Encyclopedia
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) measurement
A family of floor-area measurement standards published by BOMA International that many landlords use to calculate rentable and usable area. Which standard applies depends on the lease.
For example: A tenant asks which measurement standard and version the landlord used before agreeing to the area in the offer to lease. (Illustration only, not a real deal.)
This is a general industry term with no single official definition. Your lease or contract wording controls.
Example only, not a real client. Say two office landlords quote different areas for similar units. One uses an older measurement standard, the other a newer one with a higher load factor. Asking which standard each used explains the gap and lets you compare rent fairly.
What I’d tell a friend
Ask which measurement standard was used, and compare offices on usable area as well as rentable area.
Why it matters to you
The standard decides how many square feet you pay for. Two spaces at the same rent per square foot can cost quite different amounts depending on how they were measured.
How to use it in your deal
Tenants should check which BOMA standard and version applies, since different versions can produce different areas for the same space. Ask for the measurement certificate and drawings. Know the load factor, which shows how much common area you're paying for. Compare spaces on usable area and load factor, not just rentable area.
Landlords should measure using the stated standard and keep certificates on file. Buyers should check that rent rolls match certified measurements. Industrial buildings often use different methods, such as measuring to the outside of walls. If the lease allows remeasurement, check how rent adjusts. Get your own measurer if the numbers look off.
Ask whether the measurement includes balconies, storage rooms or mechanical areas, and whether the building was measured before or after any renovation. Ask which BOMA edition was used, since the number can change with the version.
Mistakes I see
Not knowing the standard. Ignoring load factors. Comparing rentable areas directly.
In BC and Vancouver
Lease terms govern; BOMA publishes the standards.
Official sources: Commercial Tenancy Act (BC Laws)
What it is
BOMA standards are widely used methods for measuring office, industrial and retail buildings, published by the Building Owners and Managers Association.
They set out how to calculate usable and rentable area, including how common areas are shared.
Why it matters
Different versions of the standard can give different areas for the same space, which affects rent and cost shares.
Name the standard in your lease, and consider having the space measured independently if the area is a large part of the cost.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Which standard applies?
- What's the load factor?
- Can I see the certificate?
- Can it be remeasured?
Keep reading
Related terms: Rentable area, Usable area, Remeasurement
Working through this right now? Questions are free. Book a 15-minute call or call or text 604 256 2002, and I’ll give you a straight answer.
Back to the A–Z index · common questions · tactics to watch for · the shorter glossary
General information for British Columbia only. It isn’t legal, tax, accounting or financial advice, laws and rates change, and reading it doesn’t make you my client. Any numbers or scenarios are hypothetical. Check the linked official source and talk to a lawyer, accountant or other qualified professional before you act or sign anything. See the terms and disclaimer.