Thursday, October 22, 2020

How to Disinfect an Office Space https://t.co/NSk5cDiqoR


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How to Disinfect an Office Space https://t.co/JKb8q1UVda


from Twitter https://twitter.com/AustinTenantAdv

How to Disinfect an Office Space

disinfect office space

With the rise of new viruses companies must be proactive in order to keep their employees safe and their commercial office spaces clean. Enhances in technology will allow more people to work from home, however companies will still want to lease office space. People still have a desire to socialize, and while working 100% remote is possible for some companies, it's not a good fit for all, and a lot of ideas are missed when people are not in the same room.

Cleaning is the first line of defense for viruses. To make people feel comfortable coming to the office, companies will just have to take the responsibility and get better at making their offices clean and sanitary for the employees and visitors. The CDC has a great guideline on how to clean and disinfect your facility however we have summarized them below.

To Disinfect or Sanitize?

There is a difference between the two. Sanitizing reduces bacteria on surfaces to make them safer for people to touch. Disinfecting destroys both bacteria and viruses within 30 minutes of exposure. In an office environment you want to do both, however in your most used areas it would be wise to disinfect following CDS guidelines.

Wash Hands Frequently

Washing hands with soap and water is the number 1 thing that should be addressed in the office. You would be surprised to find out the percentage of people in your office that don't wash their hands after sneezing, coughing, or using the restroom. Then those same people go around touching door knobs, staplers, phones, countertops, etc. passing all the germs that they just produced. Post signs in the office, invest in hand sanitizer, and hold a clinic on washing hands no matter how dumb people think that is.

Products to Use For Sanitizing & Disinfecting the Office Areas

A sanitizer is any substance that kills 99.9% of germs and can be used to reduce the number of germs. To completely kill germs you would want to use products such as Clorox bleach, Lysol, ethyl or ispropyl alcohol or other products listed by the EPA

What Items Need to Be Disinfected & Sanitized in the Office?

These are items often overlooked however get touched and shared more than anything else. Infrequent cleaning allows germs to grow and get passed around between all your employees. Invest in good alcohol-based sanitizer wipes or sprays and have them easily accessible for everyone. Ideally one that kills 99.9% of germs.

  • Mice & Keyboards
  • Pencils and Pens
  • Chairs
  • Phones & headsets
  • Tape dispensers and staplers
  • Conference Tables
  • Break room countertops
  • Refrigerator inside and out
  • Door knobs and handles
  • Break room sink handles and faucets
  • Microwave
  • Light switches
  • Toilets
  • Copy machines and printers

When to Sanitize the Office

People cough, sneeze all day long and those mucous particles fill the air and land on many of the things listed above. That being said it's a good idea to sanitize the surrounding items every time before and after every touch, cough, or sneeze. Keep in mind sanitizing products only reduce the amount of germs however that is better than nothing.

When to Disinfect the Office

Disinfecting takes much longer than sanitization (30 minutes to completely kill germs) and you will want to vacate each room first. Disinfect regularly depending on traffic and time permitting. When each room is completed you can allow people in that room and move on to the next.

Conclusion About Disinfecting Offices

Washing hands and cleaning may seem like common sense to some, however you would be surprised to find out how many people actually don't do it. If you want to completely kill viruses and bacteria then it's a good idea to disinfect touched surfaces routinely.

https://www.austintenantadvisors.com/blog/how-to-disinfect-an-office-space/ was first seen on Austin Tenant Advisors

How to Disinfect an Office Space

disinfect office space

With the rise of new viruses companies must be proactive in order to keep their employees safe and their commercial office spaces clean. Enhances in technology will allow more people to work from home, however companies will still want to lease office space. People still have a desire to socialize, and while working 100% remote is possible for some companies, it's not a good fit for all, and a lot of ideas are missed when people are not in the same room.

Cleaning is the first line of defense for viruses. To make people feel comfortable coming to the office, companies will just have to take the responsibility and get better at making their offices clean and sanitary for the employees and visitors. The CDC has a great guideline on how to clean and disinfect your facility however we have summarized them below.

To Disinfect or Sanitize?

There is a difference between the two. Sanitizing reduces bacteria on surfaces to make them safer for people to touch. Disinfecting destroys both bacteria and viruses within 30 minutes of exposure. In an office environment you want to do both, however in your most used areas it would be wise to disinfect following CDS guidelines.

