Which statement about the relationship of usable area to rentable area is true?

The statement that rentable area includes usable area plus common areas is accurate and reflects a fundamental concept in commercial real estate. Rentable area refers to the total space that a tenant pays for, which encompasses both the usable space that tenants occupy for their operations and the common areas shared among tenants, such as hallways, restrooms, and lobbies.

This distinction is significant because it affects rental calculations and how businesses budget for their occupancy costs. Tenants typically look at usable area to understand how much space they can actively utilize for their business, while the rentable area gives a more comprehensive view of the total cost and space involved when they enter into lease agreements.

The other options do not accurately represent the relationship between usable and rentable areas. Usable area is not always greater than rentable area; in fact, it is almost always less due to the inclusion of common areas in the calculation of rentable space. The concept of usable area does not refer to unoccupied spaces within a building, and rentable area is quite relevant in the context of leases since it determines how much tenants ultimately pay.