Net Leasable Area
The net leasable area is all the leasable area of a given building exclusive of non-leasable space such as hallways, building foyers, rooms devoted to heating, air conditioning, elevators, and other utility areas. The net leasable area produces the lease income economically supporting the building. For example, a structure having 5,000 sq. ft. of a site may have a net leasable area of 4,250 sq. ft.
The meaning of net leasable area defines the room within a leased building’s unit that a renter can, in fact, use. Thus, the definition of a net leasable area excludes, by default, utility rooms and outside walls, which the given unit does not contain. Still, it incorporates upper floors, balconies, storage units, and basements. Tenants can also utilize other floor areas.
Gross leasable area vs. net leasable area
Suppose you’re interested in leasing an office space. Then, you have to know that landlords generally establish the rent rate on the net leasable area. In this regard, office space is different from leasing a retail unit. Also, note that landlords will not count out your lease based on gross leasable area.
What does gross leasable area mean? Commercial tenants can entirely and solely use the entire gross leasable area. Additionally, they can fully utilize standard units where they don’t genuinely reside or work, such as lifts, restrooms, flights of stairs, etc.
Don’t get your hopes high just yet! You’ll still have to cover commonly-used area costs as an office tenant.
Maintenance services on a net leasable area
Business proprietors do not utilize the net leasable area daily. Moreover, a leased unit does not include most of the net locations. Why do renters still pay for them, then? At a particular moment, everyone (executives, workforce, clients, and customers) will use these spaces, even for a brief activity or passing by.
As you would imagine, these “public spaces” require maintenance and various services. No buildings can operate without plumbing, lighting, cleaning, electricity, or gardening services. The building investors will not cover this substantial amount of money. Instead, tenants will have to pay for them.
Finding an ideal space to rent isn’t easy. Are you looking for a low-priced office, retail, or other rental? Then, give local real estate agents a shout-out for the fairest offers on the rental market!
Popular Real Estate Terms
Also called interim financing. A mortgage that provides the funds necessary for the building or construction of a real estate project. The project can be a residential subdivision, a ...
Represents a means of appraising a building by simply multiplying its square foot cost by the total amount of square feet in the structure being evaluated. Two or more buildings may then be ...
The total return from holding a real estate investment for the holding period of time. The computation follows: For a mutual fund investing in a real estate, the return is in the form ...
The practice of acquiring land for a future use. For example, a franchising company is projecting rapid nationwide expansion over the next five years. In order to prepare for the expansion, ...
Unincorporated combination (roll-up) of limited partnerships in a real estate together as a group. It is usually more comprehensive, financially sound, and marketable than individual ...
One who has died with a valid will in effect. ...
a rental in which the lessor pays all operating costs such as taxes, utilities, insurance, and maintenance. It is usually a short-term lease and a common arrangement. Typically there is no ...
The definition of a service fee or brokers fee in real estate is a flat fee paid to a real estate agent or broker in addition to the commission for the sale or purchase. This is to cover ...
People say time is money. The old-age cliche applies more than ever in our case as we define what the Time Value of Money (TVM) means. You’ll find the term time value for money ...

Comments for Net Leasable Area
Is the leasable area calculated to the outside of the external wall or to the inside of the external wall finish?
Apr 07, 2019 08:08:26Hi, Michael! Measuring the space in a commercial building can be tricky sometimes. Regarding leasable areas, there are a few types of measurements you should know about:
Apr 09, 2019 06:01:51Gross floor area (GFA) - is measured to the external face of the external walls
Gross internal area (GIA) -measured to the internal face of the external walls
Net internal area (usable floor area) - the space left from the GIA after removing the space taken up by stairs, machinery rooms, elevators, toilet areas, other utility rooms and the like.
Gross leasable area -is measured from the external face of the walls, but excludes common areas such as corridors or staircases. However, both GLA and GFA take into account the space occupied by walls or columns.
To be sure you make the right measurements, you may want to invite an appraiser or a land surveyor to make the measurements for you.
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.