Northern Ireland National Conference
A Conference not to be missed with so much for property agents including the Department for Communities and Housing Rights sharing their thoughts on how the market has reacted since the introduction of the Private Tenancies Act. The conveyancing process is also looked at, how potential bottlenecks occur and reasons for delay. Plus, OFFR believes that within five years 90% of all property transactions will take place in a digital environment.
Overview
Make it free for 23
We have doubled the size of our conference programme for 2023 in response to demand and, for the first time ever, members will also receive a £100 conference credit as we commit to our make it free campaign. This means that members can attend a National or Regional Conference for completely free in 2023.
Ticket prices
Members: FREE *
Non-members: £100 (+VAT)
Featured session
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The biggest change to housing law in Northern Ireland for years
DAVID POLLEY | The PRIVATE TENANCIES ACT (NORTHERN iRELAND) 2022
The Act is being introduced gradually with Sections 1-6 in force from 1 April 2023 and additional regulations to be consulted on and introduced. Find out how the Act has been received and details of the next stages.
Venue
Titanic Belfast
1 Olympic Way, Queen's Road,
Titanic Quarter,
Belfast
BT3 9EP
Speakers
Philip Armstrong
Managing Director, Armstrong Solicitors
Philip Armstrong is the Managing Director of Armstrong Solicitors, a well-known commentator on the Northern Ireland conveyancing process, and Chair of the Law Society of Northern Ireland’s Conveyancing and Property Committee. He has designed Northern Ireland’s first in house conveyancing web app, which simplifies the moving house experience for sellers and buyers, and allows estate agents and mortgage advisers to receive real time updates on transactions.
In additional to residential conveyancing, Philip is a recognised expert in private landlord and tenant law, acting for and advising multiple landlords, letting agents and tenancy deposit scheme administrators in Northern Ireland.
Sessions
Conveyancing’s Secret Weapon Thursday @ 2:55 PM
Timothy Douglas
Head of Policy and Campaigns, Propertymark
Timothy joined Propertymark in July 2015 and leads on the organisation’s policy and campaigns activity across Westminster, the devolved parliaments, and local authorities. He authored Propertymark’s The Future of Renting position paper and wrote Propertymark’s best practice guidance to help agents operate during the pandemic. Timothy also created the policy proposals for the Leasehold: A Life Sentence research report.
Before Propertymark, Timothy worked as a political advisor in Westminster for a former Business Minister and Government Whip and spent a period of time as a Caseworker and Researcher for Members of the European Parliament.
Sessions
Panel debate: Dissecting the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Thursday @ 3:35 PM
Philip Farrell
Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Offr
Philip has been working in the property sector for over 30 years, initially managing a family agency. This was followed by the role of CEO of a nationwide group of estate agents and surveyors in Ireland. A market commentator and property columnist for a number of years, he has also been involved in working with representative bodies in both the UK and Ireland.
He moved into the Proptech space in 2017. His current role is as a co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Offr, an offer management platform developed for agents to negotiate sales on their own website.
Philip believes that in the era of instant gratification, today's consumer will ultimately demand that all property transactions are conducted in an online environment which will be overseen by the estate agent.
Sessions
Technology is changing estate agency forever - Be prepared! Thursday @ 10:55 AM
Eimear Gourley
Founder, NI Property Girl
Known as the ‘NI Property Girl’, Eimear Gourley, founded her company in April 2020, only one short month after the first Covid-19 lockdown period began. The team at NI Property Girl offers a range of services including helping investors to source buy to let properties, mentoring, property renovation services or support to sell your property.
Previously a civil engineer, Eimear has extensive knowledge of the sector and has been project manager for multi-million pound construction sites. Since then, she has been helping clients across the globe to begin and build their property investment portfolios, whilst continuing to grow her own company and personal success.
In 2023, Eimear was a finalist at the LCCC business awards in the 'Rising Star' category and the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards for 'Young Business Person of The Year'.
Sessions
Social Sells Thursday @ 11:35 AM
Eamonn Hunt
Head of TDS Northern Ireland, TDS
Sessions
Panel debate: Dissecting the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Thursday @ 3:35 PM
Cathy Landau
Landlord Advice Coordinator , Landlord Advice operated by Housing Rights
Cathy is the Landlord Advice coordinator. A former broadcast journalist, Cathy holds a Law degree from QUB and was editor of a property publication in Quinta do Lago, Portugal.
Landlord Advice is a service operated by Housing Rights. Housing Rights is the leading provider of independent specialist advice and information on housing issues in Northern Ireland.
Landlord Advice provides advice to landlords and letting agents across Northern Ireland. Landlord Advice is a confidential and free to use service which assists with compliance on matters of legislation and best practice within the private rental sector, and all aspects of landlord and tenant difficulties arising under a private tenancy in NI. Landlord Advice can refer registered landlords to the housing mediation service where mediators help landlords and tenants to resolve their problems.
Sessions
Panel debate: Dissecting the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Thursday @ 3:35 PM
How Landlord Advice can help you Thursday @ 1:55 PM
Jason Lee
Commercial Manager, Propertymark
Jason is a vastly experienced sales and auction expert with a demonstrated history of building and growing companies. He worked in agency as both agent and supplier for over 25 years and is passionate about delivering excellent customer service and results. Jason takes pride in development, training and nurturing of all the team and watching them flourish. Multi-award winning in both agency and suppliers’ category from EA Masters, Sunday Times and Negotiator Awards.
Stephen McCarron
President, NAEA Propertymark
Stephen has worked in the Northern Ireland property market for thirty years and been an active NAEA Propertymark member since he began. He started out with Nationwide Estate Agents and working his way up the ranks to eventually open his own agency Donnybrook Estate Agents in 1997.
Sessions
Presidents' update Thursday @ 10:05 AM
Victoria Pinkerton
Managing Director, Pinkertons
Sessions
Panel debate: Dissecting the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Thursday @ 3:35 PM
David Polley
Director Housing Supply Policy, Department for Communities
David’s area has responsibility for the development and implementation of most aspects of policy in relation to the Supply of Housing in tenures other than social housing, as well as the design and implementation of a programme of strategies aimed at improving housing supply. Work that Housing Supply Policy is responsible for includes regulation of the private rented sector, affordable housing, support for the Owner Occupied Sector and helping vulnerable people to live independently through the 'Supporting People' programme.
Sessions
Panel debate: Dissecting the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Thursday @ 3:35 PM
Department for Communities Thursday @ 1:15 PM
David Votta
Immediate Past President, ARLA Propertymark
David started his career in 2009 as a trainee lettings negotiator for a large independent estate agency in Kent. He moved onto Spicerhaart as a senior lettings branch manager before setting up his own agency in 2018.
David is a hands-on, frontline agent with ambitions to see the industry professionalised through regulation which he helped drive forward through his time as ARLA Propertymark President. He shares Propertymark's belief that regulation will create a level playing field for all agents and see that housing standards are raised.
Sessions
Presidents' update Thursday @ 10:05 AM
Clare Yates
CY Training Works
Clare has worked in the property industry for nearly 30 years. Starting out as a part-time weekend receptionist, her career has taken her from estate agency to new-build sales, holiday cottages, panel management and B2B sales but she is most well-known as a training consultant.
Clare has worked with some of the largest estate agents and law firms in the country, helping them to generate more business, improve customer care, improve sales progression and cross-sell related services.
Sessions
You never get a second chance to create a first impression Thursday @ 9:25 AM
Look back at 2022

