Leases can be a legal minefield. Whether you’re signing, negotiating, terminating, or fighting a dispute - our commercial lease attorneys will protect your interests every step of the way.
Los Angeles businesses and landlords face countless challenges when dealing with commercial leases, from one-sided terms that favor landlords to tenants that breach the lease terms or cause damage to your property.
The competitive real estate markets in DTLA, Hollywood, and Santa Monica create pressure to sign quickly, often without understanding complex clauses like CAM charges, personal guarantees, or triple net obligations.
When lease disputes arise, the stakes are incredibly high.
A single misunderstood clause can result in thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses, forced business closures, or legal battles that drain your resources for months.
Commercial tenants often discover too late that they’re responsible for major repairs, facing uncapped rent increases, or trapped in leases they cannot exit without devastating penalties.
Landlords face equally serious challenges when tenants default on payments, violate lease terms, or attempt to abandon properties without proper legal procedures.
Without proper legal guidance, both landlords and tenants can find themselves exposed to significant financial losses, lengthy litigation, and business disruptions that threaten their livelihood.
The complex nature of California commercial real estate law means that even experienced business owners can overlook critical details that later become costly problems.
These disputes can escalate quickly, resulting in eviction proceedings, breach of contract claims, or prolonged legal battles that consume time and money.
The consequences of inadequate legal representation in commercial lease matters extend far beyond immediate financial losses.
Businesses may be forced to relocate unexpectedly, lose valuable customer relationships, or face damaged credit that affects future leasing opportunities.
Property owners risk prolonged vacancy periods, unpaid rent, and costly legal proceedings to remove problematic tenants.
We are here to prevent all these issues before they come up, and resolve them as quickly and cost effectively as possible if you find yourself already in a dispute over a commercial lease.
Borna Houman Law provides comprehensive legal services to protect both landlords and tenants in Los Angeles commercial lease matters.
Our experienced team understands the intricacies of California commercial real estate law and works diligently to safeguard your interests at every stage of the leasing process.
Here is how we can help you with commercial leases:
Before you commit to years of rent payments and business obligations, our attorneys conduct comprehensive reviews that uncover the clauses most likely to cause problems later.
We examine every detail that affects your bottom line, from escalation formulas that could double your rent to maintenance clauses that shift unexpected costs to your business.
Through skilled negotiation, we transform one-sided agreements into balanced contracts that protect your interests while fostering positive landlord relationships that benefit everyone involved.
Creating a solid commercial lease requires more than filling in blanks on a standard form—it demands understanding how real businesses operate and anticipating the challenges they face.
Our custom-drafted agreements address the specific needs of your property and tenant relationship, with clear language that eliminates ambiguity around rent, repairs, permitted uses, and exit procedures.
By building practical solutions into every lease from the start, we help landlords and tenants avoid the costly disputes that plague properties with poorly written agreements.
We can draft lease agreements for office spaces, retail properties, and other business premises.
When conflicts arise over lease interpretation or performance, swift and strategic action protects your business interests while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.
Our resolution approach adapts to each situation’s unique circumstances, whether that means direct negotiation to preserve important business relationships or aggressive advocacy when compromise isn’t possible.
We focus on achieving outcomes that allow all parties to move forward productively, enforcing legal rights when necessary while seeking solutions that serve everyone’s long-term interests.
Unpaid rent threatens property cash flow and sets dangerous precedents that encourage other tenants to delay their own payments, creating problems that compound quickly without proper intervention.
Our systematic collection process escalates appropriately from initial demand notices through court proceedings, maintaining strict compliance with California’s specific requirements at every stage.
By combining firm pressure with legal precision, we maximize recovery opportunities while building strong cases that hold up in court when tenants force litigation.
Removing problem tenants requires careful adherence to legal procedures that protect landlords from costly delays while ensuring tenants receive proper notice and due process rights.
Our eviction practice handles every aspect of these time-sensitive cases, from preparing compliant notices through courtroom representation that gets results efficiently.
Whether representing landlords seeking tenant removal or tenants defending against wrongful eviction claims, we work quickly to resolve these cases while protecting our clients’ legal positions.
Ending commercial lease relationships involves complex considerations around timing, financial obligations, and future business relationships that require careful legal and strategic planning.
Our attorneys handle termination scenarios ranging from negotiated early exits to enforcement of default remedies, always working to minimize our clients’ financial exposure and legal liability.
We structure clean departures that avoid ongoing complications while protecting clients from excessive penalties or unexpected obligations that could impact their business operations.
CAM charges and operating expenses often become sources of ongoing tension when tenants question whether they’re paying fair shares of legitimate property costs or subsidizing inappropriate expenses.
Our detailed expense audits examine every charge against lease terms and industry standards, identifying discrepancies that warrant adjustment or refund to bring billing practices into compliance.
Through careful analysis and strategic challenges, we help resolve expense disputes while establishing clear procedures that prevent similar problems from recurring in future billing cycles.
Transferring lease rights requires balancing the original tenant’s need for flexibility with the landlord’s desire to maintain control over who occupies their property and assumes lease obligations.
Our assignment practice guides clients through approval processes while drafting protective agreements that allocate responsibilities clearly among all parties involved in the transfer.
We help businesses adapt to changing circumstances through proper lease transfers while ensuring landlords retain appropriate oversight and protection of their property interests.
Converting lease arrangements into ownership opportunities involves complex timing requirements and valuation procedures that can create significant wealth-building opportunities when handled properly.
