

Base Rent

Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges

Property Taxes

Insurance

Percentage Rent (based on tenant’s gross sales above a threshold)
These costs are stipulated in the lease agreement.

To calculate total Occupancy Cost:

Multiply the leased area by the base rent per SF.

Add reimbursable expenses (CAM, taxes, insurance).

Add any percentage rent, if applicable.
Example: For a 3,000 SF tenant with $20 PSF base rent, $8 PSF in reimbursements, and $6,000 in percentage rent, total cost = $90,000 annually.

The Occupancy Cost Ratio = Total Occupancy Cost ÷ Gross Sales. It measures how much of a tenant’s sales go toward paying for the space. A healthy ratio indicates lease terms are sustainable. In the case of the fitness studio, the ratio was 18%, within the acceptable range for its business type.

High occupancy costs can strain tenants, increasing risk of default or non-renewal. During underwriting, landlords use occupancy cost ratios to gauge tenant health and assess the sustainability of rent levels. Stable, well-structured occupancy costs improve retention and property cash flow.

In the case study, Gulfstream Capital Partners analyzed a fitness tenant’s occupancy cost:

Base rent = $60,000

Reimbursements = $24,000

Percentage rent = $6,000
Total = $90,000
With $500,000 in sales, the 18% occupancy cost ratio confirmed the lease was financially viable, supporting tenant retention and stable cash flow.

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