NEWS

We are pleased to announce the release of the new edition of CEPI’s report, “The Regulatory Situation of Real Estate Professions across Europe”, an in-depth analysis of European real estate sector regulations. 

Exclusively available to CEPI members, this report is a valuable resource for understanding the evolving regulatory landscape impacting the real estate professions.

The 2024 edition offers country-by-country insights and examines emerging regulatory trends that shape the real estate profession worldwide, together with expert contributions on the development of Multiple Listing Services (MLS) in Europe and insights into global regulations, including those in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  

CEPI members can now access this year's edition to stay informed and navigate effectively throught the latest industry standards.

On Monday 15 January, the newly established working group on the image of the property manager, met with the participation of delegates from Spain, Luxemburg, Belgium and Ireland.

The scope of this Working Group is to find a common strategy

for the problems which impact the Property Manager profession. The working group is presided by the Belgian association IPI\BIV, which recently conducted a thorough research on all the obstacles and possible ways forward for this profession.

If you would like to know more about the work of the Working Group, please contact the secretariat at secretariat@cepi.eu

CEPI’s Irish member, the SCSI, just released a new report called "The Real Cost of New Housing Delivery 2023",  focusing on the rising costs of building three-bedroom houses in Ireland. The report shows that in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), costs increased by 24% in the last three years and a staggering 39% since 2016.

The study shows the challenges associated with this sharply rise in costs, with an average salary of €127,000 needed in the GDA for a new 3-bed semi, while just €85,000 are needed for the same in the Northwest.

Recommendations to counter this issue include backing Modern Methods of Construction, pausing increases in connection charges, and improving the planning process. The SCSI's report emphasizes the importance of strategic actions for a sustainable and affordable housing market in  order to solve this challenge.

Want to have a look at the full report click here 

Please also look at some of the media coverage:

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2023/1207/1420544-cost-of-delivering-new-three-bed-home-rises-to-397-000/                                                                                                                                       

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22330431/

https://link.goloudplayer.com/s/sGCkycH0xFMP

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/12/07/cost-of-building-three-bed-semi-in-dublin-jumps-90000-in-less-than-four-years/

A new milestone was reached during the CEPI General Meeting last Friday 1^st of December in Paris! 

CEPI celebrated the signing of the partnership agreement with OptimaSys who will now be developing the first sector-wide European Anti-Money Laundering (AML) tool that can be used by its members. This solution will enable real estate professionals to comply with the complex European AML legislation in a structured and time efficient manner. 

The project is set to kick off still in 2023 and a projected first release is scheduled for shortly after summer 2024. Representatives from all member associations will participate in the process to ensure applicability to each of the countries, whilst OptimaSys applies its knowledge & experience in real estate technologies.

The CEPI Secretariat is thrilled to announce its upcoming international conference on MLS systems in Europe, in collaboration with the International Real Estate Standards Organisation (RESO) and our trusted digital partner, Realtyna. 

The International MLS Forum is set to host esteemed leaders from real estate associations and experts in real estate technology across the European Union, Middle East, Asia, and North America. This exclusive event promises to bring together influential figures and decision-makers within the industry. 

The International MLS Forum holds great significance within the global real estate sector. It will enhance the international cooperation for Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) on a global scale and will emphasize the importance of open standards in the real estate field. 

The event will take place in the beautiful city of Paris, France, offering a prestigious and conducive setting for industry leaders to convene and exchange valuable insights. Make sure to mark your calendars for December 1st and 2nd, 2023. The International MLS Forum spans two days, providing ample time for in-depth discussions, networking opportunities, and the exploration of key industry topics. 

You can find more information to participate and register by clicking here. 

On Thursday November 30^th, Dutch CEPI member VastgoedPro is organizing their annual event “Day of the Real Estate Professional” and this in the AFAS theater in Leusden.

The organization is open to all Dutch speaking professionals and registration can be done for free using the following link.

Theme of this year’s event is “The world of your client” and the event will also welcome keynote speakers particularly on the topic of client expectations, experiences and increased client focus by means of digital tools.

The programme starts with a lunch at 12.00 and ends with a drink at 18.00. VastgoedPro also offers two training sessions starting at 10.00 but only with a restricted number of participants, so early registration is recommended.

Today, 28^th of November, CEPI participated in this year’s edition of the “Renovation Tour - Propriétaires Bruxellois on Board” organized by the UIPI (Union of Property Owners) which has the aim to inform citizens and property owners of Brussels about the ongoing discussions around a more sustainable real estate and to understand and face the present and future challenges. Participants discussed a local, national and European approach on different topics in terms of renovation. Speakers such as, Sylvain Robert (Project Manager, CINEA), Laurent Schiltz (Embuild.Brussels) and Wiebe Verhoeven (Urban.Brussels) presented several practical solutions to facilitate building renovation, based on existing European and local initiatives. 

