Contract Rent

Definition of Contract Rent

Contract Rent is the actual rental payment amount specified in a signed lease agreement between a landlord and a tenant. In the context of commercial mortgages, it represents the legally binding income that a property is currently generating, regardless of whether that amount is higher or lower than the prevailing market rates.

Detailed Description and Role in Commercial Underwriting

When a lender evaluates a commercial mortgage application, they focus heavily on the property's ability to generate cash flow. Contract Rent serves as the primary data point for determining the property’s gross potential income. Lenders use this figure to calculate the Net Operating Income (NOI), which ultimately dictates the maximum loan amount they are willing to provide.

Unlike Market Rent—which is an estimate of what a space could command if it were vacant and available for lease today—Contract Rent is the actual income the borrower is receiving. This distinction is vital for several reasons:

• Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR): Lenders use contract rent to determine if the property generates enough revenue to cover the mortgage payments.
• Lease Stability: The terms of the contract rent, including the duration of the lease and any built-in escalations, provide the lender with a forecast of future income stability.
• Valuation: If contract rents are significantly lower than market rents (known as "below-market leases"), a lender may view the property as having "upside potential," but they will usually underwrite the loan based on the current, lower contract figures to remain conservative.
• Concessions: Contract rent may differ from "Effective Rent." While the contract might state a high dollar amount, the lender will also look for abated rent or tenant improvements that might offset the actual cash flow.

In a commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) or a standard bank loan, the lender will perform an analysis called a "lease audit" to verify that the contract rent stated on the Rent Roll matches the physical lease documents. Discrepancies between the reported contract rent and the actual lease terms can lead to a reduction in the approved loan amount or even a denial of the mortgage application.

Furthermore, contract rent is often categorized into two types: Base Rent (the fixed monthly or annual amount) and Additional Rent (which may include the tenant’s share of operating expenses, taxes, and insurance). Lenders primarily focus on the base rent to ensure the core stability of the commercial asset.