---
title: "Free rent abatement — Class A Atlas glossary"
description: "Months of zero base rent at the start of a lease, as concession."
canonical: https://classa.info/glossary/free-rent-abatement
pageType: glossary
lastUpdated: 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
license: "CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info)."
---

> Months of zero base rent at the start of a lease, as concession.

## TL;DR

- Months of zero base rent at the start of a lease, as concession.
- Free rent (rent abatement) is the most common landlord concession.

# Free rent abatement

*Leasing · Global*

## Short definition

Months of zero base rent at the start of a lease, as concession.

## Full definition

Free rent ([rent abatement](/topics/class-a-lease-negotiation)) is the most common landlord concession. In US [Class A](/glossary/class-a) markets it typically runs 1–1.5 months per lease year; in EMEA it is often quoted as 'months free' on a 5- or 10-year term. Abated rent typically excludes opex/[service charge](/glossary/service-charge).

## Why this matters for Class A leasing

Free rent abatement is part of the leasing vocabulary that institutional Class A occupiers, landlords, and advisers use across Global markets. Understanding it correctly affects how you read lease documents, model occupancy economics, and benchmark deal terms across cities. Class A Atlas tracks regional variation alongside the global standard so [cross-border](/topics/cross-border-expansion) occupiers can translate quickly.

## See also

- [Rent-free period](/glossary/rent-free-period)

## Related topics

- [**Class A Lease Negotiation**](/topics/class-a-lease-negotiation) — How to negotiate a Class A office lease — the playbook from LOI to signed deal.
- [**Lease Renewal Strategy**](/topics/lease-renewal-strategy) — How to negotiate a Class A [lease renewal](/topics/lease-renewal-strategy) — leverage, timing, and the relocate-vs-renew test.

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Citation: Source: Class A Atlas (https://classa.info/glossary/free-rent-abatement), updated 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z.