The CEPI Secretariat is proud to announce the new collaboration with Currencies Direct, our new knowledge partner!

Currencies Direct, established in 1996 and boasting a significant presence across Europe, the USA, South Africa, and India, specializes in currency exchange and money transfers. In 2022 alone, the company processed over 600,000 payments, totaling more than £10 billion in currency.

The collaboration aims to address the challenges inherent in cross-border transactions, including poor banking communication, translation errors, and hefty banking fees. By offering a dedicated Client Account Manager to every referred client, Currencies Direct ensures transparent, timely, and cost-effective international property transactions.

CEPI is gaining access to Currencies Direct's 28 years of experience in currency remittance, protecting clients against currency fluctuations during significant events like Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership offers CEPI members valuable insights into the intricacies of payments and currency transactions, ensuring a smoother client journey in international transactions.

As both organisations align with shared values and standards, the collaboration is set to streamline and secure international property transactions, providing CEPI members with a trusted ally in Currencies Direct and offering the company an opportunity to contribute its expertise to the goals of the association.

For more information, please visit Currencies Direct website by clicking here

On the invitation of our Spanish member association GIPE, CEPI's Secretariat will attend the next edition of The Mediterranean Real Estate Exhibition in Malaga from the 16th to the 18th of November, organised by SIMED.

SIMED stands out as one of Spain’s most active international benchmark events, aiming to brainstorm about the real estate business and its future andbringing together various industry stakeholders. SIMED offers a great opportunity  to identify public-private synergies, engage in business transactions, invest, and explore emerging trends.

The event presents an excellent opportunity to connect with sector experts, with an expected attendance of more than 8,000 visitors from over 30 different countries, and significant participation from both private and public sector professionals.

The event programme features numerous conferences and networking opportunities, providing attendees with a chance to get involved in a whole range of activities. CEPI members are welcomed to participate in this high level event, by registering here.

On Tuesday, the 10^th of October, the CEPI Secretariat attended an event organised by the Urban Intergroup and Eurocities, in the European Parliament on the Mayors’ Agenda for Cities and the EU: Priorities and Challenges Moving Forward.  

The speakers of the event were represented by: Jan Olbrycht (Member of the European Parliament and Chair of Urban Intergroup), Andre Sobczak (Eurocities Secretary General), Dario Nardella (Mayor of Florence), Marcos Ros Sempere (Member of the European Parliament), Ricardo Rio (Mayor of Braga), Anna Lisa Boni (Deputy Mayor of Bologna), Ciaran Cuffe (Member of the European Parliament), Ans Persoons (Secretary of State of Brussels Capital Region).  

The discussion was centred on the importance of the cities in driving the agenda for the European Urban policy, especially in facing new challenges such as climate change and economic recovery. The speakers agreed on the idea that the cities should play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Europe and it is crucial to consider the cities’ agenda in strengthening their collaboration with the EU. 

The priorities, challenges, and opportunities of a collaboration between the cities and the EU were approached from different points of view (economic, social, and political) and it offered a dynamic roundtable discussion between all the speakers and the public. Housing in Europe is a topic approached in detail by the speakers and everyone considered it as a life quality indicator that should be added to the top of the cities’ agenda. 

On Tuesday, the 26^th of September, the CEPI Secretariat attended the online event organised by Euractiv and supported by PKEE (Polish Electricity Association) to discuss district heating and its role in helping to meet EU's climate neutrality targets.

Speakers of the event, moderated by Mr Dave Keating, included: Mr Madis Laaniste (Policy Officer for Energy Efficiency, DG ENER, European Commission), Mr Radan Kanev (MEP, Substitute ENVI Committee, European Parliament), Mr Julien Joubert (Project Manager, Energy systems and planning, Energycities) and Ms Dorota Jeziorowska (Director, PTEZ). 

The discussion focused on the current challenges facing the effective achievement of the goals under the "Fit for 55" Package, especially on the decarbonisation goals, as well as possible solutions proposed.  

According to the speakers, the district heating systems should definitely be kept under attention in the specific pieces of legislation on which the EU institutions are working, such as the EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) and the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Speakers not only touched upon the different trends and approaches existing in EU Member States on district heating but also talked about the implications for local authorities from a financial and technical point of view.  

Some other interventions pointed to the importance of engaging citizens in the process of decarbonisation of district heating systems at national level and to the way of implementation of the "Fit for 55" Package across the EU (which will depend on the different resources available in each country).

You can find the re-diffusion of the debate by clicking here. 

