Lease Strategy

Lease strategy is how an office tenant gets better terms on a renewal, relocation, sublease, or restructure, and the biggest lever is timing. In the transactions we track and negotiate, tenants who start 12 to 18 months before expiration and price real alternatives typically secure 1 to 2 months of free rent per year of term plus a landlord-funded improvement allowance.

The guides below draw on the 2,000+ office leases Tenant Advisors has negotiated, written by co-founders Tom Koelzer and Dave Ven Horst. Start with lease renewal negotiation, relocation and site selection, sublease and disposition, or a renewal vs. relocation analysis.

Updated October 2026

Turnkey build-out or TI allowance for office tenants - Tenant Advisors
Should an Office Tenant Take a Turnkey Build-Out or a TI Allowance?
A turnkey build-out puts construction cost risk on the landlord. A TI
Which lease clauses cost office tenants the most - Tenant Advisors
Which Office Lease Clauses Cost Tenants the Most?
The office lease clauses that cost tenants the most are usually not
What will your landlord concede on a new office lease? Tenant Advisors, Chicago and suburbs
What Office Lease Concessions Will a Chicago Landlord Give?
Chicago-area office landlords typically concede free rent, an improvement allowance, and better
Hybrid team, lease ending? Right-size before you renew. Tenant Advisors, Chicago and suburbs, (847) 778-0296
How Should a Hybrid Company Right-Size Its Office Before Renewal?
A hybrid company should size its next office to its busiest in-office
How much does a tenant rep broker cost in Chicago? The landlord pays; office tenants pay nothing. Tenant Advisors.
How Much Does a Tenant Rep Broker Cost in Chicago?
For office tenants in Chicago and the suburbs, a tenant rep broker
Early lease renewal case study: 18% lower rent two years before expiration for an 8,000 RSF Schaumburg office tenant, Tenant Advisors
Early Lease Renewal: How a Schaumburg Tenant Cut Rent 18% Two Years Before Expiration
An 8,000 RSF Schaumburg office tenant used a blend-and-extend to cut net
Renew Without Moving: How to Create Leverage on Your Office Lease Renewal — Tenant Advisors
Chicago Office Lease Renewal: How to Create Leverage Without Moving
The best renewal deals go to tenants whose landlord believes they could
Dual agency in Illinois: what office tenants need to know, Tenant Advisors
Dual Agency in Illinois: What Office Tenants Need to Know
Dual agency is legal in Illinois only with the informed written consent
Questions to ask a tenant rep broker before you hire one, Tenant Advisors
Questions to Ask a Tenant Rep Broker Before Hiring One
Before hiring a tenant rep broker, ask whether they ever represent landlords,
Who can help you negotiate an office lease in Chicago - tenant rep broker vs attorney vs going it alone - Tenant Advisors, Chicago & Suburbs, (847) 778-0296
Who Can Help Me Find Office Space or Negotiate My Lease in Chicago?
A tenant rep broker can find your office space and negotiate the
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