Warm Shell: There is already central AC and 100% power back up available.

Cold Shell: Central AC and 100% power back up is not available.

Efficiency: A landlord will always base the rent on the ‘Super Area’; this is larger than your ‘Net Useable Area’. The landlord often loads additional space onto this designated area. This could include common areas; lift space, the staircase, parking lot, and the lobby. The bottom line is if your efficiency is 80% then your Net Useable Area is 80% of the Super Area and you lose 20%.

Security Deposit: The amount that a landlord will ask for can vary on a case-to-case basis, but generally they ask for 6 months rent. It is refunded after you vacate the premises.

Advance Rent: This amount can also vary, but it is quite common to pay 3 months rent in advance.

Lock in Period: This is the time that you are literally ‘locked in’ to the property - you cannot leave within this period. If you do leave prior, you will have to pay for the remainder of the period agreed upon..

Carpet Area: This is the net useable area of the space.

Lease Period: Often this is 9 years (or 3+3+3). After the initial lock in period there are two more blocks of 3 years. In cases where the landlord is more professional, you can give a notice period of approximately 2 months and then you can vacate the premises. If the landlord is not as professional, he will demand a shorter lease period and will say that after a certain amount of time, both parties should be able to give a notice.

Super area: This is the area that you will pay rent on. There is no clear description for what the Super Area entails exactly and it differs on a case to case basis. But what it comes down to is what the Landlord loads onto your space. Basically there will be, on a pro rata basis, area loaded from the lifts, the stairs, the lobby, the common areas, the parking, the garden, etc.

Maintenance
In the larger office buildings it is mandatory to pay extra for so-called Maintenance. This is a cost that the landlord uses for various elements of the building and is applicable for all the tenants. In most cases this covers: cleaning of the common areas, general security in the building (your space internally will be separate), the maintenance of the diesel generator, the maintenance of the lifts, the upkeep for the landscaping and at times the cost of diesel consumption. Note that electricity and water consumption are separate and will be on an ‘as per actual’ usage basis according to you private meter reading. The cost for Maintenance differs from building to building and from landlord to landlord, but generally this will range from Rs 15 –Rs 25 per sq ft on Super Area basis.