A tenant disappears. The last invoices are ignored. The suite is left damaged.
And suddenly you’re financing their exit.
Commercial lease defaults aren’t “just unpaid rent.” They’re often a layered claim: arrears + CAM/NNN + early termination charges + make-good obligations + repair invoices. The longer it sits, the more it turns from a receivable into a write-off.
CA-USA (CollectionAgencyUSA) specializes in B2B commercial lease breakage recovery (office and commercial space), including property damage claims tied to move-out.
We have a dedicated Commercial Collections department, a Google rating of 4.87/5, and on viable debts under one year old with adequate documentation, our recovery rates run 75%+.
Contact us to get a free quotation
What Creates Outstanding Balances in Commercial Leases
Most landlords focus on rent and miss the rest. Common sources of recoverable balances include:
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Unpaid base rent (often the last 1–3 months before they vanish)
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Early termination / accelerated rent (where the lease provides for it)
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CAM / NNN reconciliations (estimated payments made… final true-up refused)
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Taxes, utilities, security, access control, HVAC charges passed through and left unpaid
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Holdover rent (tenant stays past term but doesn’t pay the higher holdover rate)
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Tenant improvement (TI) clawbacks (credits/allowances tied to term length)
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Make-good obligations (restore walls, flooring, cabling, signage, unauthorized alterations)
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Move-out damages (repairs that quickly jump into five figures)
Translation: the claim is usually bigger than the landlord expects—and more defensible than the tenant pretends.
Why Collecting Lease Debt Is Different From Normal B2B Invoices
Lease break recovery has three traits that make it uniquely challenging:
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Complex contracts
Leases include amendments, addenda, side letters, guarantees, assignment clauses, and remedies that vary by state. -
Entity games
The tenant entity on paper may be thin, while money and assets sit with owners, guarantors, or related entities. -
A “dispute posture” by default
Defaulting tenants rarely say “you’re right.” They say: “We’re insolvent.” “You can’t enforce that.” “We didn’t cause that damage.” “Those charges aren’t valid.”
This is why lease recovery needs a specialist—not a generic approach.
Why Internal Recovery Usually Fails (Even for Strong Teams)
Property managers are good at buildings. They’re not equipped for commercial enforcement.
Typical internal disadvantages:
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No skip tracing tools to find decision-makers who changed numbers, moved, or re-formed under a new entity
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No bankruptcy screening process or playbook for the moment an automatic stay appears
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Limited familiarity with collection laws and disclosure rules that vary by state (a sloppy call or letter can create legal risk)
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Most employees don’t want to be part-time debt collectors—and inconsistent follow-up teaches debtors that ignoring you works
Professional collections isn’t “being aggressive.” It’s being trained, persistent, compliant, and systematic.
The Legal Lanes That Commonly Apply in Lease Break Recovery
This isn’t legal advice, but these are the core legal lanes that show up in commercial lease defaults:
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Contract law (the lease controls): rent, remedies, default terms, fees, attorney clauses, acceleration language, and make-good obligations
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State commercial landlord-tenant rules: notice requirements, mitigation expectations, and enforcement procedures vary by jurisdiction
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Bankruptcy: if the tenant files, collection activity may pause and the claim must be handled through the proper bankruptcy channel
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Fraudulent transfer concepts: if assets were moved to dodge creditors, counsel may evaluate clawback or related remedies
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Credit reporting standards: commercial credit reporting can be used as pressure where appropriate; if a personal guarantor is involved, the strategy must be handled carefully
The core idea: Commercial claims are enforceable—but only if they’re worked correctly and compliantly.
What Can Be Legally “Attached” to Recover the Debt?
In many cases, the real leverage begins after a judgment. The exact tools depend on state law and case facts, but common enforcement targets include:
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Business bank accounts (levy/attachment where permitted)
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Accounts receivable (garnishing payments owed to the debtor by its customers)
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Equipment, inventory, and other non-exempt business assets (writ of execution / seizure and sale)
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Judgment liens on real property (when the debtor owns real estate)
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LLC/partnership interests (charging orders against distributions)
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Debtor exams / turnover orders (forcing disclosure of assets and payment sources)
Not every debtor has collectible assets—but many do. The mistake is assuming “they can’t pay” when the truth is “we haven’t applied the right leverage yet.”
