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CAM Charge Structures

Setting up CAM (common area maintenance) charge structures.

Written by Conor Taliancich

Create a Charge Structure

  1. Open your profile menu and select Settings.

  2. Select CAM & Expense Recovery.

  3. Click New Charge Structure.

Configure Bill Matching

The Bill Matching tab determines which vendor bills create CAM charges.

  • Rules Matching: Choose whether all or any rules in Match bills where must match.

  • Company for charge: Selects the company on the charge created from the bill.

  • Charge to: Choose whether to charge the tenant or the company that owns the property.

  • Item for charge: Selects the item created for the charge and used by CAM reconciliation to deduct CAM already paid.

  • Site for charge: Selects the site to charge. Typically, use the site from the vendor bill.

Configure Charge Allocation

Charge allocation determines the calculated charge amount. A calculation can contain multiple lines, variables, and blocks; each line performs one operation.

Calculations use two operands and an operator. Operands can be system fields, custom fields, variables, or entered values.

Available operators include:

  • +, -, /, and * for arithmetic

  • Max to return the larger value, useful for minimum charges

  • Min to return the smaller value

  • Get Value to return a field or value directly

  • SumIf to total a field across units that match criteria

  • CountIf to count units that match criteria

Set the output to Set variable to store a result for later calculations, or Return to use the result as the charge amount.

Use an If statement to continue in the current block or jump to another block. Block A always runs. Add another block with the + icon; additional blocks run only when an If statement calls them.

Example: Utilities by Square Footage

  1. Create a Pro Rata Share variable.

  2. Divide the unit area by the building's total area to calculate the pro rata share.

  3. Multiply the utility bill amount by that share and set the output to Return.

Example: Elevator Maintenance

Create Total Sqft With Elevator and Pro Rata Share variables. Add a checkbox custom field named Elevator to units so only applicable units are charged.

  1. Continue only when the unit's Elevator field is checked.

  2. Use SumIf to total the area of units with that field checked.

  3. Divide the unit's area by that total to calculate its pro rata share.

  4. Multiply the share by the bill amount and return the result.

Example: CAM Cap, Discount, and Minimum

For a structure with a CAM cap, a 10% charge above the cap, and a $50 minimum charge, create variables for Pro Rata Share, Calculated Charge, Over Cap Charge, and Over Cap.

Calculate the tenant's pro rata charge, then compare it with the unit's CAM Cap. If it is under the cap, use Max to return the larger of the calculated charge or $50. If it exceeds the cap, use Block B to calculate the amount over the cap, charge 10% of that amount, and add it to the CAM cap.

Contact support if you need help designing a charge structure for your lease terms.

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