Gross Lease- A lease in which the stated rent includes the operating expenses of the building. Same as Fully Serviced Lease. Opposite of Net Lease.

Gross square feet - Usually refers to gross area of a building by measuring from the outside of its exterior walls and including all vertical penetrations, such as elevator shafts. Also includes basement space.
 
Gross leasable area (GLA) - The total floor area designed for tenant occupancy and exclusive use, including basements, mezzanines, and upper floors, and it is measured from the center line of joint partitions and from outside wall faces. GLA is that area on which tenants pay rent; it is the area that produces income.
 
Gross Up- An adjustment made to operating expenses to account for the occupancy level in a building. When operating expenses are "grossed up", it means that the building's variable expenses have been adjusted upwards to the level that those expenses would be incurred if the building was fully occupied (typically 95%). Occasionally referred to as an "extrapolation clause"

Ground Lease - A lease of land only, (either vacant or exclusive of any buildings on it). Usually a net lease on a long term basis (30 years+). Ground rent should not be charged back to the tenant as an operating expense.

Hold over - The condition that results when a tenancy exists beyond the end of the term of a lease.
 
Hotelling- An alternative workspace concept where rather than having an assigned exclusive workspace, an employee accesses one space, perhaps being one of many such spaces in common with others on an as needed basis, and otherwise works outside of the office.

Improvements - See "leasehold improvements" and "tenant improvements".
 
Holding over. The act of a tenant retaining possession of the premises longer than the term expressed in the lease.
 
HVAC- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning. A general term encompassing any system designed to heat and cool a building in its entirety, as opposed to a space heater.

Interior partitions. All types of interior nonload-bearing partitions that enclose or subdivide tenant space. May be of steel, wood, glass, masonry or combinations of these materials. Such partitions may be either movable or non-movable, prefabricated or built on the job.
 
Landlord (Lessor)- The party (usually the owner) who gives the lease (right to possession) in return for a consideration (rent).

Landlord-paid tenant improvements (LPTI) - The total cost (outlay) of necessary tenant improvements paid by the landlord netted against any contribution made by the tenant.
 
Lease buyout - The process by which a landlord, tenant, or third party pays to extinguish the tenant's remaining lease obligation and rights under its existing lease agreement.
 
Lease commencement date - The date upon which the lease commences and the obligations of the parties begins (see also "rent commencement date").
 
Leasehold improvements - Construction or improvements for the purpose of preparing the premises for the conduct of tenant's business. Improvements permanently attach to the premises unless they are trade fixtures, and they remain with the premises after the end of term of the lease.
 
Lease Term- The specific period of time in which the Landlord grants to the tenant the right to possession of real estate.

Lessee (Tenant) - The party to whom a lease (the right to possession) is given in return for a consideration (rent).

Lessor (Landlord) - The party (usually the owner) who gives the lease (right to possession) in return for a consideration (rent).
 
Letter of attornment - see "attorn".
 
Letter of Intent- Generally a written statement that two parties to a prospective transaction (buyer/seller or lessor/lessee) intend to proceed to a final agreement in good faith on stated principal business terms of the deal to be entered into. This meaning applies when executed by both parties. Alternatively such a document may be signed only by one party and is then an indication of a willingness to enter into agreement on the stated terms and conditions. To avoid legal issues regarding offer and acceptance and thus formation of a binding contract, care should be taken to include a clause stating that there is not a specific offer and no intent to be a legally binding obligation.

Letter Of Credit - A commitment by a bank or other person, made at the request of a customer, that the issuer will honor drafts or other demands for payment upon full compliance with the conditions specified in the letter of credit. Letters of credit are often used in place of cash deposited with the landlord in satisfying the security deposit provisions of a lease.
 
Lien waiver - A waiver of mechanic's lien rights signed by a general contractor and his subcontractors.

Listing Agent- The real estate agent hired by the property owner to lease a property on their behalf. The agent obtains a listing agreement, which calls for that agent to act on the owner's behalf as a fiduciary in leasing the property.

Load Factor - In a lease, the load factor is the multiplier to a tenant's useable space that accounts for the tenant's proportionate share of the common area (restrooms, elevator lobby, mechanical rooms, etc.). The load factor is usually expressed as a percentage and ranges from a low of 5% for a full tenant to as high as 15% for a multi-tenant floor. Subtracting one (1) from the quotient of the rentable area divided by the useable area yields the Load Factor. At times confused with the "loss factor" which is the total rentable are of the full floor less the useable area divided by the rentable area. (If a full floor broken up into multiple tenancies has a useable area of 18,000 s.f. and a rentable area of 20,000 s.f., the load factor is 11.1% and the loss factor is 10%.