Wash Hands Frequently

Washing hands with soap and water is the number 1 thing that should be addressed in the office. You would be surprised to find out the percentage of people in your office that don't wash their hands after sneezing, coughing, or using the restroom. Then those same people go around touching door knobs, staplers, phones, countertops, etc. passing all the germs that they just produced. Post signs in the office, invest in hand sanitizer, and hold a clinic on washing hands no matter how dumb people think that is.

Products to Use For Sanitizing & Disinfecting the Office Areas

A sanitizer is any substance that kills 99.9% of germs and can be used to reduce the number of germs. To completely kill germs you would want to use products such as Clorox bleach, Lysol, ethyl or ispropyl alcohol or other products listed by the EPA

What Items Need to Be Disinfected & Sanitized in the Office?

These are items often overlooked however get touched and shared more than anything else. Infrequent cleaning allows germs to grow and get passed around between all your employees. Invest in good alcohol-based sanitizer wipes or sprays and have them easily accessible for everyone. Ideally one that kills 99.9% of germs.

  • Mice & Keyboards
  • Pencils and Pens
  • Chairs
  • Phones & headsets
  • Tape dispensers and staplers
  • Conference Tables
  • Break room countertops
  • Refrigerator inside and out
  • Door knobs and handles
  • Break room sink handles and faucets
  • Microwave
  • Light switches
  • Toilets
  • Copy machines and printers

When to Sanitize the Office

People cough, sneeze all day long and those mucous particles fill the air and land on many of the things listed above. That being said it's a good idea to sanitize the surrounding items every time before and after every touch, cough, or sneeze. Keep in mind sanitizing products only reduce the amount of germs however that is better than nothing.

When to Disinfect the Office

Disinfecting takes much longer than sanitization (30 minutes to completely kill germs) and you will want to vacate each room first. Disinfect regularly depending on traffic and time permitting. When each room is completed you can allow people in that room and move on to the next.

Conclusion About Disinfecting Offices

Washing hands and cleaning may seem like common sense to some, however you would be surprised to find out how many people actually don't do it. If you want to completely kill viruses and bacteria then it's a good idea to disinfect touched surfaces routinely.

https://www.austintenantadvisors.com/blog/how-to-disinfect-an-office-space/ was first seen on Austin Tenant Advisors

See this Instagram photo by @nathanksmith https://t.co/dLGkAgNV2N


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Sunday, September 20, 2020

RAJIV KUMAR thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/Bil28RRX39


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Wednesday, June 3, 2020

What is a Commercial Leasing Brokerage? https://t.co/ZxQl2EqNKQ


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What is a Commercial Leasing Brokerage? https://t.co/KMolL6ji5W


from Twitter https://twitter.com/AustinTenantAdv

What is a Commercial Leasing Brokerage?

lease brokerage office buildingIn commercial real estate when you hear the term “leasing brokerage” it typically refers to a commercial real estate company that represents building owners in the lease and sale of commercial properties. You may also have heard them referred to as landlord representatives, listing broker, listing agent, landlord brokers, landlord reps, leasing brokers, etc.

Their fiduciary duty is to represent the best interests of the building owners by marketing and leasing space to prospective tenants and negotiate the highest lease rates and best terms possible.

In most cases large office, retail, and warehouse properties are owned by investment companies or real estate investment trusts (REITs). In many cases these companies are not local so they hire a local commercial lease brokerage to help them with the marketing and leasing responsibilities. They also lean on the leasing brokers for market intelligence which helps them position their properties to compete with other properties and determine the highest possible lease rates they can charge tenants at that point in time.

How Do Commercial Lease Brokers Get Paid?

Buildings owners pay all commissions which are typically 6% of the total lease amount after a lease has been signed. If a tenant representative introduced the tenant to the property then the landlord’s broker splits the commission with the tenant rep.

What is a Commercial Leasing Brokerage?

lease brokerage office buildingIn commercial real estate when you hear the term “leasing brokerage” it typically refers to a commercial real estate company that represents building owners in the lease and sale of commercial properties. You may also have heard them referred to as landlord representatives, listing broker, listing agent, landlord brokers, landlord reps, leasing brokers, etc.

Their fiduciary duty is to represent the best interests of the building owners by marketing and leasing space to prospective tenants and negotiate the highest lease rates and best terms possible.

In most cases large office, retail, and warehouse properties are owned by investment companies or real estate investment trusts (REITs). In many cases these companies are not local so they hire a local commercial lease brokerage to help them with the marketing and leasing responsibilities. They also lean on the leasing brokers for market intelligence which helps them position their properties to compete with other properties and determine the highest possible lease rates they can charge tenants at that point in time.

How Do Commercial Lease Brokers Get Paid?

