In property management, CAM typically represents Common Area Maintenance. These are expenses associated with shared spaces within a property, such as lobbies, hallways, elevators, landscaping, and parking lots. For example, the cost of cleaning a shared hallway would fall under CAM charges.
Accurate accounting for these operating expenses is crucial for maintaining a property’s financial health and transparency with tenants. Historically, CAM charges were often bundled into rent, making it difficult for tenants to understand the specific costs. The increasing prevalence of triple net (NNN) leases has shifted this practice, placing greater emphasis on clear delineation of CAM charges. This transparency benefits both landlords, who can accurately recover expenses, and tenants, who gain a better understanding of their lease obligations.
