THE first big shindig of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) since it merged with estate agents’ body the IAVI, looks set to be a serious affair: there will be debates on the hot topic of upwards only commercial rent reviews, lectures on how to be, like Canada, “a model for recovery”, and talks on negative equity and debt restructuring at its annual conference tomorrow in Dublin.
Over 300 chartered surveyors have signed up for the day, being held in Chartered Accountants House on Pearse Street, Dublin 2. That includes lots of estate agents, says SCSI President John Curtin, who denies that there have been problems merging the two associations – “it’s gone better than anyone could imagine”.
The liveliest debate of the conference – to be chaired by John Bowman – will likely be between former Savills chairman Aidan O’Hogan and UK litigation lawyer Lesley Webber. O’Hogan will argue to leave the law on upwards only rent reviews alone.
And Canada’s Trevor Blakely may share his thoughts on a property price register (they have one over there). We may be close to getting one ourselves, now that the Property Services (Regulation) Bill providing for regulation of estate agents and the statutory establishment of the Property Services Regulatory Authority passed committee stage in the Dail yesterday.
Can a transparent price register be far behind?