Buildings owners pay all commissions which are typically 6% of the total lease amount after a lease has been signed. If a tenant representative introduced the tenant to the property then the landlord’s broker splits the commission with the tenant rep.

Monday, April 20, 2020

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

What is the Commercial Lease Commencement Date? https://t.co/Rypj1r8tcF https://t.co/aPxXbNcdor


from Twitter https://twitter.com/AustinTenantAdv

What is the Commercial Lease Commencement Date?

commercial lease commencement dateThe lease commencement date in a commercial lease typically refers to the start date of the lease term. It’s worth noting that the lease commencement date is not always the date the Tenant begins paying rent as rent abatement or early occupancy may have been negotiated.

Commercial lease commencement dates will be written differently in leases depending on the existing condition of the space or what has been negotiated.

For example if tenant improvements are needed you may see the lease commencement date stated as the earlier or later of the date a Tenant occupies any portion of a space and begins conducting business or  the date on which the improvements have been completed by the landlord as per the work letter. 

If no tenant improvements are needed the lease commencement date may say the earlier of a specified date or the date when a Tenant begins occupying the space.

Example Lease Commencement Date With Tenant Improvements

The earliest of (a) the date on which Tenant occupies any portion of the Premises and begins conducting business therein, (b) the date on which the Work (as defined in Exhibit D hereto) in the Premises is Substantially Completed (as defined in Exhibit D hereto), or (c) 90 days after the date on which Landlord tenders possession of the Premises to Tenant (subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3 of the Lease).

Example Lease Commencement Date Without Tenant Improvements

As used herein, “Commencement Date” means the date which is the earlier to occur of (i) May 1, 2020 or (ii) the date on which Tenant begins occupancy of the Leased Premises. Within five (5) calendar days after the Commencement Date or at any time thereafter on the request of Landlord, Tenant shall execute and deliver to Landlord a declaration, similar in form to Exhibit “F” attached hereto, specifying and verifying, among other things, the Commencement Date, the Rent Commencement Date and Termination Date, the number of rentable square feet, Tenant’s initial Tenant’s Share of Operating Costs, the rent schedule, prepaid rent, if any, the amount of the security deposit, and such other information the Landlord may request, including acceptance of construction, if construction was a part of the Lease terms.

 

What is the Commercial Lease Commencement Date?

commercial lease commencement dateThe lease commencement date in a commercial lease typically refers to the start date of the lease term. It’s worth noting that the lease commencement date is not always the date the Tenant begins paying rent as rent abatement or early occupancy may have been negotiated.

Commercial lease commencement dates will be written differently in leases depending on the existing condition of the space or what has been negotiated.

For example if tenant improvements are needed you may see the lease commencement date stated as the earlier or later of the date a Tenant occupies any portion of a space and begins conducting business or  the date on which the improvements have been completed by the landlord as per the work letter. 

If no tenant improvements are needed the lease commencement date may say the earlier of a specified date or the date when a Tenant begins occupying the space.

Example Lease Commencement Date With Tenant Improvements

The earliest of (a) the date on which Tenant occupies any portion of the Premises and begins conducting business therein, (b) the date on which the Work (as defined in Exhibit D hereto) in the Premises is Substantially Completed (as defined in Exhibit D hereto), or (c) 90 days after the date on which Landlord tenders possession of the Premises to Tenant (subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3 of the Lease).

Example Lease Commencement Date Without Tenant Improvements

As used herein, “Commencement Date” means the date which is the earlier to occur of (i) May 1, 2020 or (ii) the date on which Tenant begins occupancy of the Leased Premises. Within five (5) calendar days after the Commencement Date or at any time thereafter on the request of Landlord, Tenant shall execute and deliver to Landlord a declaration, similar in form to Exhibit “F” attached hereto, specifying and verifying, among other things, the Commencement Date, the Rent Commencement Date and Termination Date, the number of rentable square feet, Tenant’s initial Tenant’s Share of Operating Costs, the rent schedule, prepaid rent, if any, the amount of the security deposit, and such other information the Landlord may request, including acceptance of construction, if construction was a part of the Lease terms.

 

What is the Commercial Lease Commencement Date? https://t.co/bt6iIWCcfD


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Sunday, March 29, 2020

How Will COVID-19 Impact Office Space Rentals and Usage? https://t.co/S9RAFd04V2


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How Will COVID-19 Impact Office Space Rentals and Usage? https://t.co/LZAdbLDNHK https://t.co/YeNcbVYPhV


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How Will COVID-19 Impact Office Space Rentals and Usage?