Our Head of Research Phillip Nelson (left) and Head of Qualifications Michael Smith were on hand to talk to delegates in Northern Ireland.

Do your listings win you business? Business Growth Specialist Neil Whitfield explained how property listings can do so much more than just generating buyer and tenant enquiries at the North West Conference.

Eat, Sleep, Let, Repeat. Ellie Murphy and Daniel Hyre represented Goodlord at the South East Conference, exhibiting their award-winning lettings platform that works alongside agents' CRMs.

Star of Channel 5’s ‘Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords’, Paul Shamplina talked about his experiences of where letting agents have got it wrong to help others avoid making the same mistakes.

Find, win and convert more instructions. Homesearch were at the South East Conference to help agents grow their businesses using their award-winning prospecting platform and data.

Timothy Douglas provided an update of all the key areas agents needed to be aware of in Propertymark's industry update at the Midlands conference 2022.

James Munro toured the UK telling stories of agents who got it wrong and found themselves on Trading Standards' most wanted list so others could avoid making the same mistakes.

Events Team Leader Maria Routledge was ever-present and will be on hand again in 2023 to answer any questions members may have.

At the Welsh National Conference, James Hooker Head of Private Sector Housing Policy for the Welsh Government, provided further insight into their recent activities.

Lorna Kerr has been working with Scotland’s leading estate agents and legal professionals for over 17 years and previously lead on the rollout of the OnTheMarket property portal in Scotland. She assisted agents with what processes to implement to best avoid seeing HMRC at the door.

Legal specialist Robert Bolwell was at a number of events to provide his lettings legal update.

Sally Reid (MARLA) of Accomodation Unlimited was the winner Gallagher's Champagne give away at the South West Conference.

Propertymark's events team offered a special thank you to Maxine Fothergill and Liana Loporto-Browne who were attending their final conference in Portsmouth as the Presidents of ARLA Propertymark and NAEA Propertymark.


At the Scottish National Conference, Clare Yates discussed simple ways to keep customers calm and respond positively to any complaints.

PayProp showcased their automated payment provider software for the property management industry at the Scottish National Conference.
Propertymark update
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Watch on YouTubeClare Yates—what a great speaker, very engaging and made it light-hearted while gaining valuable tips.

I think the ''Baddies'' from Trading Standards, The Property Ombudsman and GDPR updates were the most informative speakers, and had a real enjoyable approach, keeping heavy material quite light. Also meeting lots of like-minded letting agents and property professionals was nice!

All speakers very good and those who had exhibitions up in the 'mingling room'. Propertymark are doing some really good work now and you can see this has been building for a few years, I especially appreciated the comms during the lockdowns and the panic of Covid. The constant communication and info was very good and really helped.

Well organised with excellent speakers and presentations. It was good to catch up with people in the industry too.

It was the first conference I have been too and took so much away from each speaker. Loved it, great meeting such passionate people.

The talks were not too long and there were good amount of breaks throughout the day. All were very interesting and engaging, especially The Trading Standards and TPO talks. It was interesting to understand what they are doing so we can improve our standards.

* Members can attend one conference for free in 2023 (Propertymark One not included). If a member wishes to attend another conference in the same year, the price will be £100 +VAT. Simply register for the conference as normal and our events team will be in touch to take payment.