Start with the exact clause
Confirm which costs are controllable, which are outside the cap, whether the cap is cumulative or non-cumulative, and whether it compounds each year.
- Cap percentage and first comparison year
- Cumulative versus non-cumulative language
- Compounded versus simple increase
- Excluded taxes, insurance, utilities, or snow removal
Rebuild the allowed expense pool
Separate capped and uncapped categories for both years. Apply the formula only to comparable controllable expenses, then multiply any overage by the valid tenant share.
Watch for category and baseline changes
Compare category-level detail across years. A cost should not escape the cap because its label, account, or service provider changed.