SUPPLY ELASTICITY AND THE RENTAL VALUE OF INVESTMENT PROPERTY

Abstract

Investment returns from property derive from rental income and change in value, and a property's value is a function of the current rent and the expected future rent. So, ultimately, investment returns derive from rent, and successful investment will depend on an understanding of the principles and forces which explain the market's determination of rental value. This paper explains the significance of supply elasticity to the determination of rental value and investigates the probable elasticities of the four main types of investment property. It concludes that, due to the very inelastic supply of farmland and prime High Street shops, trends in rental growth will reflect the profitability of occupation whereas, in general, the rental value of office and industrial property will tend to reflect development costs, due to their relatively elastic supply. The article investigates how far such predictions appear to be supported by evidence and briefly discusses the relative impact of obsolescence on the four property types.

Citation

FRASER, W. (1986), "SUPPLY ELASTICITY AND THE RENTAL VALUE OF INVESTMENT PROPERTY", Journal of Valuation, Vol. 4 No. 4, pp. 354-369. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb007999