National Real Estate Exam (PSI)Leasing and Property ManagementMedium

A landlord and tenant agree to a lease where the rent for the initial year is $1,200 per month, with a 3% increase scheduled for the start of the second year, and another 3% increase for the third year. What type of lease is this?

  1. AIndex Lease
  2. BNet Lease
  3. CGraduated Lease
  4. DGross Lease
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. Graduated Lease

A graduated lease specifies rent increases at predetermined future dates or intervals. The scenario describes exactly this, with a 3% increase at the start of both the second and third years.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. An index lease ties rent increases to an external economic index, not fixed percentages.
  • B. A net lease defines tenant responsibility for expenses, unrelated to scheduled rent increases.
  • D. A gross lease defines who pays expenses, not how rent changes over time.

Graduated Lease

A lease agreement where the rent payments increase or decrease at specified intervals or at certain points during the lease term.

  • Rent changes are predetermined and scheduled.
  • Often used to help new businesses get started with lower initial costs.
  • Distinct from index leases which link rent to an economic indicator.

Memory trick: GRADUATED means the rent goes up like steps on a ladder.

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