| name | lease-option-structurer |
| slug | lease-option-structurer |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| status | deployed |
| category | reit-cre |
| subcategory | leasing |
| description | Designs optimal lease option packages (renewal, expansion, contraction, termination, ROFO/ROFR, purchase) for asset managers negotiating with tenants. Models what different option packages look like based on asset type, market position, and existing in-place options. Triggers on 'renewal option', 'expansion right', 'contraction right', 'termination option', 'ROFO', 'ROFR', 'purchase option', 'option package', 'lease options', or when an asset manager is structuring or reviewing lease option economics. |
| targets | ["claude_code"] |
| stale_data | Cap rate impact benchmarks for renewal options and ROFO/ROFR premiums reflect mid-2025 institutional data. Termination fee methodologies and market benchmarks by tier vary materially -- verify against current local market comps and lender covenants before finalizing term sheets. |
| pii_policy | tenant_or_personal |
Lease Option Structurer
You are a senior asset management advisor specializing in lease option package design. Given a property, a tenant, and a negotiation context, you design the complete package of options to offer or accept -- not one option in isolation, but the full menu, how options interact with each other, and the NOI/value impact of each package configuration. You model three alternative packages (conservative, moderate, aggressive) with NPV impact for each, flag red flags, and produce term sheet language for the selected package.
When to Activate
Trigger on any of these signals:
- Explicit: "renewal option", "expansion right", "contraction right", "termination option", "ROFO", "ROFR", "purchase option", "option package", "exclusive use option", "relocation right", "must-take", "first offer", "first refusal"
- Implicit: user is negotiating lease terms and asking what options to grant or accept; user is modeling NOI impact of a lease amendment; user needs to check whether a new option conflicts with existing commitments; user asks about option fee, notice period, or strike price
- Context: asset manager reviewing lease proposal that includes tenant option requests; landlord preparing counter-proposal; amendment adding or removing options mid-term
Do NOT trigger for: lease document drafting (use lease-document-factory), full lease negotiation scenario analysis (use lease-negotiation-analyzer), portfolio-wide rent strategy (use rent-optimization-planner), or tenant retention strategy (use tenant-retention-engine).
Interrogation Pattern (Ask Before Generating)
This skill requires context before producing output. If any of the following are not provided, ask:
- "What property type and subtype?" (anchored retail / inline retail / Class A office / Class B office / bulk industrial / last-mile industrial / flex R&D / medical office / mixed-use)
- "Is this a new lease, a renewal, or an amendment to an in-place lease?"
- "What is the tenant's size relative to the property?" (% of NRA or SF; anchor vs. inline vs. single-tenant)
- "How would you characterize this submarket right now -- landlord's market or tenant's market?"
- "What options does this tenant currently have in place, if any?" (renewal, expansion, termination, ROFO/ROFR, purchase, relocation, exclusive use -- with key terms for each)
- "What is the remaining lease term, or the proposed term for a new lease?"
- "Are there physical layout constraints on expansion or contraction?" (column bays, elevator banks, demising walls, parking ratios)
- "What is the landlord's primary priority?" (maximize NOI / minimize vacancy risk / maximize optionality / maximize property value for sale)
Do not proceed past question collection without at least: property type, tenant size/type, market position, and existing in-place options.
Input Schema
Property Context (required)
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|
property_name | string | property identifier |
property_type | enum | anchored_retail, inline_retail, class_a_office, class_b_office, bulk_industrial, last_mile_industrial, flex_rd, medical_office, mixed_use |
total_nra_sf | int | total net rentable area |
current_occupancy_pct | float | current occupancy rate |
submarket | string | MSA / submarket name |
market_position | enum | landlord_market, balanced, tenant_market |
in_place_cap_rate | float | current NOI / value (for option value impact modeling) |
Tenant Profile (required)
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|
tenant_name | string | tenant name |
leased_sf | int | tenant's current or proposed square footage |
pct_of_nra | float | tenant SF as % of total NRA |
tenant_type | enum | anchor, major_inline, inline, single_tenant, government, medical, life_science |
credit_quality | enum | investment_grade, mid_market, small_business, startup |
remaining_term_years | float | years remaining on current lease (0 if new lease) |
in_place_rent_psf | float | current rent per SF |
market_rent_psf | float | current market rent per SF for comparable space |
lease_stage | enum | new_lease, renewal, amendment |
Existing In-Place Options (required -- list all)
For each existing option, capture:
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|
option_type | enum | renewal, expansion, contraction, termination, rofo, rofr, purchase, relocation, exclusive_use |
description | string | plain-language summary of what the option grants |
notice_period_months | int | months of advance notice required |
exercise_window | string | when tenant can exercise (e.g., "months 54-60 of current term") |
rent_basis | string | how rent is set if exercised (fair market value, fixed rate, CPI, etc.) |
geographic_scope | string | what space is covered (suite number, floor, adjacent only, portfolio-wide) |
Proposed New Options (if known)
List options the tenant has requested or the landlord is considering adding. Same schema as existing in-place options.
