Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

These issues are generally governed by the terms of your lease. Start by reviewing carefully what the underlying documents say as to calculating pass through charges, audit of the charges and ability to change . You should seek advice from a real estate attorney who is provided access to your lease and all cam charge notices.

If they are correct in their adjustments, you may be able to discuss the adjustments with the landlord and either revise them appropriately or work out a deferred payment plan. First step is to verify the passthrough calculations and the lease terms to determine if thay are correct. You do not state in your question what the adjustments relate to. You may also want counsel to describe to you what the sale of the building may do to your real estate tax passthrough if it has caused a change of ownership. This also will be governed by your lease. This gratuitous response does not create an attorney client relationship. The advice provided herein is generic, may not apply to your circumstances and is not to be relied upon in your actions. An attorney client relationship is created only upon execution of an engagement letter hiring me or my firm.

Subject to what your lease provisions, these kind of increases can be lawful. You can usually have the most success and finding any violations of the lease, and then "fine-tooth combing" the CAM charges to find overreaching.

Your commercial lease will describe what can and can not be done upon change of ownership. If it doesn't, then it is open to interpretation under 'common law' theory, which should protect you from changes in any terms other than provided for in the lease. Meaning, your rent would continue the same as if no ownership change occurred. If you need to review it for explanation and opinion of counsel, feel free to contact me to arrange.