Property Focus: The Interview – Richard Corby

Richard Corby is the RICS spokesman for commercial property in Yorkshire and a partner at property consultants and surveyors at Edward Symmons in Leeds.

1. What are your views of the current state of the commercial property and property development markets?

“They’re both starved of cash. All sectors are suffering and not until the money supply loosens up will there be any improvement.

“Also, a lack of confidence is slowing the decision-making of property occupiers and frustrating potential transactions. We’ve seen some very small green shoots in the residential market but it is still early days.”

2. What key challenges and pieces of legislation do you think will most affect your sector over the coming months?

“The Government feels that increasing the cost of holding empty commercial property by charging business rates on empty space is forcing down rents because landlords need to be competitive, and that this is a benefit to occupiers.

“However, this is only part of the picture and many manufacturers, retailers and other property occupiers are being financially disadvantaged by the policy, resulting in staff cuts and insolvencies in some cases.”

3. Why do you think Yorkshire is a good place to do business?

“Most people in the Yorkshire business community are honest and hardworking, who appreciate good advice from an experienced property professional.”

4. What is your favorite building/development in Yorkshire and why? 

“City Square in Leeds. It looks like a mighty ocean liner steaming down Park Row, and those of us old enough to remember the hideous 1960s building which it replaced know what an important statement the new building makes about Leeds.”

5. If you could improve anything in the region, what would it be?

“The transportation networks in the region need to improve. To encourage further investment and business attraction at least one of the region’s airports need to offer real international connectivity, so we don’t have to rely on Manchester or London airports.”

6. What was your first job and how did you enter your current line of work?

“I started working for my father’s firm of chartered surveyors in Harrogate in school holidays from the age of 14, initially portering in the furniture and fine art auction rooms, then manning show homes at weekends and latterly selling large country houses across the region before going to university in 1981 to study urban land economics.”

7. What do you most enjoy about your job?

“One of the biggest advantages of my job is meeting people. I get the opportunity to work with clients that value my experience and appreciate my advice. 

“And because I work so closely with them I also get to see the benefits my efforts have on the client, which is really rewarding.” 

8. What barriers have you faced during your career and how have you overcome them?

“When I first started in the profession being Leeds-based in what was largely a London-centered profession posed a few barriers. To get the recognition I deserved and to make an impact I had to work really hard to dispel these obstacles.

“Thankfully now this isn’t the case for people entering the profession.”

9. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“The best piece of advice I’ve been given is don’t leave until tomorrow what you can do today.”

10. And the worst?

“I don’t think I’ve ever been given bad advice, or at least I haven’t listened to it.”