COVID-19 impact on office space rentalsThere are a lot of opinions about how people will use office space post COVID-19. At the end of the day this is uncharted territory for us all. Nobody really knows how companies will use office space after all of this dies down, however they are entitled to their own opinions. Below are some guesses to ponder as we work through this. As you can see more people think office space usage will decrease as a result of COVID-19

Office Space Usage Decrease

  1. Office space won’t be used as much
  2. Companies will use less space and will encourage more remote working.
  3. Office space will be used more for only holding meetings and having a home base to meet up.
  4. Even before COVID-19 plenty of successful companies of all sizes were fully remote.
  5. Technology will change to make us feel more in the presence of others when working remotely. 
  6. The COVID-19 quarantine has forced businesses to work remotely thus giving them the opportunity to realize that there is no reason for employees to drive to the office everyday or hop on a plan for every little meeting. Also they realize it’s possible to train people remotely then having to have them fly out to the company head quarters.
  7. Companies who once told employees it wasn’t possible to accommodate work from home will lose every disability accommodate battle going forward. With COVID forcing WFH everyone will see that it is possible.
  8. Some Fortune 500 companies are already talking about not going back to the office for the unforeseen future.
  9. Business will lease smaller office space square footage for the extroverts that want to socialize more. Introverts will still be allowed to WFH. 
  10. In person meetings will decrease and more focus on only having meetings when absolutely necessary.
  11. In person meetings will be reserved for team building, fixing problems, and having fun. 
  12. When a company grows to more than 5 people the norm will be 80% work from home or from their preferred coworking facility, and the remaining work from the office. Then meet periodically for live peer to peer experiences 5-10 days per month for 5 hours each time.
  13. Decision makers will realize how little office space they truly need. The number of remote workers will increase.
  14. If COVID-19 hasn’t taught us that needing an office is completely unnecessary then we aren’t learning the right lessons.
  15. So much time will be saved in not having to find a phone booth for private calls or being late for a meeting because the conference room was used by a group that did not reserve it.
  16. Some people predict companies will realize they don’t need as many employees than they have. More downsizing will occur more than working from home.
  17. Remote working will increase however many employees will struggle with it. How people adapt to this will determine their success.
  18. This is going to be a seismic rift that will take years to get back to normal.
  19. More remote working means companies have a larger talent pool to choose from. 
  20. This will be the ultimate experiment and the anti-open office space trend.
  21. Lot’s of companies will realize how much money they are wasting on office space and how much time their employees wast driving to and from the office. If companies can learn how to manage at home workers they will see a huge boost in productivity.
  22. Cubicle farm will be the thing of the past.
  23. Major companies are telling their employees that they probably won’t have everyone work in the office after COVID-19. 

Office Space Usage Will Change a Little

  1. Humans are humans, people will still want to lease office space
  2. There is value in the learning that takes place in overhearing the conversations in the office.
  3. Not every company will have a remote working policy. This will help them to scale easier as needed. More hoteling desks will be created. Fewer employees will have a permanent desk.
  4. There is going to be a tremendous backlash of people wanting to be around each other again, however they may not want to give up working from home entirely.
  5. People are seeing this as the 100 year storm and everything will be back to normal in a year.
  6. People have not been very productive during the COVID-19 issue for various reasons. Based on that management may be hesitant to roll out WFH.
  7. In a completely remote culture more ideas will be lost entirely or never be seeded. 
  8. More remote workers may deemphasize company cultures.

Coworking

Coworking will continue to specialize. Rather than just for being around people so you don’t have to work alone or the stage the company is in, they will specialize into the type of business and industry. People want to be around like minded people. People want specialization and be around people that specialize in what they do.

How Will COVID-19 Impact Office Space Rentals and Usage?

COVID-19 impact on office space rentalsThere are a lot of opinions about how people will use office space post COVID-19. At the end of the day this is uncharted territory for us all. Nobody really knows how companies will use office space after all of this dies down, however they are entitled to their own opinions. Below are some guesses to ponder as we work through this. As you can see more people think office space usage will decrease as a result of COVID-19

