Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Commercial Lease Term Sheet

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

COMMERCIAL LEASE TERM SHEET

Date Prepared:

Parties

Tenant Entity Type (select all that apply)

Property

Key Economic Terms

Rentable Area:    Base Rent: $ per .

Rent Commencement Date: . Annual CPI or fixed escalations:

Operating Expense Allocation:

Lease Term & Possession

Lease Term: . Commencement Date: . Expiration Date: .

Possession/Delivery Conditions:

Security Deposit & Payments

Security Deposit: $. Payment Address:

Late Fee: $ or of rent due after grace period.

Use, Exclusivity, and Alterations

Permitted Use:

Exclusivity (if any):

Utilities, CAM and Maintenance

Utilities:

Common Area Maintenance (CAM):

Insurance & Indemnity

Tenant Required Insurance: Commercial general liability minimum $ per occurrence; property and other coverages as required. Tenant to name Landlord as additional insured where required.

Disclosures

Default, Cure & Remedies

Material breach cure period: (except non-monetary defaults requiring longer cure as reasonably necessary). Landlord remedies: rent acceleration, lease termination, recovery of damages and attorneys' fees. Tenant remedies: right to cure landlord default upon notice and reasonable time to perform.

Binding Provisions

This Term Sheet is intended to summarize principal terms for negotiation. Except for the provisions expressly stated below, this Term Sheet is non-binding and does not create any obligation to consummate a lease. The following provisions are intended to be binding upon execution: confidentiality and exclusivity (if selected), and the parties' obligation to negotiate in good faith to complete definitive lease documents.

Miscellaneous

Governing Law: . This Term Sheet constitutes the entire expression of the preliminary agreement of the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein, subject to execution of definitive lease documents.

Signatures

Landlord (Print Name):

By:

Date:

Tenant (Print Name):

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What the Commercial Lease Term Sheet Is and when it’s used

A Commercial Lease Term Sheet is a concise, non-binding summary of the principal business terms for a proposed commercial lease. It captures parties, premises, rent, term, options, and high-level obligations to guide attorneys and brokers before drafting the formal lease. Term sheets speed negotiations by isolating negotiable points, clarifying expectations, and documenting deal parameters that feed into the final lease and exhibits.

Why a clear term sheet matters for commercial leasing

A well-prepared term sheet reduces miscommunication, shortens negotiation cycles, and creates a record of agreed business points before the formal lease is drafted. It helps counsel focus drafting effort and can limit costly rework if commercial terms shift.

Why a clear term sheet matters for commercial leasing

Typical users and participants for a commercial lease term sheet

Commercial landlords, tenants, leasing brokers, property managers, and outside counsel commonly prepare or review term sheets to align on core deal terms before drafting a full lease.

  • Landlords and property owners who need to record rent, term, and tenant obligations for negotiation and underwriting
  • Commercial tenants that require clear summaries for internal approvals and landlord comparison across multiple properties
  • Leasing brokers and attorneys who use the term sheet to draft the full lease and to track agreed exceptions

The document is also useful for internal approvals, budgeting, and presenting a summary to lenders or investors prior to executing a definitive lease.

Stepwise completion: from term sheet to signed lease

Follow these sequential steps to convert an agreed term sheet into a binding commercial lease and reduce avoidable delays.

  • 01
    Draft Term Sheet: Record core commercial points for review.
  • 02
    Internal Review: Obtain approvals from finance and legal.
  • 03
    Legal Drafting: Counsel drafts the full lease using the term sheet.
  • 04
    Execution: Parties sign the formal lease and exchange originals or e-signed copies.

How to configure a digital workflow for a Commercial Lease Term Sheet

A structured eSignature workflow reduces turnaround time and provides an auditable trail from negotiation to signature.

Field Configuration
Signature Type Signature fields for each signatory; initialing for page-by-page acceptance
Authentication Email or SMS code for identity confirmation
Routing Order Specify signing sequence: landlord, tenant, guarantor
Document Attachments Include exhibits: floor plans, insurance certificates, and SOVs

Platform and format considerations for electronic completion

Ensure the platform can produce a signed PDF with a timestamped audit trail and can store records to meet retention obligations.

  • File formats: PDF, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: CRM and cloud storage
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, or advanced MFA

Typical online signing flow for a lease term sheet

Digital signing follows a predictable sequence from upload to signed record; standardize each step to reduce signature friction.

  • Upload Document: Sender uploads the term sheet and attachments
  • Place Fields: Add signature, date, and initial fields
  • Send to Signers: Route by role or in sequence
  • Complete Audit: Platform captures IP, timestamps, and actions

Key elements every professional term sheet should include

A comprehensive term sheet covers commercial basics plus key legal and operational points that the lease will reflect or expand upon.

Premises

Exact address, suite, and square footage along with any exclusive/common area allocations and permitted uses that define tenant rights.

Financial Terms

Base rent, payment schedule, security deposit amount, operating cost allocation, and any rent abatements or concessions offered.

Term & Options

Lease start/end dates, renewal options, extension terms, and any early termination rights with associated notice and penalties.

Tenant Improvements

Allowance amount, work scope, responsibility for contractors, approvals, and final acceptance procedures tied to rent commencement.

Maintenance & Repairs

Allocation of repair and maintenance responsibilities, CAM reconciliation process, and any landlord obligations for building systems.

Conditions & Contingencies

Financing, environmental, zoning, or due diligence contingencies that must be satisfied before the lease is binding.

Security and compliance considerations for electronic term sheets

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 transit; AES-256 at rest
ESIGN / UETA: Meets ESIGN and UETA standards
HIPAA: BAA available for protected health information
SOC 2: SOC 2 Type II certified
21 CFR Part 11: Compliant options for FDA-regulated records
GDPR / ISO: GDPR alignment and ISO 27001 certified

Key risks and downstream penalties if a term sheet is incorrect

Misstated Parties: May void enforceability or require corrective agreement
Incorrect Dates: Can shift rent obligations or breach notice windows
Missing Signatures: Leaves agreement unenforceable against non-signing party
Wrong Rent Terms: Leads to billing disputes and potential financial loss
Improper Authentication: Weak eSign method can raise admissibility challenges
Regulatory Noncompliance: Industry-specific fines or contract rescission risk

Common mistakes when preparing a commercial lease term sheet

  • Using informal or abbreviated business names that differ from entity formation records, creating identity or signature mismatches during execution.
  • Failing to specify whether stated square footage is usable, rentable, or gross, which later causes disputes over prorations and CAM allocations.
  • Leaving contingencies vague—financing and zoning contingencies should include clear satisfaction criteria and deadlines to avoid confusion.
  • Assuming the term sheet is binding without explicit language; confusing business heads with binding commitments can lead to contract disputes.

eSignature pricing and feature snapshot for executing a Commercial Lease Term Sheet

The table compares core pricing and common features across popular eSignature providers; signNow appears first per vendor ordering rules.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial, no credit card Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

FAQs and troubleshooting for the Commercial Lease Term Sheet

Answers to common procedural and legal questions about preparing, signing, and storing a commercial lease term sheet.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users