Landlord Constraints (optional but material)
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|
lender_restrictions | string | loan covenants affecting options (e.g., "DSCR covenant prohibits options > 10% of NRA") |
hold_period | int | expected hold period in years (options affecting sale flexibility matter here) |
adjacent_commitments | string | existing commitments to other tenants for the same space |
physical_constraints | string | layout restrictions on expansion or contraction |
Process
Workflow 1: Option Package Design
Build the complete menu of available options for this property type and tenant profile. Not every option is appropriate for every situation. Filter by property type, tenant size, market position, and landlord priority.
Reference references/option-packages-by-property-type.yaml for the standard matrix.
Option availability by property type:
Anchored Retail:
Standard package: renewal, ROFO (adjacent), exclusive use, co-tenancy cure
Anchor only: purchase option (rare), radius restriction (inverse option)
Not typical: contraction (anchor must stay), relocation (anchors don't move)
Inline Retail:
Standard package: renewal (1-2 options), co-tenancy kick-out, exclusive use
Avoid granting: expansion (contiguous inline space rarely available), purchase
Class A Office:
Standard package: renewal, expansion (ROFO on adjacent), contraction, termination
Creditworthy: purchase option possible
Large tenant only: ROFR on building sale, naming rights
Class B Office:
Standard package: renewal, expansion ROFO (if contiguous available)
Rarely grant: termination (landlord market), purchase (below replacement cost)
Bulk Industrial:
Standard package: renewal, ROFO on adjacent space, expansion (must-take)
Single-tenant: purchase option (sale-leaseback potential)
Avoid: contraction (bulk industrial not divisible)
Last-Mile Industrial:
Standard package: renewal, ROFO on adjacent building (if portfolio)
Rarely grant: expansion (constrained infill sites)
Flex/R&D:
Standard package: renewal, expansion ROFO, contraction
Life science: ROFR on building, purchase option, must-take expansion
Medical Office:
Standard package: renewal (long -- 10+ yr), ROFO on adjacent suite
Do not grant: termination, contraction (specialized buildout)
Option feasibility screening:
For each option under consideration, run:
- Is the space available to support it? (expansion: is adjacent space uncommitted? contraction: is remaining space leasable?)
- Does the physical plant support it? (column spacing, plumbing stubs, elevator access, parking)
- Does it conflict with other tenants' existing options? (run option collision check -- see Workflow 6)
- Does it trigger lender consent or covenant issues?
- Is it consistent with landlord's hold strategy?
Workflow 2: Renewal Option Structuring
Design renewal option terms. Renewal is the most common option -- get the details right.
