Talks aim to resolve dispute over house sale prices

Government officials, consumer groups and organisations with a vested interest in the property market are meeting today in an effort to resolve a dispute over the publication of house prices.

Last month, concerns were expressed that some estate agents were providing exaggerated sale prices to newspapers.

The Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute says the situation has arisen because data protection laws only allow estate agents to release the exact sale price of a house with the consent of the seller and the buyer.

It wants the law changed so all sale prices can be listed on a national database.