Gross Lease

A gross lease is a commercial lease structure where the landlord pays all or most property operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance) and the tenant pays a single flat rental amount. This is the opposite end of the spectrum from a triple net lease, where the tenant pays all operating expenses on top of base rent. Gross leases are common in multi-tenant office buildings and some retail properties. For landlords, gross leases carry more expense risk - if property taxes spike or insurance costs rise, the landlord absorbs those increases. Modified gross leases split the difference, where the landlord and tenant each cover specific expense categories. For NNN investors comparing lease structures, understanding gross vs. net lease economics is essential. A $30/SF gross lease and a $20/SF NNN lease with $10/SF in expenses may produce similar NOI, but the risk profiles differ significantly.