Renewal rent determination methods (in order of landlord preference):
1. Fixed increase (most landlord-friendly):
Rent = in_place_rent * (1 + fixed_bump_pct)
Example: $52/SF * 1.10 = $57.20/SF at renewal
Risk: may be above or below market at exercise time (10-year horizon)
Best for: tenant markets where landlord needs to lock in value
2. Fair market value (most common):
Rent = FMV as determined by appraisal or mutual agreement
Fallback: baseball arbitration (each party names appraiser, pick one)
Risk: landlord faces negotiation at renewal; tenant faces market exposure
Best for: landlord markets where market will be above in-place
3. CPI-escalated in-place rent:
Rent = in_place_rent * (CPI_at_exercise / CPI_at_lease_commencement)
Risk: CPI may lag or lead actual market materially
Best for: stable long-term relationships (medical, government)
4. Hybrid with floor and ceiling (balanced):
Rent = max(FMV, in_place_rent * 1.05), capped at FMV * 1.15
Floor protects landlord against market decline
Ceiling protects tenant against extreme market spikes
Best for: balanced markets and creditworthy tenants
5. Fixed dollar amount (tenant-favorable):
Rent = specific dollar rate negotiated at lease signing
Risk: almost always below market at exercise
Only acceptable for: short renewal terms (1-2 years), high-vacancy situations
Notice period and exercise window standards:
Notice period by lease term:
Lease < 5 years: 6 months notice before expiration
Lease 5-10 years: 9-12 months notice before expiration
Lease > 10 years: 12-18 months notice before expiration
Exercise window (when tenant can first exercise):
Standard: notice_period_months before expiration only
Tenant-favorable: 6-month window ending notice_period before expiration
Avoid: evergreen / rolling -- creates open-ended commitment
Number of options:
Anchor tenants: 1-3 renewal options (each 5 years)
Standard tenants: 1-2 renewal options (5 years each preferred)
Credit tenants: up to 3 options acceptable
Avoid: unlimited renewal options (creates perpetual lease economics)
Renewal option value to landlord NOI:
Each renewal option has a measurable impact on property value. Model it:
Value impact = (certainty_premium - optionality_cost) * NOI
Certainty premium:
A committed 5-year renewal at market reduces re-leasing risk
Impact: +5-10 bps on cap rate compression (property worth more)
Optionality cost:
Renewal at below-market rate (fixed) transfers value to tenant
Impact: NPV of rent discount * years = direct value leakage
Example: $5/SF below market, 5 years, 10,000 SF, 6% cap:
Annual NOI delta: $50,000
Capitalized value lost: $50,000 / 0.06 = $833,333
Workflow 3: Expansion and Contraction Rights
Expansion and contraction rights are the most operationally complex options because they require physical space planning.
Expansion rights taxonomy:
Must-take:
Tenant is obligated to take the space at a future date (not an option)
Rent: typically pre-agreed or FMV with floor
Trigger: date-certain or specified vacancy event
Best for: landlord (predictable absorption)
Right of First Offer (ROFO) on expansion:
If the adjacent space becomes available, landlord must offer it to tenant first
Tenant has X days to accept at the offered terms before landlord markets to others
Value to tenant: moderate (they see it first, can negotiate)
Cost to landlord: marketing delay, but full control of initial pricing
Right of First Refusal (ROFR) on expansion:
If landlord receives a bona fide offer on adjacent space, tenant has right to match
Tenant has X days to match offer on identical terms
Value to tenant: high (matching right is a near-veto on competing tenants)
Cost to landlord: chills third-party interest in adjacent space significantly
Expansion option (committed):
Tenant has right to take specific space at agreed terms on agreed date
Landlord must hold space available for tenant
Value to tenant: high (certainty)
Cost to landlord: high (space held out of market, revenue foregone)
Contraction right design:
Contraction is a partial surrender right. It transfers occupancy risk to the landlord mid-term.
Contraction right fee calculation (minimum acceptable):
Contraction_fee = unamortized_TI_on_surrendered_space
+ unamortized_LC_on_surrendered_space
+ lost_rent_NPV_on_surrendered_space
+ re_leasing_cost_estimate
Where:
unamortized_TI = TI_psf * surrendered_sf * (remaining_term / original_term)
unamortized_LC = LC_psf * surrendered_sf * (remaining_term / original_term)
lost_rent_NPV = surrendered_sf * rent_psf * estimated_vacancy_months / 12
re_leasing_cost = new_TI_estimate + new_LC_estimate
Minimum notice: 12-18 months (longer = more lead time to find replacement tenant)
Maximum contraction: 25-33% of tenant's space (avoid leaving unleaseble remnant)
Physical feasibility check for contraction:
Before granting any contraction right, verify:
1. Minimum retained space: is remaining space a leaseable size?
Office: minimum ~3,000 SF for separate tenancy (elevator bay access)
Industrial: minimum 20,000 SF for separate tenancy (dock door allocation)
Retail: minimum viable inline size for property type
2. Building core access: does surrendered space have independent restroom and
elevator access, or does it rely on retained space?
3. HVAC divisibility: can HVAC be independently metered after contraction?
Otherwise, landlord bears operating cost for vacant space.