The CEPI secretariat was pleased to participate on the 1st of June in the seminar organised by UIPI, the International Union of Property Owners, on the housing and multi-unit buildings sector in Europe. The seminar saw the participation of academics and officials from the European Commission who presented the current challenges facing this sector and the possible solutions proposed, such as the Affordable Housing Initiative.This meeting also saw the direct participation of CEPI Director and Treasurer Mrs Claudine Speltz, who took part in a panel dedicated to sharing expertise to improve the housing sector.

You can find the detailed programme of the event at this link here.

On Tuesday 14th March 2023 the CEPI Secretariat followed the first webinar of the Zero-Emission Buildings Academy, presented by Ph.D. student Elisabeth Zeyen (TU Berlin) on the topic ‘BUILDINGS IN A HIGHLY RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM: IT’S ALL ABOUT PEAK DEMAND’.

With regard to the EPBD and its goal of achieving a Zero Emission Building stock by 2050, CEPI attended the first webinar by the Zero-Emission Buildings Academy, organized by ECTP and launched in partnership with Leonardo Energy, BPIE (Buildings Performance Institute Europe), and ECI (European Copper Institute). Each webinar is dedicated to experts addressing specific sustainable building-related topics.

The webinar focused on a research study previously released by Ph.D. student Elisabeth Zeyen from the Berlin Institute of Technology. The study analyzes measures to mitigate the heating demand during peak season in Europe in a cost- and emission-efficient manner. It is the first study that optimizes supply efficiency and costs, including all European countries.” To consult the recording of the event, please visit here.

The event, co-organised by Leonardo Energy, BPIE - Buildings Performance Insititute Europe and the European Copper Insitute, delved into the potential of wastewater heat recovery (WWHR), as an excellent example of the energy efficiency first principle at home.

According to the speakers, WWHR is a cost-efficient energy-efficiency solution that should also be better addressed in the EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive). In fact, while energy efficiency and renewables are often under the limelight, energy recovered by wastewater is to be considered as "regenerated" energy. Speakers, therefore, discussed not only the potential savings that can be reached by implementing WWHR systems but also, what the potential could be in integrating recovered energy into the calculation of the energy performance of buildings.

During the event, interventions also focused on WWHR benefits depending on the climate zone for implementation, and the new EN-EPB standards were also presented. Speakers of the event, moderated by the Director of the green and healthy buildings at the European Copper Insititute, Mr Quentin de Hults, included: Mr Pavel Sevela, from the University of Innsbruck, and Mr Laurent Socal, from the EPB- Center Expert (energy performance of building standards.

The recording and slides shared during the event will be soon made available by the organisers.

On Thursday, the 13th of April 2023, the CEPI Secretariat followed the webinar of URSA, presented by Arch. Daniela Cardace, the technical contact person at URSA, on the topic " TOWARDS THE NEW EPBD, ENERGY REQUALIFICATION, URSA SYSTEMS AND SOLUTIONS ".

The webinar was in Italian, with the option of subtitles in different languages. To consult the recording of the event, please visit here.

On March 14, during the vote held in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs adopted draft measures to increase the renovation rate in the Union and reduce energy consumption as outlined in the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The Parliament adopted its position on the file by 343 votes to 216, and 78 abstentions. Members of the European Parliament will now enter into negotiations with the Council to agree on the final text of the EU law.

CEPI timely communicated to lawmakers and other stakeholders involved its position on the Rapporteur’s report as adopted by the ITRE Committee on February 9. Our latest position on this important piece of legislation for the building sector is available here.

The CEPI Policy team will keep a close eye on further developments on this file to make sure the right balance between ambitions and realism is achieved for a greener and more efficient building stock.

With this draft legislation now arriving at a crucial step in the negotiation process before the proposed Directive becomes law, it is important to reiterate that real estate professionals support the fight against climate change and hence the effort into decarbonising the building stock. However, there remains ample margin for possible improvement in a number of key issues in the current text of the Directive. With this paper, we offer our views and expertise on those points.

Real estate professionals have a key role to play as an interface between energy experts and the consumer. The expertise and experience of real estate agents and property managers enable them to contribute to the debate on how to achieve energy-efficient savings by focusing on how to get the best results in the renovation of buildings. CEPI’s revised statement on the revision of the EPBD is available in the publications section of our website. You can also read the full text here.

The ICREDM 2023 conference is the first of its kind in the country. This year’s edition of the conference enlisted speakers from both the public and the private sector, including academics, managers, international partners and more. Topics of the many panels which took place during the four-days conference enlisted, among others, land management and administration, real estate and asset valuation, regulation, and technology.

CEPI’s Public Policy Manager, Ms Marchegiani, delivered a speech on the role of real estate associations in market transparency and the CEPI activities, which was followed by the interesting intervention of our Turkish member, GAPAS.

