---
title: "Lease commencement date — Class A Atlas glossary"
description: "The contractual start date of the lease term."
canonical: https://classa.info/glossary/lease-commencement
pageType: glossary
lastUpdated: 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
license: "CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info)."
---

> The contractual start date of the lease term.

## TL;DR

- The contractual start date of the lease term.
- Distinct from the rent commencement date.

# Lease commencement date

*Lease structure · Global*

## Short definition

The contractual start date of the lease term.

## Full definition

Distinct from the rent commencement date. The lease may commence on signing while rent does not start until construction completion. On heavy fit-outs, structure rent commencement to the later of (a) lease execution + agreed window, or (b) [substantial completion](/glossary/substantial-completion).

## Why this matters for Class A leasing

Lease commencement date is part of the lease structure vocabulary that institutional [Class A](/glossary/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

- [Substantial completion](/glossary/substantial-completion)
- [Rent-free period](/glossary/rent-free-period)

---

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