Triple Net Lease (Definition, Meaning) | What is Net Net Net Lease?

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What is a Triple Net Lease?

A triple net lease is one of the lease agreements between the lessor and the lessee about any particular property where the lessee will be responsible for paying the property taxes for that asset, the insurance amount, and also any repair required for that particular asset during the time of lease.

Since the tenant or the lessee is paying everything that the lessor is actually responsible for payment, in a triple net lease, the rent of the property is usually much lower than the normal lease agreement where taxes, insurance, and maintenance are paid by the owner of the property. It is also referred to as net net net (NNN) lease due to its peculiar nature. Its amount is calculated by using the capitalization rate. And this rate depends on the creditworthiness of the particular lessee.

Types of Net Lease

There are three kinds of net lease. As you can perceive, the triple net lease is the most unique among all. Let’s have a look at three different variations of net lease.

#1 Single net lease

In this type of net lease, the tenant or the lessee has to pay the property taxes along with the amount of the lease. Since the tenant is paying only one additional payment along with the lease amount, it’s called single net lease.

#2 Double net lease

In this type of net lease, the tenant needs to pay the property taxes and also the building insurance along with the rent/lease amount of the property. Since the tenant is paying two types of expenses along with the lease amount, we call it a double net lease.

#3 Triple net lease

As you already know, in case of this net lease, the tenant has to pay three separate payments for property taxes, insurance for the building, and also for any maintenance that’s required during the time duration mentioned in the agreement.

Triple Net Lease Investment

It is a great investment instrument. But it’s beneficial when the investor follows a few rules. Let’s have a look at a few rules that can make the triple net lease investment beneficial –

When it’s done as a portfolio: If the investor can create a portfolio of three or four commercial properties and can put them on a triple net lease, the investor gets a lot of benefits. Firstly, the investor doesn’t need to worry about the maintenance, taxes, and insurance. Everything is taken care of. And at the same time, the investor receives a good return on her investment.
When it’s done for quite a long time: Since the lease amount is less in this net lease, unless it’s done for at least 10 to 15 years, it won’t be beneficial. Going for a triple net lease helps the investor get a reasonable return for a very long time without any worry or anxiety.
Built-in rent escalation: Though it’s obvious in any lease agreement, still the investor needs to make sure that the built-in rent escalation clause is included in the agreement. It means every year, the investor would get an increment in the lease amount. As a result, there’re no worries about a return and the investor would get more return every year.

Benefits of Triple Net Lease for the Investor

There are a couple of eligibility criteria that the investor has to have to use triple net lease for leasing their properties. The first point is the investor should have a net worth of $1 million that too without including the primary residence she owns. Or else, The investor should have an income of $200,000 or $300,000 if you are applying as a joint filer. The second point is let’s say that you are a small investor and you don’t have the prescribed income or the net worth, can you not go for triple net lease? The answer is yes but it is subject to a criterion. To participate in this net lease, the smaller investors should invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs) that concentrate on the similar properties in the portfolio of the investor.

What Benefits the Lessee Would get?

The bigger question is why a lessee would agree to such a lease that offers the lessor so many benefits. Does the lessee not want the benefit from the lease too? The answer is yes and the lessee also gets the benefit in triple net lease. Since the lessor doesn’t need to pay for insurance, taxes, and maintenance, the lessee doesn’t need to pay to do much rent for the properties she takes. As a result, the lessee can save a lot of money on rent by agreeing to go for such lease. However, this is the only benefit a lessee gets from the triple net lease. This can often be in hidden form. You should talk to your attorney before going for any lease so that you don’t get stuck in such lease. If you have any term like “turnkey” in your lease agreement, chances are that agreement is triple net.

As a lessee, the expenses may exceed the benefit you receive. So be aware before you sign up for a 10-15 year triple net lease.

Conclusion

A triple net lease is beneficial, but it’s important in which side you’re in.

If you’re acting as a lessor and going for this net lease, then it would be beneficial for you. But if you’re accepting it as a lessee, then it’s better to avoid because the benefits you would get is lower compared to the payment you need to pay. You may think that you are only paying three kinds of payments and a small amount of rent, but realize that at the end of every year, the rent would increase as per the market rate and as a result, you would need to pay more money for the next 10-15 years for the properties you rent. As a lessee, you better avoid triple net lease and go for normal lease. Take the help of a reputed attorney whenever you go to sign the lease agreement.

Triple Net Lease