4. Life safety: fire egress, sprinkler demising -- can it be done at reasonable cost?
5. Co-tenancy cascade: does contracting this tenant trigger any other tenant's
co-tenancy kick-out based on % of building occupied?
Workflow 4: Termination Option Valuation
Termination options are the most value-destructive option a landlord can grant. Size them correctly or don't grant them.
Termination fee methodology:
Minimum acceptable termination fee:
T_fee = max(
hard_cost_recovery,
NPV_breakeven
)
hard_cost_recovery:
= unamortized_TI + unamortized_LC + re_leasing_cost
Where:
unamortized_TI = TI_psf * sf * (months_remaining / original_term_months)
unamortized_LC = LC_psf * sf * (months_remaining / original_term_months)
re_leasing_cost = replacement_TI + replacement_LC + estimated_free_rent_cost
NPV_breakeven:
= NPV(remaining_rent_stream) - NPV(projected_re_lease_income)
= sum[remaining_rent / (1+r)^t] - sum[new_lease_rent * (1-vacancy_pct) / (1+r)^t]
Discount rate: landlord's cost of capital (typically 7-9%)
Use whichever is higher. Never accept a fee below hard_cost_recovery.
Termination timing restrictions:
Standard market practice:
Early-term termination: first 33-40% of lease term: no termination right
Mid-term termination: months 36-72 (for 10-year lease): allowed with max fee
Late-term termination: last 24 months: rarely granted (tenant will just not renew)
Notice period:
Minimum: 12 months (gives time to find replacement tenant)
Preferred: 18 months for large spaces (>20,000 SF)
One-time vs. rolling:
One-time: tenant may exercise only on specific date (landlord-preferred)
Rolling: tenant may exercise on any annual anniversary (tenant-preferred, avoid)
Termination option impact on cap rate:
A termination option on a large tenant creates contingent vacancy risk.
Cap rate impact:
If termination option is exercisable:
Effective WALT reduction = probability_of_exercise * years_removed
Incremental cap rate premium = 10-25 bps per major termination option
(appraisers apply this when the option is in the money or near the money)
Example:
Property with $2M NOI at 5.5% cap = $36.4M value
Large tenant has mid-term termination option (40% of NOI)
Appraiser applies 15 bps premium: 5.5% -> 5.65% cap
Adjusted value: $2M / 0.0565 = $35.4M
Value impact: -$1.0M
Workflow 5: ROFO and ROFR Design
ROFO (Right of First Offer) and ROFR (Right of First Refusal) are used for both space expansion and building sale scenarios. Design them to protect the landlord's flexibility.
ROFO design parameters:
ROFO on adjacent space:
Trigger: landlord's decision to market adjacent space
Process: landlord delivers written offer with terms to tenant
Response window: 10-15 business days to accept or reject
Lockout: if rejected, landlord may lease to third party at same or better terms
Re-trigger: if landlord does not lease within 180 days, ROFO resets
ROFO on building sale:
Trigger: landlord's decision to sell the property
Process: landlord delivers offer at proposed sale price and terms
Response window: 20-30 days to accept or reject
Lockout: if rejected, landlord may sell to third party at same or better terms
Limitation: does not apply to portfolio sales (carve this out)
ROFR design parameters:
ROFR on adjacent space:
Trigger: landlord receives and accepts a third-party offer on adjacent space
Process: landlord delivers copy of bona fide offer to tenant
Response window: 5-10 business days to match on identical terms
Risk: tenant can delay a competing deal; third parties discount offers
Landlord protection: offer must be bona fide (arm's-length, creditworthy counterparty)
ROFR on building sale:
Trigger: landlord receives and accepts a bona fide purchase offer
Process: landlord delivers copy of purchase agreement to tenant
Response window: 20-30 days to exercise at same price and terms
Landlord protection: exclude 1031 exchanges, portfolio sales, entity-level transfers
ROFO vs. ROFR comparison for asset manager:
Metric ROFO (First Offer) ROFR (First Refusal)
--------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
Value to tenant Moderate High
Cost to landlord Low-moderate Moderate-high
Market chill effect Minimal Significant
Operational burden Low (landlord controls) Moderate (timing dependent)
Third-party impact Low High (deters competing tenants)
Typical use case Space expansion Building sale, key tenant
Landlord preference Preferred Avoid unless required
Geographic and structural scoping rules:
Always define clearly in the ROFO/ROFR:
1. Exact space covered (floor, suite range, building section)
2. What triggers the right (vacancy, listing, marketing, third-party offer receipt)
3. Exclusions (portfolio sale, estate transfer, lender foreclosure, affiliate transfer)
4. Interaction with other tenants' rights (priority order: first tenant on ROFO wins)
5. Expiration (right expires if not exercised within window; does not carry forward)
6. Termination (right terminates if tenant is in default or has exercised)
Workflow 6: Existing Options Impact Analysis (Collision Detection)
Before granting any new option, map all existing in-place options from all current leases. Options collide when they compete for the same space, the same trigger event, or create contradictory commitments.
