When setting the asking rent for an investment property in Cannington or the surrounding suburbs, it can be tempting to focus on achieving the highest possible weekly figure.
But the highest weekly rent doesn’t always produce the highest overall return.
Sometimes, an extra week or two of vacancy can cost an investor more than a higher weekly rent would generate. The goal isn’t simply to advertise at the highest possible price — it’s to find the highest rent the current market will realistically support while minimising unnecessary vacancy.
Yes. If a higher asking rent causes a property to remain vacant for longer, the lost rental income can outweigh the benefit of achieving a slightly higher weekly rent.
Let’s use a simple example.
Imagine a Cannington investment property could realistically lease for around $800 per week, but the owner decides to test the market at $820 per week.
If it leases straight away at $820, that’s a great result. The additional $20 per week would generate an extra $1,040 over 12 months.
But if holding out for $820 results in an additional two weeks of vacancy, the numbers look very different:
Despite achieving the higher weekly rent, the property would generate $600 less rental income over that period.
The highest weekly rent doesn’t always deliver the best overall return.
No. The aim isn’t to underprice your investment property.
If current rental evidence supports a higher figure, there may be every reason to aim for it. Sometimes testing the upper end of an appraisal range can also be a sensible strategy.
What matters is monitoring how prospective tenants respond once the property reaches the market.
The important part is responding to what the market is telling us rather than allowing a property to remain vacant unnecessarily.
A rental appraisal should consider recently leased comparable properties, current competition, the individual property and current tenant demand.
When I prepare rental appraisals across Cannington, East Cannington and surrounding suburbs, some of the key things I look at include:
This is also why looking only at advertised rental prices can be misleading. An advertised price tells us what an owner is asking; a recently leased property gives us evidence of what the market has actually been prepared to pay.
No. Rental values and tenant demand can vary between Cannington and neighbouring suburbs, as well as between different types of properties.
Cannington, East Cannington, Queens Park, Beckenham, Kenwick, Bentley, Wilson and surrounding areas each have different property types, rental competition and tenant demand.
That’s why I prefer to use the most relevant local comparable rental evidence available when completing an appraisal, rather than relying solely on a broad Perth rental statistic.
Low tenant enquiry should be investigated early rather than allowing a property to sit vacant for weeks without reviewing the campaign.
That doesn’t automatically mean reducing the rent.
The asking price is only one part of a leasing campaign. Property presentation, photography, advertising, competing rental properties, inspection availability and current tenant demand can all affect the response.
The first question should be why aren’t tenants progressing?
Once we understand that, we can make a much more informed decision about whether the asking rent or another part of the leasing strategy needs to change.
A strong rental strategy considers both.
An extra $20 per week matters. So does losing $800, $1,600 or more because a property remains vacant unnecessarily.
Instead of only asking:
“What’s the highest weekly rent I can advertise my property for?”
I think the more useful question for an investor is:
“What strategy is most likely to give my property the best overall return?”
Sometimes the highest achievable weekly rent and the best overall return will be exactly the same. Sometimes they won’t.
The rental value of a Cannington investment property depends on its location, size, condition, presentation, features, current competition and tenant demand.
If you own an investment property in Cannington, East Cannington, Queens Park, Beckenham, Kenwick, Bentley, Wilson, St James or surrounding suburbs, I can prepare an up-to-date rental appraisal using current local rental evidence.
A rental appraisal can be useful if you’re preparing to lease your property, currently self-managing, considering changing property managers, weighing up whether to sell or rent, purchasing an investment property, or simply want to understand what your property could rent for in the current market.
Where possible, I also recommend an onsite appraisal. It allows us to properly consider the property’s condition, presentation and features rather than relying solely on information available online.
If you’d like to know where your investment property currently sits in the local rental market, you’re welcome to get in touch for a rental appraisal or simply have a chat about your options.
Eboni Freight
BDM | Team Cameron
Ray White Canning River
These results are estimates only and do not include lending costs, tax treatment, depreciation, vacancy risk beyond the allowance entered, or changes in market rent.
Cameron Smart and Ray White Canning River have been recognised at the 2026 REIWA Awards for strong auction results, reflecting the strategy, buyer follow-up and campaign process behind every auction.
See September 2026 property data for Perth, Cannington, East Cannington, Beckenham and Queens Park, including prices, rents and listings.