Office Space Usage Decrease

  1. Office space won’t be used as much
  2. Companies will use less space and will encourage more remote working.
  3. Office space will be used more for only holding meetings and having a home base to meet up.
  4. Even before COVID-19 plenty of successful companies of all sizes were fully remote.
  5. Technology will change to make us feel more in the presence of others when working remotely. 
  6. The COVID-19 quarantine has forced businesses to work remotely thus giving them the opportunity to realize that there is no reason for employees to drive to the office everyday or hop on a plan for every little meeting. Also they realize it’s possible to train people remotely then having to have them fly out to the company head quarters.
  7. Companies who once told employees it wasn’t possible to accommodate work from home will lose every disability accommodate battle going forward. With COVID forcing WFH everyone will see that it is possible.
  8. Some Fortune 500 companies are already talking about not going back to the office for the unforeseen future.
  9. Business will lease smaller office space square footage for the extroverts that want to socialize more. Introverts will still be allowed to WFH. 
  10. In person meetings will decrease and more focus on only having meetings when absolutely necessary.
  11. In person meetings will be reserved for team building, fixing problems, and having fun. 
  12. When a company grows to more than 5 people the norm will be 80% work from home or from their preferred coworking facility, and the remaining work from the office. Then meet periodically for live peer to peer experiences 5-10 days per month for 5 hours each time.
  13. Decision makers will realize how little office space they truly need. The number of remote workers will increase.
  14. If COVID-19 hasn’t taught us that needing an office is completely unnecessary then we aren’t learning the right lessons.
  15. So much time will be saved in not having to find a phone booth for private calls or being late for a meeting because the conference room was used by a group that did not reserve it.
  16. Some people predict companies will realize they don’t need as many employees than they have. More downsizing will occur more than working from home.
  17. Remote working will increase however many employees will struggle with it. How people adapt to this will determine their success.
  18. This is going to be a seismic rift that will take years to get back to normal.
  19. More remote working means companies have a larger talent pool to choose from. 
  20. This will be the ultimate experiment and the anti-open office space trend.
  21. Lot’s of companies will realize how much money they are wasting on office space and how much time their employees wast driving to and from the office. If companies can learn how to manage at home workers they will see a huge boost in productivity.
  22. Cubicle farm will be the thing of the past.
  23. Major companies are telling their employees that they probably won’t have everyone work in the office after COVID-19. 

Office Space Usage Will Change a Little

  1. Humans are humans, people will still want to lease office space
  2. There is value in the learning that takes place in overhearing the conversations in the office.
  3. Not every company will have a remote working policy. This will help them to scale easier as needed. More hoteling desks will be created. Fewer employees will have a permanent desk.
  4. There is going to be a tremendous backlash of people wanting to be around each other again, however they may not want to give up working from home entirely.
  5. People are seeing this as the 100 year storm and everything will be back to normal in a year.
  6. People have not been very productive during the COVID-19 issue for various reasons. Based on that management may be hesitant to roll out WFH.
  7. In a completely remote culture more ideas will be lost entirely or never be seeded. 
  8. More remote workers may deemphasize company cultures.

Coworking

Coworking will continue to specialize. Rather than just for being around people so you don’t have to work alone or the stage the company is in, they will specialize into the type of business and industry. People want to be around like minded people. People want specialization and be around people that specialize in what they do.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Force Majeure In Commercial Leases https://t.co/KjUYPPq9ua


from Twitter https://twitter.com/AustinTenantAdv

Force Majeure In Commercial Leases

force majeure commercial leasesCommercial lease contracts have a ton of clauses that can be confusing for tenants. You can’t negotiate every contract the same way because tenants have different needs and negotiating leverage maybe stronger or weaker depending on the size and financial strength of the company. In most cases many of the lease clauses will never have a negative affect on a tenant, however it’s important that they understand them. Some clauses will never come into play unless an extraordinary event occurs such as a Force Majeure.

What Does the Force Majeure Clause Mean?

Force Majeure is a clause that can be added to a contract that can free the parties involved from an obligation or extend the time they have to perform an obligation when an extraordinary event beyond their control (eg. earthquake, flood, etc) prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their contractual obligations.

Force Majeure in Commercial Lease Contracts

Most commercial lease contracts include some sort of force majeure clause between the landlord and tenant. Each must fulfill their obligations of the lease contract however their performance maybe excused or their time to perform may be extended in certain situations beyond their control. For example:

  1. The tenants ability to pay rent
  2. Landlords ability to deliver the space, provide services, etc. 

Some examples of situations that a party might need more time or be excused are strikes, riots, acts of God, shortages of labor or materials, war, terrorist acts or activities, governmental laws, regulations, or restrictions, or any other causes of any kind whatsoever which are beyond the control of such party.

Some force majeure clauses may include pandemic, epidemic, disease, or similar terms, however if yours does not contain those it still may be triggered. For example if the government prohibits a tenant from occupying its space.

Is the Force Majeure Clause Negotiable?

