Landlord leader slammed over ‘deeply offensive’ comments about student housing

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A leading Northern Ireland landlord has caused a storm after suggesting that families who live in student areas should leave if they don’t like the partying antics of their undergraduate neighbours.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s breakfast programme Robert Greer, Chair of the Landlords Association of Northern Ireland, told the station’s presenters that “young students and middle-aged people do not mix”.

Referring to the popular student area of Holyland in Belfast, he went on to say that “the handful of families who live in this area must be tolerant of student culture” but that “most of us faced with that would move somewhere else and we don’t understand why they don’t do that”.

This suggestion that non-students should consider leaving areas like Holyland (pictured, above) where university undergraduates accommodation is concentrated has caused a storm following the programme’s broadcast yesterday morning.

South Belfast MP Claire Hannah told local media that: “These comments betray a terrible attitude toward efforts to regenerate and build community cohesion in the Holyland.

“Residents have had to fight this dismissive thwarting attitude for years. The Holyland area is a mix of families, young professionals, students, asylum seekers, and new communities; it is not solely a ‘student village’.

“Many of these residents have lived here for decades and live there all year round. The suggestion that long-term residents should simply leave is offensive and deeply unhelpful.

“The Holyland area has faced challenges year on year and this has been compounded both by the dismissive attitude of landlords and by the acute issues relating to the pandemic.”

Greer told the programme that his organisation didn’t like the problems caused by students in Holyland but that low rents, which are half that of the PBSA blocks in the centre of Belfast, meant places like Holyland would always have large student populations.

Listen to the interview (1:53:30 secs)

Read more about Northern Ireland.

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Major Industry Survey finds office life will continue…

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A major industry survey conducted by international law firm CMS took the views of senior real estate leaders, corporate office occupiers and global institutional investors. The survey reveals the likely impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on UK real estate and the priorities for the sector as it moves beyond the Covid.

In a report entitled “Real Estate Re-set: offices and purpose beyond the pandemic”, CMS reveals that despite short term concerns for offices, they are still open, and “some assets have grown in appeal to investors, with Industrial & Logistics and Healthcare the stand-out sectors.”

Offices, says the report, remain central to occupiers who replied that far from abandoning them, “a blend of home and office working will be best for productivity (45%), creativity and innovation (46%), and motivation of employees (47%).”

82% of occupiers replied that their offices “will continue to be a hub for human connection in some form and 61% saying they will refurnish offices when people return to work – floor plates won’t change, floor plans may.”

The report concludes on the whole that real estate looks resilient “with only 42% of industry leaders saying they are pessimistic about the outlook for the market, much less negative than after the Brexit vote when 64% were downbeat.”

Chris Rae, a Glasgow-based partner and real estate specialist at CMS, has said:

“There’s little doubt that Covid-19 is proving to be a game-changer for commercial property but there are also encouraging post-pandemic signs for the sector. While nearly a quarter of Scottish occupiers expect to downsize, a small majority is anticipating no change to office requirements once we are able to return to work.

“The survey also highlights concerns about the productivity of remote working. While many employees will be seeking to work from home more frequently, the office has a key role to play across most industries where the need to interact and collaborate with colleagues, clients and customers remains essential. The office will also continue to be fundamental in establishing the right culture, camaraderie, and energy to motivate people within many companies and organisations.

“Many managers say they are expecting to implement new health, safety and wellbeing measures in advance of employees returning to the office. While we can expect significant changes to how offices are used, our report suggests this will impact floor plans much more than floor plates in many commercial offices”

One other important aspect which the report brings to the fore is the increasing focus at a high-level, industry leaders, occupiers and investors – the subject of ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance). Across the piece ESG is increasingly seen as an important and fundamental element which “is having a transformative effect on the both the principles and mechanics of real estate.”

The survey took place in July 2020 on behalf of CMS and gauged and weighted the opinions of over 1,500 occupiers across the UK, Europe, North and South America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

Ciaran Carvalho, Partner and Head of Real Estate at CMS, said:

“Even before the pandemic, the real estate industry was embarking on a period of seismic change. The transforming environmental, political and social landscape and rapid advances in technology were changing the way we build, where we build and our relationship with where we live, work and spend our leisure time.

“The pandemic has accelerated many of these trends, while magnifying the issues and bringing into focus the opportunities the industry faces. This report is published at a critical time for real estate, with the industry at a crossroads. It is front and centre of the national agenda with the emergence from lockdown and the reopening of our offices, shops, schools, cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities.

“While the findings from our survey on the immediate prospects for some UK real estate asset classes are challenging, the resilience, innovation and commitment from our industry leaders to tackle climate change, diversity and inclusion and wellbeing is truly inspiring.

“Far from a burying the head in the sand approach and being overwhelmed by the short-term commercial reality of the ‘new world’, our pioneering companies are demonstrating a real social purpose, focusing on long-term, innovative yet pragmatic solutions to building our communities of the future.”

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Get a move on! Property industry pledges to make house sales quicker

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Landlords have been promised better service when buying or selling property following the launch of an industry initiative.

The Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG) forum, which is attended by representatives from estate agency, conveyancing and other industry sectors as well as government officials, is asking estate agents to ‘take the pledge’ and promise to help improve the property sales process.

This includes asking agents to keep their customers fully informed and pre-warned about the buying process which, it is hoped, will resolve the problems that can hold up a sale, reducing fall throughs, help prevent fraud and, for some, reduce the time it takes to buy and sell.

For example, this includes recommending that vendors instruct a solicitor on the day a property is marketed, as is the case when selling via an auction.

Pledge

All the major industry organisations representing those involved in property sales have signed the pledge including mortgage brokers, estate agents, legal firms, surveyors, removals companies and consumer organisations.

Trade bodies involved include Propertymark, The Law Society, Conveyancing Association, RICS and Trading Standards.

Ana Bajri, RICS Associate Director, Residential (left) says: “As more people look for new homes to suit their working or family needs, it is vital that industry works together to help people move home as quickly, safely and smoothly as possible. 

“RICS members are an integral part of the house buying process. As part of the Home Buying and Selling Group we have been working hard with other professions to help consumers by setting out a more efficient approach for home moving   

“To ensure the pledge is a success, RICS are calling on their profession to support the pledge and actively support home movers to take steps to help ease the process.”

The initiative is also backed by the Property Redress Scheme. Its Head of Redress Sean Hooker (below) says: “We fully support this pledge and the work that the HBSG has done to produce guidance for home moving in the wake of the covid19 pandemic.

“The emphasis on communication, disclosure and documentation, will enhance the experience of the consumer and along with the promises from the other property professionals, will hopefully lead to quicker sales and less transactions falling through. As a redress scheme, we believe this will lead to less complainants and enhanced professionalism in the sector.”

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