Our Commercial Lease Recovery Process at CA-USA
We don’t run a one-script approach. Each case gets a plan based on the lease, the debtor profile, and your goals.
Step 1: Build the claim like it’s going to court
We organize the file so the debtor understands you’re not guessing:
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Lease + amendments + guarantees
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Ledger and itemization of charges (rent, CAM/NNN, fees, damages)
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Default notices and correspondence
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Move-out inspection reports, photos, repair invoices
Strong documentation = faster payment and better settlements.
Step 2: Liability review (we don’t stop at the tenant entity)
We evaluate whether recovery can extend to:
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Personal guarantees
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Corporate guarantees
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Related entities / successor businesses (where counsel may have options)
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Practical collectability signals (still operating? rebranded? new location?)
Step 3: Demand + negotiation that’s actually informed
We run outreach that is firm, specific, and consistent:
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Clear demand supported by lease terms and evidence
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Direct contact with decision-makers
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Payment plans or settlements when that produces higher net recovery faster
Step 4: Commercial credit reporting (when appropriate)
For business debtors, trade credit matters. When used correctly, commercial credit reporting can trigger a fast resolution because it impacts future leasing, vendor terms, and financing.
Step 5: Legal escalation (last resort)
Legal action is generally the final option, not the opening move. We consider escalation when:
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The balance justifies it
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Documentation is strong
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The debtor has assets or enforceable liability paths
Contingency Fees: What It Typically Costs (And Why It’s Often Worth It)
For commercial lease break and damage claims, contingency collection fees commonly range from 20% to 40%. The exact rate depends on balance size, how old the account is, and case complexity (lease clauses, guarantees, disputes, multiple entities, damage documentation, etc.).
No recovery means no fee.
CA-USA gets paid only when money is collected. In most cases, we push hard to resolve matters without court through documentation-driven demand, negotiation, and commercial credit pressure; legal enforcement is typically the last step used only when every other option has been exhausted.
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Recent Case Resolutions
Case 1: Early exit with significant term remaining
A professional services tenant vacated early and stopped responding. The claim included rent arrears plus lease-break charges.
What we did:
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Validated remedies in the lease and tightened the balance presentation
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Mapped decision-makers and current contact channels
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Delivered a documentation-based demand and negotiated from evidence
Result:
A high-percentage settlement resolved quickly—without litigation.
Case 2: Move-out damage dispute that turned into real money
A tenant denied responsibility for restoration costs and argued “normal wear and tear.”
What we did:
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Organized photos, inspection notes, and contractor invoices into a clean claim package
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Presented the damage claim clearly and unemotionally
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Negotiated a structured payment plan instead of a deadlocked argument
Result:
Full recovery via a payment plan and a closed file—no court required.
Case 3: Tenant entity went dark, guarantor exposure remained
The operating company collapsed quickly after default, but the paperwork suggested exposure beyond the tenant entity.
What we did:
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Reviewed guarantees and mapped potential liability paths
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Confirmed practical collectability signals
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Negotiated a realistic resolution rather than treating it as a dead file
Result:
Meaningful recovery secured without dragging the matter into court.
Why CA-USA Is the Right Fit for Commercial Lease Debt
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Dedicated Commercial Collections department
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Custom approach per case (documentation-driven, not script-driven)
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75%+ recovery rates on viable debts under one year with adequate documentation
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4.87/5 client rating built on results and professionalism
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Commercial credit reporting used strategically
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Legal is last resort, not the first move
If a Tenant Walked, Don’t Wait
Commercial debt gets harder with time—not because your lease gets weaker, but because debtors move, rebrand, shift assets, and bury the trail.
If you have unpaid rent, CAM/NNN, lease-break charges, or move-out damages, the most cost-effective moment to act is now, while the debt is fresh and the documentation is still clean.
CA-USA is built for this exact problem: recovering commercial lease losses with persistence, professionalism, and smart escalation.