Net Effective Rent

Definition of Net Effective Rent

Net Effective Rent (NER) is the actual income a landlord receives from a commercial lease after accounting for the financial impact of concessions and leasing costs. While the contract rent (or face rent) is the dollar amount explicitly stated in the lease agreement, the net effective rent represents the true economic value of the lease. In the context of commercial mortgages, this figure is critical because it reflects the actual cash flow available to service debt.

The Importance of NER in Commercial Mortgages

Lenders and underwriters focus heavily on Net Effective Rent rather than gross figures when evaluating a loan application. Because commercial mortgages are primarily underwritten based on a property’s Net Operating Income (NOI), using inflated contract rents can lead to an inaccurate assessment of a property's value. A high contract rent might look appealing, but if the landlord had to provide significant "free rent" or expensive office build-outs to secure that tenant, the true income available to pay the mortgage is lower.

Key Components in the NER Calculation

To determine the Net Effective Rent, several factors are subtracted from the total rent paid over the entire lease term:

• Rent Abatement: These are "free rent" periods provided to the tenant, often at the start of a lease, where no monthly rent is collected.
• Tenant Improvement (TI) Allowances: The capital a landlord contributes toward the construction or renovation of the tenant's space.
• Leasing Commissions: The fees paid to real estate brokers for procuring the tenant and negotiating the lease.
• Buy-out Costs: Costs incurred if a landlord pays to release a tenant from a previous lease at a different property.

Impact on Loan Underwriting and DSCR

The Net Effective Rent directly impacts the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR), which is the primary metric lenders use to determine the maximum loan amount. A lower NER results in a lower NOI, which can reduce the borrower’s borrowing capacity or require a higher equity contribution. By analyzing the NER, lenders ensure that the property’s true cash flow is sufficient to cover the mortgage payments, even after the costs of tenant acquisition and retention are realized.

For investors and borrowers, understanding NER is essential for accurate budgeting and for presenting a transparent financial profile to potential commercial mortgage lenders.