Leasehold Improvement
Learn about leasehold improvements in Canadian real estate — what they include, how they’re negotiated, and their lease implications.

August 01, 2025
What is a Leasehold Improvement?
Leasehold improvements are alterations or additions made by or for a tenant to leased space to customize it for their business operations.
Why Leasehold Improvements Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian commercial real estate, leasehold improvements affect lease negotiations, tenant costs, and asset value.
Examples:
- Installing partitions or display fixtures
- Upgrading lighting or flooring
- Adding specialized equipment
Understanding leasehold improvements helps tenants and landlords structure clear agreements on responsibilities and ownership of improvements.
Example of Leasehold Improvement in Action
The retailer negotiated a tenant improvement allowance to cover leasehold improvements for custom shelving and lighting.
Key Takeaways
- Customizes leased space for tenant needs
- Negotiated in lease agreements
- May be funded by tenant or landlord
- Impacts lease value and obligations
- Ownership reverts to landlord at lease end

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Canada residential unit sales by month, actual, 2019 and 2024-2026. Data through June 2026. Source:
Canada residential sales-to-new-listings ratio, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source:
Canada residential months of inventory, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source: Source:
Year-over-year change in residential average sale price for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2022 to June 2026. Average price is shown here as a regional mix measure, not a substitute for HPI or local comparable sales. Source:
Year-over-year change in residential unit sales for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2024 to June 2026. Source: 
15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)
Renderings of the tower proposed for 15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)





Goldberg Group 
10-storey apartment building currently occupying 525 Eglinton Avenue East/WND Associates
Rendering of 525 Eglinton Avenue East/Wallman Architects
The Mayfair West site and its surrounding context. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
Renderings of Mayfair West. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)



















