What services can be provided by the landlord?

The services provided by the landlord in a commercial building depend, in particular, on the nature of the building and the terms of the lease.

The lease should specify the services provided by the landlord, the periods or hours during which they are available, and the respective responsibilities of the landlord and the tenant.

For example, the lease may provide for the following:

• the temperature that must be maintained in the leased premises;
• the times of year and hours during which heating or air conditioning is provided;
• the maintenance, cleaning, and upkeep of common areas;
• snow removal and maintenance of building access points;
• maintenance of parking areas;
• the supply of water, electricity, or other utilities, when these are provided by the landlord;
• the maintenance and operation of elevators and other common equipment;
• certain security or building access control services;
• the collection of waste and, where applicable, recyclable materials;
• landscaping and exterior maintenance of the building.

The lease should also specify whether the cost of these services is included in the rent or billed separately to the tenant, particularly as operating expenses or additional charges.

When certain services are essential to the tenant’s operations, it may be important to specify the conditions that apply in the event of an interruption, reduction, or modification of these services.

The tenant should therefore carefully review the services included in the lease, as well as the costs that may be charged to them, in order to understand the actual terms of occupancy.