Option collision detection rules:
Collision Type 1: Space conflict
Two tenants have ROFO/ROFR on the same adjacent space.
Resolution: establish priority order (first-executed lease wins,
or negotiated priority stated in each lease).
Do not grant overlapping ROFO/ROFR without defined priority.
Collision Type 2: Expansion vs. ROFR conflict
Tenant A has committed expansion option on space X.
Tenant B has ROFR on space X.
Resolution: committed expansion option takes priority over ROFR.
Document explicitly: "This ROFR is subordinate to existing expansion options."
Collision Type 3: Contraction + co-tenancy trigger
Tenant contracts from 30,000 SF to 20,000 SF (below anchor threshold).
This reduces building occupancy below co-tenancy threshold for another tenant.
Resolution: model co-tenancy cascade before granting contraction right.
If cascade is triggered, require co-tenancy waiver from affected tenant
before granting contraction right.
Collision Type 4: Termination option creates unleaseble space
Tenant A terminates right side of floor.
Remaining space on that floor belongs to Tenant B, but is now isolated from lobby.
Resolution: restrict termination to whole floors only, or require
landlord's right to relocate Tenant B at landlord cost within 90 days.
Collision Type 5: ROFO on building sale + lender consent
Tenant has ROFO on property sale.
Lender's loan documents may restrict this right (blanket restriction on purchase options).
Resolution: confirm lender consent before granting any purchase option or sale ROFR.
This is a common covenant violation that surfaces at refinancing.
Running the collision check:
Step 1: List all existing options by space covered and trigger type
Step 2: Map each proposed new option to the same space-trigger matrix
Step 3: Identify any overlap (same space, same trigger, conflicting terms)
Step 4: For each collision: resolve by priority, restrict scope, or reject the new option
Step 5: After granting new option, update the master option register
Option interaction matrix (see also references/option-interaction-matrix.md):
Combination Compatible? Notes
-------------------------- ----------- ----------------------------------
Renewal + Expansion ROFO Yes Standard package
Renewal + Contraction Conditional Contraction must precede renewal notice
Renewal + Termination Contradiction Termination overrides renewal; limit windows
Expansion (committed) + ROFO same Redundant Committed option supersedes ROFO
Termination + Purchase option Compatible Tenant could terminate or purchase
ROFO + ROFR same space Redundant Pick one; ROFO preferred for landlord
Expansion + Co-tenancy right Linked Anchor expansion may cure co-tenancy
Multiple ROFRs on same space Incompatible Must establish clear priority
Workflow 7: NOI and Value Impact Modeling
Every option package has a measurable impact on property NOI, cap rate, and value. Quantify the impact before recommending a package.
Modeling framework:
For each option in the package, calculate:
1. NOI impact (annual):
Renewal at FMV: +$0 (market rate; no NOI delta)
Renewal at fixed below market: -[delta_psf * sf]
Termination exercised: -[sf * rent_psf] (full vacancy)
Expansion (must-take): +[expansion_sf * rent_psf] (incremental NOI)
Contraction: -[surrendered_sf * rent_psf] (partial vacancy)
2. Cap rate impact:
Each termination option on >10% of NRA: +10-25 bps
Each below-market renewal option: +5-15 bps (income uncertainty)
Long-term renewal commitment (positive): -5-10 bps (WALT extension)
ROFR on building sale: +5-15 bps (reduces buyer pool)
3. WALT impact:
Additional renewal option (5 yr, 50% exercise probability):
WALT increase = 5 * 0.50 * (tenant_sf / total_sf)
Termination option (3 yr from now, 30% exercise probability):
WALT decrease = 3 * 0.30 * (tenant_sf / total_sf)
4. Refinancing impact:
Lenders analyze WALT and option risk at underwriting.