Like everything in commercial lease contracts force majeure is a negotiable item. It’s one of those things that you never think about negotiating until something like a coronavirus pandemic occurs.

Keep in mind Commercial lease force majeures don’t always unbind both the landlord and tenant from lease obligations. If you are a tenant you must negotiate to have that included. 

Can a Tenant Get Free Rent? 

In most cases tenants are still on the hook to pay the landlords the monthly rent. Landlord attorneys do a great job of including language that excludes tenants from being able to use force majeure as a reason to not pay rent. Landlords might extend the time for a tenant to pay rent however more than likely tenants won’t be excused.

Examples of force majeures in commercial leases

Below are some real examples force majeure clauses found in a few commercial leases

Office Lease Force Majeures

#1 In the event that Landlord shall be delayed in the performance of any obligation hereunder as a result of strikes, lockouts, shortages of labor, fuel or materials, acts of God, legal or governmental requirements, fire or other casualty, or any other cause beyond the control of Landlord (collectively, “Force Majeure”), then the performance of such obligation shall be excused for the period of such delay, and the period for the performance of such obligation shall be extended by the number of days equivalent to the number of days of such delay. Landlord shall in no event be required to settle or compromise any strike, lockout or other labor disputes, the resolution thereof being within the sole discretion of Landlord.

#2 Other than for Tenant’s obligations under this Lease that can be performed by the payment of money (e.g., payment of Rent and maintenance of insurance), whenever a period of time is herein prescribed for action to be taken by either party hereto, such party shall not be liable or responsible for, and there shall be excluded from the computation of any such period of time, any delays due to strikes, riots, acts of God, shortages of labor or materials, war, terrorist acts or activities, governmental laws, regulations, or restrictions, or any other causes of any kind whatsoever which are beyond the control of such party.

Warehouse Lease Force Majeures

For purposes of this Lease, the term “Unavoidable Delay” shall mean any delays due to strikes, lockouts, civil commotion, warlike operations, invasion, rebellion, hostilities, military or usurped power, sabotage, government regulations or controls, governmental actions, regulations, or legal requirements, including, without limitation, requirements of the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, San Antonio Water System (SAWS), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), or Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT); the discovery of any caves, sinkholes, endangered species or other environmental conditions subject to regulation by TCEQ, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Agency, or other applicable governmental agencies, inability to obtain any material, utility, or service because of governmental restrictions, hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters, acts of God, weather delays, including, but not limited to, significant rainfall, freezing weather, or the effects of significant weather (i.e., muddy conditions that prohibit access to the worksite), or any other cause beyond the direct control of the party delayed (not including the insolvency or financial condition of that party or the increased cost of obtaining labor and materials). Notwithstanding anything in this Lease to the contrary, if Landlord or Tenant shall be delayed in the performance of any act required under this Lease by reason (other than the payment of Rent or any other monetary obligations) of any Unavoidable Delay, then performance of the act shall be excused for the period of the delay and the period for the performance of the act shall be extended for a reasonable period, in no event to exceed a period equivalent to the period of the delay.

Here are some other resources to check out regarding Force Majeure and the Coronavirus impact from MR LLP and BakerDonelson.

This blog post is not offered, and should not be relied on, as legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice in specific situations.

Force Majeure In Commercial Leases

force majeure commercial leasesCommercial lease contracts have a ton of clauses that can be confusing for tenants. You can’t negotiate every contract the same way because tenants have different needs and negotiating leverage maybe stronger or weaker depending on the size and financial strength of the company. In most cases many of the lease clauses will never have a negative affect on a tenant, however it’s important that they understand them. Some clauses will never come into play unless an extraordinary event occurs such as a Force Majeure.

What Does the Force Majeure Clause Mean?

Force Majeure is a clause that can be added to a contract that can free the parties involved from an obligation or extend the time they have to perform an obligation when an extraordinary event beyond their control (eg. earthquake, flood, etc) prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their contractual obligations.

Force Majeure in Commercial Lease Contracts

Most commercial lease contracts include some sort of force majeure clause between the landlord and tenant. Each must fulfill their obligations of the lease contract however their performance maybe excused or their time to perform may be extended in certain situations beyond their control. For example:

  1. The tenants ability to pay rent
  2. Landlords ability to deliver the space, provide services, etc. 

Some examples of situations that a party might need more time or be excused are strikes, riots, acts of God, shortages of labor or materials, war, terrorist acts or activities, governmental laws, regulations, or restrictions, or any other causes of any kind whatsoever which are beyond the control of such party.

