Security Measures and the Apartment Market

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of security measures on apartment rent and occupancy. Three variables representing various security measures are estimated in a simultaneous model of rent and occupancy. Providing 24 hour security has a significant positive effect on both rent and occupancy. Having a manager living on site or a manned front desk/restricted entry does not significantly affect rent. All three variables, however, have a significant positive effect on occupancy. It would appear that, although landlords cannot extract higher rents for some security measures, all three measures included in this study act to increase occupancy.