Our attorneys manage every aspect of option exercises and right of first refusal scenarios, ensuring compliance with notice deadlines while protecting clients from unfavorable terms or inflated valuations.
By turning lease clauses into acquisition strategies, we help businesses build long-term assets while securing the properties that support their ongoing operations and growth plans.
Zoning violations, building code issues, and permit problems can threaten business operations while creating potential grounds for lease termination that put tenants’ investments at risk.
Our regulatory practice works proactively with government agencies to resolve compliance issues before they escalate into serious problems that affect lease performance or business continuity.
By maintaining good relationships with regulatory bodies and addressing issues early, we protect clients from both operational disruptions and lease-related claims based on compliance failures.
Security deposit disputes often arise at lease termination when landlords attempt to retain funds for conditions that qualify as normal wear and tear or damages that exceed reasonable standards.
Our recovery approach involves thorough documentation of actual property conditions combined with aggressive advocacy when landlords fail to return deposits according to California legal requirements.
We help clients recover improperly withheld funds while establishing proper procedures that protect future deposits from questionable claims or inappropriate retention practices.
As businesses evolve and market conditions change, existing lease terms may no longer serve the practical needs of tenants or the investment goals of property owners.
Our modification practice restructures lease provisions to address changing circumstances while maintaining the legal enforceability and balanced protection that both parties need for successful relationships.
Through careful amendment procedures, we help clients adapt their lease arrangements to support business growth and changing operations while avoiding conflicts with existing terms or future obligations.
Founder & Managing Attorney
As the founder and principal attorney of BH Real Estate Law, Borna Houman brings a unique combination of academic excellence, legal rigor, and client-first philosophy to every case. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in Economics in 2019, Borna pursued his passion for law at Southwestern Law School, where he completed the SCALE 2-Year Accelerated J.D. Program, one of the most challenging and respected legal programs in the country.
From the very beginning, Borna envisioned a law firm that breaks away from the impersonal, high-volume models often seen in the legal industry. At BH Real Estate Law, every client works directly with Borna, not passed off to junior associates or case managers. His hands-on approach ensures that clients receive individualized legal strategies, clear communication, and unwavering dedication at every stage of their legal journey.
Borna’s approach can be summed up in three core principles:
Listen – Understand each client’s unique goals and concerns.
Plan – Develop tailored, thoughtful legal strategies.
Execute – Deliver efficient, results-oriented solutions with diligence and care.
The three primary types of commercial leases are gross leases, net leases, and percentage leases. In a gross lease, the tenant pays a fixed rent while the landlord covers property expenses like taxes, insurance, and maintenance. Net leases require tenants to pay base rent plus some or all property expenses, with triple net leases placing most expense responsibilities on the tenant.
Commercial tenants in California typically have only three days to respond to a notice to pay rent or quit. This is significantly shorter than residential eviction timeframes and requires immediate action to protect your rights. The specific timeframe may vary depending on the type of notice and the nature of the alleged lease violation.
Rent increases during a lease term are only allowed if specifically permitted by the lease agreement. Many commercial leases include rent escalation clauses tied to Consumer Price Index changes or predetermined percentage increases. Without such provisions in the lease, landlords generally cannot increase rent until the lease term expires.
Breaking a commercial lease early typically results in liability for remaining rent payments unless the lease includes early termination provisions. Tenants may negotiate buyout agreements with landlords or attempt to assign or sublease the space with landlord approval. The specific consequences depend on the lease terms and the circumstances surrounding the early termination.
Repair and maintenance responsibilities depend entirely on the specific terms of the lease agreement. In gross leases, landlords typically handle most maintenance, while net leases often place these responsibilities on tenants. The lease should clearly specify which party is responsible for different types of repairs and maintenance issues.
CAM charges are fees that tenants pay for their proportionate share of common area expenses in multi-tenant properties. These charges typically cover maintenance, cleaning, landscaping, and utilities for shared spaces like hallways, parking lots, and lobbies. Tenants have the right to audit CAM charges to ensure accuracy and compliance with lease terms.
Subleasing or assignment rights depend on the specific provisions in your lease agreement. Many commercial leases require landlord approval for any assignment or subletting arrangements. Even when allowed, these transactions must comply with lease terms and may require formal assignment agreements.
Actual eviction occurs when a landlord physically removes a tenant from the premises through legal proceedings. Constructive eviction happens when a landlord’s actions or failures make the property unusable, effectively forcing the tenant to leave. Both types of eviction must follow proper legal procedures and provide appropriate notice to the tenant.
Commercial lease disputes can be resolved through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or litigation. Many leases include dispute resolution clauses that specify the required process for handling conflicts. Early intervention through skilled legal representation often leads to more cost-effective resolutions than lengthy court proceedings.
Key provisions to review include rent structure and escalation clauses, maintenance and repair responsibilities, use restrictions, and termination conditions. Pay special attention to personal guarantee requirements, assignment restrictions, and expense allocation provisions. Understanding these terms before signing can prevent costly disputes and unexpected financial obligations.
Borna Houman Law offers comprehensive legal solutions for all your commercial lease needs in Los Angeles.
Whether you need lease review services, dispute resolution, or representation in eviction proceedings, we provide the skilled advocacy necessary to protect your interests and achieve favorable outcomes.
Our personalized approach ensures that you work directly with experienced legal counsel who understands the complexities of Los Angeles commercial real estate markets.
We combine deep legal expertise with practical business solutions to deliver results that support your long-term success.
Call (888) 42-BORNA or fill out the form now to schedule your free consultation with our experienced commercial lease attorneys.