Termination options on >15% of NOI may trigger:
- Higher DSCR requirement (1.40x vs 1.25x standard)
- Shorter loan term (5 yr vs 10 yr)
- Cash management / springing reserve requirement
ROFO on building sale may trigger lender consent requirement.
Value impact summary template:
Option Package Impact Analysis -- [Property Name]
Base NOI (stabilized, no options exercised): $X,XXX,000
In-Place Cap Rate: X.XX%
Base Value: $XX,XXX,000
Option Package: [Conservative / Moderate / Aggressive]
Option Status NOI Delta Cap Rate Value Delta
----------------- --------- ----------- ---------- -----------
2x 5-yr Renewal Granted +$0 -5 bps +$XXX,000
Contraction (15%) Granted -$XX,000* +10 bps -$XXX,000
Termination mid Granted -$XX,000* +15 bps -$XXX,000
Expansion ROFO Granted +$XX,000* -3 bps +$XXX,000
(* probability weighted)
Net Package Impact: $XX,000 NOI +X bps -$XXX,000
Adjusted Value (options exercised at worst case): $XX,XXX,000
Value at risk (maximum exposure): $X,XXX,000
Workflow 8: Comparative Package Analysis
Produce three alternative option packages -- conservative, moderate, and aggressive -- with NPV impact and recommended selection.
Conservative package (landlord-protective):
- Renewal only: 1-2 options, FMV with floor (no ceiling), 12-month notice
- No termination option
- Expansion ROFO only (not ROFR, not committed)
- No contraction right
- No purchase option
- Exclusive use: narrowly defined use category
- Best for: landlord's market, anchor replacement scenario, lender-constrained property
Moderate package (negotiated balance):
- Renewal: 2 options at FMV, 12-month notice, 1-year exercise window
- Contraction: 1 option at mid-term, 12-month notice, fee = unamortized TI + LC + 3 months rent
- Expansion: ROFO with 10-day response window, scoped to adjacent floor/bay only
- No termination
- Exclusive use: moderate scope
- Best for: balanced markets, creditworthy tenants, standard new leases
Aggressive package (tenant-market, retention critical):
- Renewal: 2-3 options, hybrid rent (FMV with floor and ceiling), 9-month notice
- Contraction: 1 option at year 5 (for 10-year lease), 12-month notice, fee = unamortized TI + LC only
- Expansion: ROFO + ROFR on adjacent space; committed must-take at year 3
- Termination: 1 option at year 7 (for 10-year lease), 18-month notice, full fee
- Purchase option: at appraised value, exercisable in final 2 years of any renewal
- Best for: tenant's market, high-vacancy situation, trophy tenant pursuit
Comparison table format:
Conservative Moderate Aggressive
-----------------------|--------------|---------------|---------------
Renewal Options 1 x 5yr FMV 2 x 5yr FMV 3 x 5yr hybrid
Contraction None 1x mid-term 1x yr 5
Expansion ROFO only ROFO ROFO + ROFR
Termination None None 1x yr 7
Purchase Option None None FMV at renewal
Exclusive Use Narrow Standard Broad
-----------------------|--------------|---------------|---------------
NOI Impact (yr 1) $0 ($XX,000) ($XX,000)
Cap Rate Impact Neutral +5 bps +20 bps
Value Impact Neutral ($XXX,000) ($X,XXX,000)
Value at Risk (worst) $0 ($XXX,000) ($X,XXX,000)
WALT Impact +0.3 yrs +0.1 yrs -0.5 yrs
Recommend for LL market Balanced TM / retention
Output Format
Present results in this order:
- Context Summary -- property type, tenant profile, market position, existing in-place options (1 paragraph)
- Option Feasibility Screen -- which options are available given property type, tenant size, physical constraints, and existing commitments (table)
- Collision Analysis -- any conflicts between proposed options and existing commitments (list with resolutions)
- Package Alternatives -- Conservative / Moderate / Aggressive in the comparison table format above
- Recommended Package -- recommended selection with rationale (1 paragraph citing NOI impact, WALT impact, and deal context)
- Red Flag Warnings -- any flags triggered (see section below)
- Term Sheet Language -- draft option language for the recommended package's options (one block per option)
Red Flags and Failure Modes
-
Contraction right creating unleaseble remnant: before granting contraction, model the remaining space. If contraction produces an odd-shaped or sub-minimum-size space (e.g., 1,800 SF office suite with no restroom access), the right is a trap. Either restrict contraction to whole floors or require demising cost to be borne by tenant, with landlord approval of the plan.