Some force majeure clauses may include pandemic, epidemic, disease, or similar terms, however if yours does not contain those it still may be triggered. For example if the government prohibits a tenant from occupying its space.

Is the Force Majeure Clause Negotiable?

Like everything in commercial lease contracts force majeure is a negotiable item. It’s one of those things that you never think about negotiating until something like a coronavirus pandemic occurs.

Keep in mind Commercial lease force majeures don’t always unbind both the landlord and tenant from lease obligations. If you are a tenant you must negotiate to have that included. 

Can a Tenant Get Free Rent? 

In most cases tenants are still on the hook to pay the landlords the monthly rent. Landlord attorneys do a great job of including language that excludes tenants from being able to use force majeure as a reason to not pay rent. Landlords might extend the time for a tenant to pay rent however more than likely tenants won’t be excused.

Examples of force majeures in commercial leases

Below are some real examples force majeure clauses found in a few commercial leases

Office Lease Force Majeures

#1 In the event that Landlord shall be delayed in the performance of any obligation hereunder as a result of strikes, lockouts, shortages of labor, fuel or materials, acts of God, legal or governmental requirements, fire or other casualty, or any other cause beyond the control of Landlord (collectively, “Force Majeure”), then the performance of such obligation shall be excused for the period of such delay, and the period for the performance of such obligation shall be extended by the number of days equivalent to the number of days of such delay. Landlord shall in no event be required to settle or compromise any strike, lockout or other labor disputes, the resolution thereof being within the sole discretion of Landlord.

#2 Other than for Tenant’s obligations under this Lease that can be performed by the payment of money (e.g., payment of Rent and maintenance of insurance), whenever a period of time is herein prescribed for action to be taken by either party hereto, such party shall not be liable or responsible for, and there shall be excluded from the computation of any such period of time, any delays due to strikes, riots, acts of God, shortages of labor or materials, war, terrorist acts or activities, governmental laws, regulations, or restrictions, or any other causes of any kind whatsoever which are beyond the control of such party.

Warehouse Lease Force Majeures

For purposes of this Lease, the term “Unavoidable Delay” shall mean any delays due to strikes, lockouts, civil commotion, warlike operations, invasion, rebellion, hostilities, military or usurped power, sabotage, government regulations or controls, governmental actions, regulations, or legal requirements, including, without limitation, requirements of the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, San Antonio Water System (SAWS), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), or Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT); the discovery of any caves, sinkholes, endangered species or other environmental conditions subject to regulation by TCEQ, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Agency, or other applicable governmental agencies, inability to obtain any material, utility, or service because of governmental restrictions, hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters, acts of God, weather delays, including, but not limited to, significant rainfall, freezing weather, or the effects of significant weather (i.e., muddy conditions that prohibit access to the worksite), or any other cause beyond the direct control of the party delayed (not including the insolvency or financial condition of that party or the increased cost of obtaining labor and materials). Notwithstanding anything in this Lease to the contrary, if Landlord or Tenant shall be delayed in the performance of any act required under this Lease by reason (other than the payment of Rent or any other monetary obligations) of any Unavoidable Delay, then performance of the act shall be excused for the period of the delay and the period for the performance of the act shall be extended for a reasonable period, in no event to exceed a period equivalent to the period of the delay.

Here are some other resources to check out regarding Force Majeure and the Coronavirus impact from MR LLP and BakerDonelson.

This blog post is not offered, and should not be relied on, as legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice in specific situations.

Force Majeure In Commercial Leases https://t.co/cIPb8NrQCC https://t.co/iAsmip2Oe1


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Thursday, March 19, 2020

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823 Congress Ave Austin Tx 78701 – Office Space Rental Guide https://t.co/Z9p3ht4pDc


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823 Congress Ave Austin Tx 78701 – Office Space Rental Guide

823 Congress Av Office Building823 Congress Ave is a high rise office building located at the Southeast corner of the intersection of North Congress Ave and East 9th St. It’s just 2 blocks from the Texas State Capital and 3 blocks from the historic district of 6th street and entertainment district. The entrance to the building is on E 9th St.

Originally built in 1974 the building has recently undergone new interior and exterior renovations that include a new modern lobby, corridor and restroom updates, a common conference room, fitness facility, bicycle parking, showers, and tenant lounge. 823 Congress also has it’s own parking garage making it easy to leave the office.

 

823 Congress GymOffice Building Information

  • Year Built – 1974
  • Total rentable square feet – 181,381
  • Number of Stories – 16
  • Typical Floor Size – 13,751 sf
  • Core Factor – 18%

This building has a diverse tenant mix including media, technology, and professional services. 823 Congress is a smart choice for any company that wants to be in a high quality fully renovated office building.

