Development and Housing Market Dynamics of Student Apartments in the Suburbs of Metropolitan Areas in Terms of the Establishment and Withdrawal of Universities: Case Study of Kyotanabe, Kyoto Prefecture

Abstract

This study analyzed the development of student apartments and the dynamics of the housing market in the city of Kyotanabe, Kyoto prefecture, from the perspective of establishment and withdrawal of universities. This paper also discusses the validity of the model proposed by Kinton et al. regarding the decline in the number of students and the dynamics of the housing market. After university establishment, the location of student apartments generally expands from nearby areas to areas relatively farther away. With the withdrawal of universities, student apartment rents fall, and the number of vacant rooms increases. Although there are differences among areas in rental fees after the withdrawal of universities, rents stop falling and the number of vacant rooms subsequently decreases in those areas. The following three factors are thought to be related to these changes in the housing market in Kyotanabe: 1) landlords and agents began to advertise to working people; 2) the number of students recovered; and 3) population growth in Kyotanabe recovered. Thus, the results in this case study area are consistent with the recovery phase of the housing market predicted by the Kinton et al. model.