In other words, part of the profits that merchants receive come from sharing some of the surplus value produced by the factory workers and the other part comes from exploiting their own employees. It is obvious that the tremendous buying power of the Wal-marts, Home depots, and Office Depots etc., is the reason for local hardware and stationary stores going out of business, just as the supermarkets' greater buying power destroyed the mom and pop corner groceries a generation ago. Landlords and Rent Control Factories, business offices and apartments are examples of property owned by landlords who rent their use values just like any other commodity. Industrial capitalists may own their machinery, but not have enough capital to own the workshop. They would have to share part of the profits extracted from their workers for the use of the building.
Landlords also make profit by exploiting their own workers, clerks, repair people, janitors, etc.
The landlord must receive enough to keep the property in good condition, to set aside something for replacing it, to pay the taxes and insurance, and, finally to make a profit. The renters of the property whether it be a commercial building or an apartment are not being exploited. They are paying a fair rate for its use. When workers' apartments rent over their value, we need to remember that the law of supply and demand is at work. This may happen frequently because there is more money to be made in building luxury apartments than housing for lower income workers.