The previous posted nailed it. The WTBTS used to have a financial model selling literature at a big profit with property development as something of a sideline. Now that the literature is given away free they have to really ramp up their real estate arm. I just wonder how much longer they can push the envelope with this one - a few JWs I know who are very much Society loyalists are getting increasingly concerned about the constant demands for money. One congregation I knew which had carefully saved money for years to re-model their own hall almost had a mutiny when the WTBTS siphoned off the cash & then told them that they weren't able to do a refurbishment as there were other priorities "in the worldwide field".
Looking at the figures , the society clawed in 35 million GBP from Kingdom Halls & circuits in the 12 months to 31st Aug 2013 increasing their cash balances from 5 million to 40 million ( see note 20 in the accounts ).
It will be interesting what the accounts for 2014 will be as the cash grab only really began to be pushed in early / mid 2013.
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends61/0001077961_AC_20130831_E_C.pdf
Personally I don't think this is anything to do with pedophile cases. Fundementally it is just a reaction to declining contributions coupled with a strong centralising attitude that is reflected right across the board - both from an organisation standpoint and the current "cult" of the Governing Body with their presence imposed constantly.