To know more about the conference, please visit: here.

The panel discussion around the EPBD was an opportunity for stakeholders from different sectors to get together and discuss the EPBD from several different angles. The text of this important framework Directive is now approaching the final vote of the Parliament in mid-March while the Council already agreed on this approach. It is vital that the last improvements to the law at the parliamentary level are made before going into negotiations with Member States.

Speakers agreed on the great opportunity offered by the EPBD to not only decarbonize the building sector but also fight energy poverty and intimately, climate change.

The panel discussions included expert speakers from the private sector and the Institutions.  For more information, please visit here.

Speakers exchanged views about the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Energy Performance in Building Directive (recast) and the current situation in the CE region (Central and Eastern Europe). The importance of energy-efficient renovation of the existing building stock was underlined as a key tool not only to navigate the current global climate crisis but to also offer a boost to innovation and the economy. Focus was also put on the rebuilding process that will hopefully soon, at the end of the war, take place in Ukraine and which should make sure the reconstruction effort will not follow the old and inefficient patterns, but should also listen to the needs of the Ukrainian partners, while efficient and expert partnerships between Ukraine and the EU should be built now. This will be investigated in more detail at the C4E conference in May. For more information please visit: here.

Speakers of the event, moderated by Ms Katarína Nikodemová - Buildings for the Future, included: Mr Adiran Joice - Renovate Europe, MEP Mr Martin Hojsik, Ms Anne Weidenbach - European Commission, Mr Petr Holub - Buildings21, Mr Oliver Rapf - BPIE, Buildings Performance Institute.

The event, moderated by Ms Christine Lemaitre from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) offered an interesting perspective on the EU taxonomy and its practical implications for the building and infrastructure sector. Speakers offered clear explanations of the key principles of what the EU taxonomy is, its purpose and how it works in practice, with a view also on potential future developments and what the current gaps are to tackle in order to ensure market alignment with this important tool. Benefits and challenges were examined at length by the speakers, notably: Ms Josefina Lindblom from the Directorate General Environment, European Commission, Ms Carolina Montano-Owen, PhD World Green Building Council, Mr Ben Allen, from the Institute for European Environmental Policies, Mr Fernando Sigchos Jiménez, Secretary General at the European Builders Confederation, and Ms Alexandra Quint from Assiduus. The recording and slides presented during the talk will be made available by the organisers soon. CEPI members can ask for more details from the Secretariat.

The document has been published by the IPMSC, a coalition of 88 property organisations representing hundreds of thousands of property professionals globally, including CEPI, and has been drafted by an independent group of 18 experts from 11 countries.

The document provides the foundation for incorporation and adoption of building measurement conventions in different global jurisdictions and facilitates the interface between the major differences in the historic conventions of those. “IPMS All Assets” (called also, IPMS All Buildings) supersedes all previously published IPMSC standards for individual asset classes by utilising the concepts and objectives contained in those specific versions of IPMS into one harmonised standard.

On the finalization of this vital document, Mr Paul Bagust, Head of Property Standards at RICS and Chair of the IPMS Coalition stated “consistent measurement to enable effective decision making and benchmarking has never been more critical. This standard is the result of many years hard work and commitment from organisations all around the world who have come together with a shared purpose. It will be invaluable to all those working in the built environment”.

The document is available at International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS) | Driving consistency;

Speakers debated around open real-estate funds, also known as real estate investment trusts (REIT), which have demonstrated to be of more and more interest to investors recently. REITs are publicly traded closed-end investment companies that invest in managed diversified portfolios of real estate or real estate mortgages/construction loans. There is no doubt real estate has considerable potential for energy savings and limiting co2 emissions. Nevertheless, investment strategies seem not to yet fully take risks and opportunities linked to climate change fully into account, while sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategies are increasingly important to enable the full potential of energy savings and emission reductions in the building sector, finally achieving the carbon neutrality goal by 2050. REIT could play a significant role in financing funds that still need to align with these concepts. The webinar delved into how REIT can contribute to climate goals and showcased good examples, such as for example the CRREM - Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor tool to help the industry decarbonise, and other green/circular projects relating to real estate.

Speakers of the event: Mr Adrien Bullier, Senior Project Adviser, CINEA, Mr Silke Bernard, Global Head of Investment Funds Practice, Linklaters Lux, Mr Erik Van Den Broeck, Partner, BDO Brussels, Mr Frédéric Van der Planken, CEO, Whitewood Green Real Estate Fund, Mr Raluca Carp Hengy, Managing Director, KPMG Luxembourg, Mr Murray Birt, Senior ESC Strategist, DWS Group.

The recording and slides of the event will be soon made available by the organizer. CEPI members can contact the Secretariat if they wish to receive those.