Annual Report 2007 - The Link REIT

Annual Report 2007
The Link Real Estate Investment Trust
87
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
(c)
Investment properties
A property that is held for long-term rental yields or for capital appreciation or both, and that is not occupied by the
Group, is classified as an investment property.
Investment property comprises land held under operating leases and buildings held underfinance leases.
An investment property is measured initially at its cost, including related transaction costs.
After initial recognition, an investment property is carried at fair value, being the amount for which the asset can
be exchanged between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction. The carrying value of the
investment property is reviewed every six months and is independently valued by external valuers at least annually.
Changes in fair values of the investment properties are recognised in the income statement.
Subsequent expenditure is added to the asset’s carrying amount only when it is probable that future economic
benefits associated with the item willflow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other
repairs and maintenance costs are expensed in the income statement during thefinancial year in which they are
incurred.
(d) Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated
impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.
Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only
when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item willflow to the Group and the cost of the
item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance are expensed in the income statement during the
financial year in which they are incurred.
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate cost less
accumulated impairment losses over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or their lease terms (if applicable), as
follows:
Leasehold improvements
Equipment
Motor vehicles
2 to 5 years
3 to 5 years
5 years
The asset’s residual value and useful life are reviewed and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date.
An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is
greater than its estimated recoverable amount.