Item 2. PROPERTIES

W. R. Berkley and its subsidiaries own or lease office buildings or office space suitable to conduct their operations. At December 31, 2019, the Company had aggregate office space of 4,227,391 square feet, of which 1,129,970 were owned and 3,097,421 were leased.

Rental expense for the Company's operations was approximately $44,107,000, $45,778,000 and $52,925,000 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Future minimum lease payments, without provision for sublease income, are $49,293,000 in 2020, $47,107,000 in 2021 and $189,134,000 thereafter.