Secondary tool

Free rent vs a lower rate

What face rate is this abatement actually worth?

Spread the abated months across the term and the offer collapses into a single equivalent rate — one straight-line, one discounted. Compare that, not the headline.

By Leaselor Data DeskUpdated Reviewed Editorial policyReport an error

01Your offer

Equivalent straight-line rate

$19.03/sf/yr

Same total dollars, no abatement

Equivalent NPV rate

$18.68/sf/yr

Discounted at 7%

Straight-line saving

$2.00/sf/yr

What the free rent is worth per year

NPV saving

$2.35/sf/yr

Worth more when taken early

6 months free on a 5-year term at $20.00/sf/yr is worth the same as a face rate of $19.03/sf/yr with no abatement — and $18.68/sf/yr once the landlord discounts the cash flow.

02How it is calculated

The published method

The abatement is applied to the front of the term against escalating net rent, the collected rent is totalled, and that total is divided by area and term for the straight-line equivalent. The NPV equivalent discounts each year at the stated rate and annualises the present value over the same term.

How these figures were produced

  • ModelledDerived arithmetically from observed inputs using the published method; not a market quote.
How Leaselor computes these numbers

For a full offer including TMI and TI, use the Lease Economics Engine.

03Questions

Frequently asked

Which is better: free rent or a lower face rate?

For a tenant with a cash-flow constraint, free rent wins because the saving lands immediately. For total cost over a long term, a lower face rate usually wins because escalations compound off a smaller base.

Why do landlords prefer to give free rent?

It preserves the headline rate used to value the building. A rate cut lowers the capitalised income; an abatement is a one-time cost the landlord can absorb below the line.

Not adviceLeaselor is a data publisher. We do not broker, arrange, or transact, and nothing here is an offer or professional advice. Figures are indicative benchmarks for comparison and must be confirmed with a licensed professional before you rely on them. About Leaselor