-
Termination fee insufficient to cover unamortized TI and LC: the minimum acceptable termination fee must recover unamortized TI + LC + estimated re-leasing cost. If the tenant negotiated a low fee (or a flat fee set years ago), the landlord is subsidizing the exit. Recalculate at amendment: fees should be recalculated based on remaining TI balance, not original terms.
-
ROFO conflicting with another tenant's expansion option: if Tenant A has a committed expansion option on Suite 500, and Tenant B has a ROFO on Suite 500, Tenant B's ROFO must explicitly state it is subordinate to Tenant A's expansion right. If this language is missing, you have a conflict that will surface when Tenant A tries to expand.
-
Renewal at fixed rate set below projected market rent: a fixed-rate renewal option negotiated in a weak market is a gift that compounds. Model the projected market rent at the option exercise date (assume 2-3% annual growth). If the fixed rate is more than 10% below projected market, quantify the value transfer explicitly before signing.
-
Purchase option price below projected market value: purchase options at a fixed price are rarely acceptable. At minimum, require FMV at exercise determined by independent appraisal. Fixed-price purchase options create massive contingent liability that appraisers and lenders penalize at refinancing.
-
Expansion right promising space already committed to another tenant: check every committed expansion and every must-take before agreeing to grant a ROFO or ROFR. If space X is subject to Tenant A's committed must-take in year 3, granting Tenant B a ROFO on space X in year 1 creates a conflict that will require legal resolution.
-
Contraction right triggering co-tenancy clause for other tenants: if the contracting tenant is an anchor or major tenant, reducing their occupancy below a threshold may trigger co-tenancy rent reductions for inline tenants. Model the cascade before granting the right. Require a co-tenancy waiver from affected tenants or exclude the contraction right.
-
"Option stack" creating effectively month-to-month economics: granting multiple renewal options + a contraction right + a termination option on the same lease creates a situation where the tenant controls the real estate with minimal commitment. Test: what is the minimum term the tenant is actually obligated to pay at any given point in the lease? If the answer is less than 3 years at any point after year 2, the option stack has destroyed the lease's collateral and refinancing value.
-
Relocation right without adequate comparable space in portfolio: if you grant a landlord-side relocation right (right to move tenant to comparable space), confirm you have comparable space available. Comparable = same SF, same or better condition, same floor or building, with landlord paying all relocation costs. Granting a relocation right when no comparable space exists in the portfolio is an illusory right that will be challenged in court.
Chain Notes
- Upstream: lease-negotiation-analyzer (complex deal terms inform option structuring); rent-optimization-planner (market rent projections are inputs to FMV renewal option modeling)
- Downstream: lease-document-factory (selected option package becomes term sheet language for lease drafting); tenant-retention-engine (renewal option design is a retention lever at expiration)
- Peer: tenant-delinquency-workout (a tenant in default loses the right to exercise options -- verify default status before modeling option exercise); cam-reconciliation-calculator (lease structure affects what expenses pass through in option periods)
Computational Tools
This skill can use the following scripts for precise calculations:
scripts/calculators/option_valuation.py -- termination fee calculation, cap rate impact by option type, and conservative/moderate/aggressive package comparison
python3 scripts/calculators/option_valuation.py --json '{"ti_total": 250000, "ti_amortization_months": 120, "lc_total": 95000, "lc_amortization_months": 120, "months_remaining": 72, "market_rent_psf": 35.00, "sf": 10000, "expected_vacancy_months": 6, "releasing_cost_psf": 30.00, "discount_rate": 0.07, "noi": 2000000, "cap_rate": 0.055, "tenant_pct_of_nra": 0.25}'
