--- title: Why is Everyone Asking Me to Sign a 3-year lease? description: We compiled FAQs TenantBase hears frequently and are here to give you honest answers about why everyone is asking you to sign a 3-year lease (and more). image: https://blog.tenantbase.com/hubfs/Silly_Photos-15-835531-edited.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.tenantbase.com/post/why-is-everyone-asking-me-to-sign-a-3-year-lease#main-content) [![TenantBase](https://blog.tenantbase.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Navy%20(500%20png)-1.png?width=250&height=23&name=Navy%20(500%20png)-1.png)Homepage](https://www.tenantbase.com/) - [Home](https://www.tenantbase.com/) - [About](https://www.tenantbase.com/about/) - [Contact](https://www.tenantbase.com/contact/) - [Press](https://www.tenantbase.com/press/) - [Team](https://www.tenantbase.com/team/) - [Resources](https://resources.tenantbase.com/en-US/home) - [Legal](https://www.tenantbase.com/legal/) - [Blog](https://blog.tenantbase.com/) Get started - [Home](https://www.tenantbase.com/) - [About](https://www.tenantbase.com/about/) - [Contact](https://www.tenantbase.com/contact/) - [Press](https://www.tenantbase.com/press/) - [Team](https://www.tenantbase.com/team/) - [Resources](https://resources.tenantbase.com/en-US/home) - [Legal](https://www.tenantbase.com/legal/) - [Blog](https://blog.tenantbase.com/) Get started ![Silly_Photos-15-835531-edited.jpg](https://blog.tenantbase.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Silly_Photos-15-835531-edited.jpg?width=2000&height=1333&name=Silly_Photos-15-835531-edited.jpg) TenantBase How-To Office Tips # Why is Everyone Asking Me to Sign a 3-year lease? ![Mackenzie](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg) Mackenzie July 27, 2016  Finding a new office can be tricky and there are a lot of questions that simply can’t be Googled. Luckily, we compiled FAQs TenantBase hears frequently and are here to give you *honest* answers about why everyone is asking you to sign a 3-year lease (and more).  **FAQs:**   **Why is everyone asking me to sign a 3-year lease?** Three years is a pretty standard time for your landlord to ask you to commit. Wait until your business has at least one birthday until you sign a three year lease (just so you’re sure).   **Is my landlord allowed to raise the rent?** The answer depends on whether you have a *lease* or a *rental agreement* and its exact language. If your lease does include rent increases, then your landlord may raise your rent. However, if it does not, then your landlord is not permitted to increase your rent. Make sure to check before you sign!   **Do I really have to paint the walls before I move in?** You might. Most landlords just have to meet the standard of habitability. That means that it cannot be lead based, chipped, or peeling. Beyond that, you are typically on your own. Although again, check your lease before you sign and see if painting is included! **What happens if the model unit doesn’t look like the one I rented?** Don’t settle for just looking at the model! Make sure to ask to see the actual space that you are renting. If you get to your space and there are repair problems, your landlord definitely has the obligation to fix them. Feel free to ask your TenantBase advisor for guidance when you are touring!   **Do I still have to give notice if my lease is ending?** Yes! You should always give a 20 day notice as a courtesy to your landlord.   **How do I move all my stuff?** It can be difficult and overwhelming to try to move all of your belongings from old office space to your new one. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone! Try out a relocation [service](https://blog.tenantbase.com/post/spotlight-relocation-strategies/) that does it for you. They will do it all for you with less stress during your time of transition.   **How much office space do I actually need?** Well, the general rule is 150 square feet for a standard office and 25 square feet for a standard cubicle (per person). However, every business has its own individual needs. If you want to find the right dimensions for you, consider hiring a space planner.   **Should I rent what I need now or what I expect to need in the future?** Rent what you need! It is difficult to project what you will need in the future. If you rent too much space, you could end up paying extra for empty desks. That's why it is important to analyze and discuss how long you think you'll need the space. A 3-year lease can be shorter (or longer) than you think!   **I want to move offices...where should I start?** Visit TenantBase.com! We let you search our comprehensive database of available offices in your area, then show you those spaces for free! Happy searching :)   **So...can I bring my dog?** Talk to your landlord and your boss about whether Fido can become your colleague. Every landlord is different! ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fblog.tenantbase.com%2Fpost%2Fwhy-is-everyone-asking-me-to-sign-a-3-year-lease](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fblog.tenantbase.com%2Fpost%2Fwhy-is-everyone-asking-me-to-sign-a-3-year-lease) ## Keep reading ### [![TenantBase Q2 2026 National Market Report — State of the U.S. CRE Market, covering 90 markets across 5 regions](https://blog.tenantbase.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Interview%20Blog%20Header%20(14)-4.png?width=1574&height=714&name=Interview%20Blog%20Header%20(14)-4.png) Market Report Commercial Real Estate Report CRE Market 2026 Commercial Real Estate Q2 2026 Report](https://blog.tenantbase.com/commercial-real-estate-q2-2026-report) ### [![Why TenantBase for Tenants? 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How to Find Commercial Space and the Right Broker — Free](https://blog.tenantbase.com/why-businesses-should-use-tenantbase) [![TenantBase](https://blog.tenantbase.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Navy%20(500%20png)-1.png?width=250&height=23&name=Navy%20(500%20png)-1.png "TenantBase")](https://www.tenantbase.com/) - [Home](https://www.tenantbase.com/) - [About](https://www.tenantbase.com/about/) - [Contact](https://www.tenantbase.com/contact/) - [Press](https://www.tenantbase.com/press/) - [Team](https://www.tenantbase.com/team/) - [Resources](https://resources.tenantbase.com/en-US/home) - [Legal](https://www.tenantbase.com/legal/) - [Blog](https://blog.tenantbase.com/) --- Privacy Policy · Legal · © 2026 TenantBase. All rights reserved. ## Frequently Asked Questions How does TenantBase work? TenantBase reverses the traditional commercial real estate model. Instead of spending weeks searching listings and contacting landlords, tenants share their requirements — location, size, budget, and timing — and TenantBase matches them with qualified local tenant-rep brokers and relevant market options. What does a tenant-rep broker actually do? Tenant-rep brokers provide market expertise, advocate exclusively for tenant interests, and manage the leasing process from start to finish — space selection, negotiations, and concessions — helping reduce risk and improve outcomes at no direct cost to the tenant in most U.S. markets. What's the difference between a gross lease and a net lease? In a gross lease, one all-in rent payment covers most building expenses. In a net lease, tenants pay base rent plus some combination of property taxes, insurance, and CAM charges on top. Those pass-throughs can add 30–100% above the face rate, so understanding the structure before you tour is critical. Who are the Partner Broker Highlights? Partner Broker Highlights feature trusted tenant-rep brokers in TenantBase's network — their background, market expertise, and approach to representing tenants. It's designed to help businesses find and vet the right local advisor before starting a search. How does TenantBase help me find the right space for my business? 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