Plea over property 'cowboys'

The Government must get tough on property cowboys by introducing minimum qualifications for auctioneers, estate agents demanded today.

The Real Estate Alliance said unqualified valuers were fuelling the fires of ‘Rip Off Ireland’ and damaging the housing market as well as the industry’s reputation.

The alliance – which is made up of estate agents and auctioneers – called on the Government to set a minimum of degree-level qualification for those in the property industry.

Eddie Barrett, newly appointed chairman of Real Estate Alliance, said it was a serious cause for concern that unqualified people could carry out valuations on properties.

“The Government committee on the regulation of the auctioneering industry has been out on this topic for the last 12 months and their findings have yet to be published.

“In the meantime these unqualified cowboys are still out there ‘valuing’ properties, potentially damaging not only the property market and the unsuspecting buyer but also the reputation of our industry professionals,” he said.

“It is a sad reality that at present, there are estate agents in practice around this country with no training, no experience, no qualifications and in some cases no professional indemnity insurance.

“The Government surely has to realise that inaccurate valuations made by unqualified persons are fuelling their fire of ‘Rip Off Ireland’.”

Mr Barrett said it was frightening beyond belief that people could play with other people’s fortunes and mislead the public.

Vice chairperson of the alliance Aine Myler said auctioneers’ licences were awarded with only an insurance bond of €12,700 and an accountant’s certificate of solvency.

“Real Estate Alliance believes that auctioneering is and should be a professionally qualified occupation, akin to practising solicitors or accountants.

“The industry as a whole needs to reflect the highest professional standards required to practice in the field.

“As such we believe that no less than a relevant qualification to degree level should be the minimum acceptable for those practising in the industry,” Ms Myler said.

The alliance made the call following its conference and annual general meeting which took place in Ennis, Co Clare, this weekend.