Estoppel Certificate

An estoppel certificate is a legal document used in real estate transactions to provide information about the current status of a lease agreement. It is often used in commercial real estate, but can also be used in residential transactions.

The document is completed by a tenant and then returned to the landlord. The landlord, or sometimes a third party such as a potential buyer or lender, can then use the estoppel certificate to verify the terms and status of the lease.

Typically, the estoppel certificate confirms critical details about the lease agreement such as:

Lease commencement and expiration dates

Base rent and additional rent details

Security deposit amount

The existence of any lease defaults or disputes

Any amendments to the lease

Any options to extend the lease

Once a tenant signs an estoppel certificate, they are generally legally prevented ("estopped") from later claiming that the lease terms are different from what is stated in the certificate. Thus, it's essential for tenants to ensure that the information in the estoppel certificate accurately reflects their understanding of the lease agreement.