Service charge and operating expenses in Houston typically add 20–35% on top of base rent for institutional Class A buildings.

• OpEx and service charge typically add 20–35% to base rent.
• Cleaning, security, MEP maintenance, and lobby concierge are the largest line items.
• Pass-through structures vary materially by region — translate via the Lease Term Translator.
• Always negotiate caps on controllable OpEx in the LOI.

TL;DR

• OpEx and service charge typically add 20–35% to base rent.
• Cleaning, security, MEP maintenance, and lobby concierge are the largest line items.
• Pass-through structures vary materially by region — translate via the Lease Term Translator.
• Always negotiate caps on controllable OpEx in the LOI.

What sits in OpEx

In Houston, the standard Class A service charge covers cleaning, security, lobby and reception, MEP maintenance, lift servicing, lobby HVAC, exterior cleaning, and shared-amenity costs. Property taxes and insurance are often passed through separately.

Caps and protection

Negotiate annual caps on controllable OpEx (typically 3–5% over a base year). Uncontrollable categories (utilities, taxes) are usually uncapped but should still be itemised. Audit rights matter — secure them.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

What's a typical OpEx load in Houston?

20–35% of base rent for institutional Class A. Premium buildings with concierge, gym, and amenity programming sit at the top of that range.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

• CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
• JLL Office Insight — JLL
• Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
• Savills World Research — Savills
• Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction

Related topics

• Class A Lease Negotiation — How to negotiate a Class A office lease — the playbook from LOI to signed deal.