A commercial letter of intent to lease is a form that demonstrates a tenant’s desire to rent commercial property from a landlord. It usually acts as a starting point for negotiations, allowing parties to propose their rights and obligations under a future lease agreement. The letter will address the monthly rent, utility fees, security deposits, and the lease start and end dates.

Commonly Used With

Commercial Lease Application – Used to vet potential tenants before drafting a binding contract.
Commercial Lease Agreement – A legally binding agreement to rent non-residential property.

Necessary Terms
Sample
Purpose of a Letter of Intent
Benefits of a Letter of Intent
When to Use

Necessary Terms

Names and Contact Information

A letter of intent (LOI) must specify who’s sending and receiving the letter. In most instances, the tenant will send the letter to the landlord. Each party’s phone number and email address should also be included in the form.

Intention to Lease

An explanation of the letter’s purpose must be communicated to the recipient. In other words, the sender must explain that they intend to enter into a binding rental agreement.

Principal Rental Terms

While the letter of intent won’t cover all aspects of the rental arrangement, it must at the very least identify the basic terms of the proposed lease, such as:

The property address
The lease duration
The monthly rent and utility fees
Payment due dates
Who will be responsible for maintenance and repairs
Security deposit requirements

Binding and Non-Binding Conditions

A letter of intent should include a statement identifying the terms that will and will not be legally binding upon the parties involved.

Signatures

The LOI must contain signature lines for the landlord and tenant. Adjacent to each signature should be the signing date and the individual’s printed name.

Sample

Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument

COMMERCIAL LETTER OF INTENT TO LEASE

Date: [DATE]

[SENDER (e.g., LEASE APPLICANT) NAME]
[SENDER STREET ADDRESS]
[SENDER CITY, STATE, ZIP]

[RECIPIENT (e.g., LESSOR) NAME]
[RECIPIENT STREET ADDRESS]
[RECIPIENT CITY, STATE, ZIP]

RE: Intent to Lease Commercial Property

This Letter of Intent (the “Letter”) sets forth the proposed terms and conditions of an agreement between the Lessor and Lessee (the “Parties”) and shall govern the relationship between the Parties until replaced by a definitive, formal agreement addressing the same transaction and subject matter (the “Definitive Agreement”). The agreement considered in this Letter and in the Definitive Agreement is subject in all respects to the following:

1. THE LESSOR. [LESSOR NAME] (the “Lessor”).

Phone: [LESSOR PHONE] Email Address: [LESSOR EMAIL]

2. THE LESSEE. [LESSEE NAME] (the “Lessee”).

Phone: [LESSEE PHONE] Email Address: [LESSEE EMAIL]

3. ADDRESS OF PREMISES. [PREMISES ADDRESS] (the “Premises”).

4. RENTABLE SPACE. The total rentable space of the Premises consists of [#] square feet.

5. LEASE TERM. The term of the lease shall commence on [LEASE START DATE] and end on [LEASE END DATE] (the “Lease Term”).

6. USE OF PREMISES. The Lessee shall be allowed to use the Premises for the following: [DESCRIBE BUSINESS ACTIVITY TO BE CONDUCTED ON PREMISES].

7. RENT. The rent to be paid by the Lessee to the Lessor throughout the Lease Term is to be made in monthly installments of $[RENT AMOUNT] (the “Rent”). The Rent shall be due on the [#] day of each month (the “Due Date”).

8. LATE FEE. If Rent is not paid by the Due Date, the Lessee shall be required to pay the following late fee: [DESCRIBE LATE FEE (IF ANY)].

9. EXPENSES. The Lessee shall be required to pay the following monthly expenses in addition to the Rent: [LIST EXPENSES TO BE PAID BY LESSEE].

The Lessor shall be required to pay the following monthly expenses: [LIST EXPENSES TO BE PAID BY LESSOR].

10. DEPOSIT. The Parties agree that a security deposit [WRITE “will” OR “will not”] be required. If required, a security deposit in the amount of $[DEPOSIT AMOUNT] shall be paid by the Lessee to the Lessor prior to or upon the signing of a lease.

Note: If a security deposit will not be required, delete the sentence beginning with “If required” above.

11. INTENTION OF THE PARTIES. This Letter sets forth the intentions of the Parties to use reasonable efforts to negotiate, in good faith, a Definitive Agreement with respect to all matters herein. Notwithstanding paragraphs 11 through 13, which shall be legally binding, any legal obligations with respect to all other matters shall only arise if and when the Parties execute and deliver a Definitive Agreement.

12. GOVERNING LAW. This Letter shall be governed under the laws of the State of [STATE NAME].

13. SIGNATURES.

Lessor’s Signature: ___________________ Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Print Name: [LESSOR NAME]

Lessee’s Signature: ___________________ Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Print Name: [LESSEE NAME]

Purpose of a Letter of Intent

A letter of intent to lease is used to discuss the terms of a rental arrangement before signing a binding contract. Its contents can be negotiated until both parties are satisfied, after which the letter will act as the foundation for the final lease agreement.

Aside from being used as a negotiation tool, a letter of intent announces the applicant’s interest in renting a commercial space. Landlords sometimes require this display of interest when screening potential tenants.

Benefits of a Letter of Intent

Whether it’s written after an initial viewing of a commercial property or towards the final stages of a lease negotiation, a letter of intent can help the parties in the following ways:

Documentation – It offers a quick and simple way to record the basic conditions of a potential lease agreement.
Negotiation tool – It assists the negotiation process and documents the proposed terms.
Builds trust – It promotes a relationship of trust and credibility between the parties.
Helps avoid disputes – It outlines the parties’ rights and obligations, which can help reduce the possibility of costly legal disputes.
Demonstrates commitment – It indicates that the lease applicant should be taken seriously as a potential tenant.

When to Use

A letter of intent is most commonly used when a landlord and tenant begin negotiating terms for a commercial lease agreement. Either party will fill out the letter to summarize their rental offer and demonstrate their desire to sign a binding contract.

The letter is also sometimes used after the parties reach a verbal arrangement to get some of the terms in writing before they draft the definitive contract.

Commercial Letter of Intent to Lease