Parking

The parking ratio is .99/1,000 sf. There are 220 covered parking spaces. 823 Congress has it’s own parking garage attached to the building which is very convenient

823 Congress Conference RoomBuilding Amenities

  • Fitness Gym with showers
  • Bicycle parking
  • Tenant Lounge
  • Common area building conference room free to use
  • Building concierge and on-site security
  • 4 elevator cabs 1st – 15th
  • Fiber Lit building
  • Pocket Park
  • Floor to ceiling glass
  • Views of The Capital & Downtown Austin

823 Congress Ave Austin Tx 78701Transportation

Office Pricing at 823 Congress Ave

Asking office rents at 823 Congress Ave are currently $61.40 sf / yr (base rate $38 sf + $23.40 nnn).  Electric and janitorial services are included. Call us for details (512) 861-0525. Sample pricing as follows

1500 SF Office 2500 SF Office 5000 SF Office
$7,675 Per Month $12,791.66 per month $25,583 per month

New Tenants can lease turn-key fully constructed offices that are ready for immediate occupancy or raw spaces that the Landlord will build-to-suit. When an office is custom-built (built-to-suit) expect to commit to 3-5 year lease.

Sample office layout shown below:

823 Congress Ave Austin Open Floor plan

Available Office Space

If you are interested in renting nice office space in downtown Austin at 823 Congress Ave give us a call at 512-861-0525. We can help you negotiate the best deal possible. Austin Tenant Advisors is a No Fee commercial realtor with 15 years of experience representing businesses that lease office space in Downtown Austin, Tx. Our goal is to help you find the right space at the right price.

 

 

 

823 Congress Ave Austin Tx 78701 – Office Space Rental Guide

823 Congress Av Office Building823 Congress Ave is a high rise office building located at the Southeast corner of the intersection of North Congress Ave and East 9th St. It’s just 2 blocks from the Texas State Capital and 3 blocks from the historic district of 6th street and entertainment district. The entrance to the building is on E 9th St.

Originally built in 1974 the building has recently undergone new interior and exterior renovations that include a new modern lobby, corridor and restroom updates, a common conference room, fitness facility, bicycle parking, showers, and tenant lounge. 823 Congress also has it’s own parking garage making it easy to leave the office.

 

823 Congress GymOffice Building Information

  • Year Built – 1974
  • Total rentable square feet – 181,381
  • Number of Stories – 16
  • Typical Floor Size – 13,751 sf
  • Core Factor – 18%

This building has a diverse tenant mix including media, technology, and professional services. 823 Congress is a smart choice for any company that wants to be in a high quality fully renovated office building.

Parking

The parking ratio is .99/1,000 sf. There are 220 covered parking spaces. 823 Congress has it’s own parking garage attached to the building which is very convenient

823 Congress Conference RoomBuilding Amenities

  • Fitness Gym with showers
  • Bicycle parking
  • Tenant Lounge
  • Common area building conference room free to use
  • Building concierge and on-site security
  • 4 elevator cabs 1st – 15th
  • Fiber Lit building
  • Pocket Park
  • Floor to ceiling glass
  • Views of The Capital & Downtown Austin

823 Congress Ave Austin Tx 78701Transportation

Office Pricing at 823 Congress Ave

Asking office rents at 823 Congress Ave are currently $61.40 sf / yr (base rate $38 sf + $23.40 nnn).  Electric and janitorial services are included. Call us for details (512) 861-0525. Sample pricing as follows

1500 SF Office 2500 SF Office 5000 SF Office
$7,675 Per Month $12,791.66 per month $25,583 per month

New Tenants can lease turn-key fully constructed offices that are ready for immediate occupancy or raw spaces that the Landlord will build-to-suit. When an office is custom-built (built-to-suit) expect to commit to 3-5 year lease.

Sample office layout shown below:

823 Congress Ave Austin Open Floor plan

Available Office Space

If you are interested in renting nice office space in downtown Austin at 823 Congress Ave give us a call at 512-861-0525. We can help you negotiate the best deal possible. Austin Tenant Advisors is a No Fee commercial realtor with 15 years of experience representing businesses that lease office space in Downtown Austin, Tx. Our goal is to help you find the right space at the right price.

 

 

 

823 Congress Ave Austin Tx 78701 – Office Space Rental Guide https://t.co/iER2UfxUnK https://t.co/ENBQYGmdFR


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