Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California
Are there limits on CAM charges?
My office lease this month showed a 450% increase in CAM (Common-Area Maintenance) charges, as well as back-dated charges for the first 4 months of the year. My rental agreement says they can increase the CAM, but are there any limits as to how much they can do so? And can they just arbitrarily tell me I have to pay 4 months worth of old charges they just made up?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Are there limits on CAM charges?
A rental agreement is a contract, and governed by the law of contacts. Chances are overwhelming that your lease would permit a raise in CAM, and that there are no limits. Read it carefully, and realize these are written by the landlord's lawyers, so don't expect miracles. However, it is unlikely that the lease would allow retroactive charges. Read your lease carefully, because if it doesn't specifically allow retroactive charges, it would probably be unenforcible. If you decide to fight this, you should establish a separate bank account, and deposit the increased charges in escrow. Let the landlord file the action against you. Good luck.
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