Call for emergency construction projects for social housing

Level of construction will increase sharply in next five years, says Keith Lowe, chief executive of the Douglas Newman Good Group

Keith Lowe, Chief Executive of the Douglas Newman Good Group
Photo: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie

What's your name?

Keith Lowe

What’s your current job?

Chief executive

How long have you held the position?

15 years

Can you describe your daily work routine?

A typical day would comprise my attending an early morning meeting with some of our branch offices or divisional teams. I then head back to my own office where I deal with my normal day to day activities. My work is very diverse so I could be evaluating a development site, advising on a valuation portfolio, acquiring assets, or tendering for new business for the group. I spend a fair amount of time evaluating properties or visiting development sites. At weekends, I could be working on a new homes scheme or visiting some of our open houses. This job is a vocation and is not for the faint-hearted who like standard working hours.

What is your professional background?

My professional background is completely property focused. I am a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. I am a registered valuer and also a member of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers.

Tell me about yourself away from work?

I work out in the gym three times a week. I play golf badly from time to time and have recently gone back to running, something I enjoyed as a teenager. I spend the bulk of my spare time with my wife and three children. I feel lucky in this regard.

Tell us something very few people know about you?

I have dyslexia, the challenges of which I have learned to overcome over the years.

You are speaking at the forthcoming National Property Summit in Dublin. What is the focus of your talk?

I am going to focus on new homes supply and potential solutions to the current challenges in the housing market.

What immediate changes are necessary to ‘rebuild Ireland’ and resolve some of the worst effects of the housing crisis?

The worst effect of the housing crisis is homelessness and particularly the plight of children with no homes, which is a horrific situation. This in my view should be dealt with by way of emergency construction projects for social housing purposes.

What changes do you envisage for the sector over the next five years?

I would anticipate that the level of construction will increase sharply in the next five years. Rents will stabilise, the rate of house price inflation will moderate and with additional construction by government the social housing crisis should be largely alleviated.

Keith Lowe is appearing at The Sunday Business Post 4th Annual Residential Property Summit. The agenda and further details for this important national event, at the AVIVA Stadium on November 22nd, is available atPropertysummit.ie