Rental income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was approximately $17,569,000, compared to approximately $16,460,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, an increase of approximately $1,109,000 (6.7%).
The Partnership properties with the largest increases in rental income include 62 Boylston, 1144 Commonwealth, 653 Worcester Road, Westgate Apartments, and Clovelly Apartments with increases of $362,000, $185,000, $147,000, $129,000 and $69,000 respectively. Included in rental income is contingent rentals collected on commercial properties. Contingent rentals include such charges as bill backs of common area maintenance charges, real estate taxes, and utility charges.
Excluding the increase in expenses at 653 Worcester Road of approximately $311,000, operating expenses increased approximately $126,000 (1.0%). Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were approximately $13,240,000 compared to approximately $12,803,000 for the three months ended March 30, 2022, an increase of approximately $437,000 (3.4%), The factors contributing to the increase are an increase in repairs and maintenance of approximately $483,000 (21.2%), an increase in taxes and insurance of approximately $194,000 (8.5%), partially offset by a decrease in depreciation and amortization expenses of approximately $175,000 (4.3%) due to fully depreciated assets, and a decrease in operating expenses of approximately $142,000 (5.3%).
Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was approximately $3,899,000 compared to approximately $3,455,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, an increase of approximately $444,000 (12.9 %). The increase is due to the refinancing of properties, increasing the amount of the debt, which increased the interest expense for the period.
Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was approximately $975,000 compared to approximately $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, an increase of approximately $975,000. The increase is due to investments in Treasury Bills which mature over a period less than 180 days, with interest rates between 4.45% to 4.75%.
At March 31, 2023, the Partnership has between a 40% and 50% ownership interests in seven different Investment Properties. See a description of these properties included in the section titled Investment Properties as well as Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a detail of the financial information of each Investment Property.
As described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Partnership’s share of the net income from the Investment Properties was approximately $228,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to net income of approximately $20,000 for the three months ended March 30, 2022, an increase in income of approximately $208,000 (1034.6%). This increase is primarily due to an increase in rental revenue to approximately $2,686,000 from $2,430,000, an increase of approximately $256,000 (10.5 %) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022. Included in the income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 is depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $640,000.
As a result of the changes discussed above, net income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was approximately $1,754,000 compared to net income of approximately $342,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, an increase in income of approximately $1,412,000 (412.3%).
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Partnership’s principal source of cash during the first three months of 2023 was the collection of rents and for 2022 was the proceeds from the refinancing of 5 properties for approximately $43,000,000, interest income generated from the purchase of Treasury Bills, and the collection of rents. The Partnership’s principal use of cash during the first three months of 2023 was the purchase of Treasury Bills and the purchase of the commercial property at 653 Worcester Road for approximately $10,000,000. The majority of cash and cash equivalents of $24,654,625 at March 31, 2023 and $49,560,723 at December 31, 2022 were held in interest bearing accounts at creditworthy financial institutions.