In a sector in a state of constant flux, marked by an unprecedented crisis and a flood of new regulations, upskilling is more essential than ever. We met Julien Pibourret, a trainer and industry expert, to discuss the new property training programme launched by ORSYS. Against a backdrop of sustainability challenges, legal complexities and new practices, he shares his vision of a profession that is reinventing itself..
Could you please introduce yourself and explain your expertise in the property sector?
I am, first and foremost, a communications specialist and trainer, and I am here in the capacity of DELF and ORSYS trainer. My expertise is underpinned by an extensive network and key activities within the sector. I am the co-founder of «Vestiaire de l’immobilier», a business club which, for over five years, has been bringing together property professionals: estate agents, property agents, developers, solicitors, lawyers, surveyors, brokers, insurers, building tradespeople, property managers, etc. Its aim is to promote networking, business exchanges, partnerships and the sharing of experience amongst its members.
At the same time, I co-founded the media outlet «Voices from the Property Sector», which publishes annually, in partnership with the magazine Challenge, the ranking of the 100 most influential figures in the sector. This role enables me to be in direct contact with major clients, whether they are bank CEOs or leading property developers. This dual role as a networker and media monitor gives me the authority to identify the real needs on the ground and source the best experts to share this knowledge.
What are ORSYS’s new property training courses?
We have recently added a new range of training courses dedicated to the property sector to the ORSYS catalogue. It includes around ten new programmes, designed to respond to the major changes in the sector and the very practical needs of professionals in the field.
This service is built around five strategic pillars: legal and regulatory matters, co-ownership and property management, property transactions, property taxation and sustainable property development.
Understanding property law regulations
The first pillar concerns the legal framework. The property sector is now highly regulated, with standards changing rapidly and no room for approximation.
Professionals need to have a thorough understanding of complex subjects: town and country planning law, the ALUR Act, obligations relating to energy performance certificates, regulatory compliance, ensuring the security of transactions, and developments in the fields of construction and energy-efficient renovation.
Learning about the challenges of co-ownership and property management
The second pillar concerns the the co-ownership and the property manager. These are high-pressure roles that are becoming increasingly technical and require an excellent understanding of legal, financial and energy-related obligations.
The training courses cover the basics of co-ownership, the management of regulatory obligations, the challenges of comprehensive renovation, and the responsibilities of the property manager when dealing with co-owners who are increasingly well-informed.
Developing your skills in property transactions
The third pillar is devoted to the property transaction. In a more challenging market, characterised by a slowdown in sales and a severe crisis in the construction sector, professionals need to strengthen their commercial and technical skills.
It is no longer simply a matter of selling a property, but of being able to advise, present a case, ensure a transaction goes smoothly, understand the constraints of financing, analyse an energy performance certificate and support clients in decisions that are often more complex than before.
Understanding property taxation
The fourth pillar concerns the property taxation. This is a crucial issue for investors, wealth managers, banking advisers and professionals who assist clients with projects relating to the acquisition, transfer or optimisation of their wealth.
The training courses cover, in particular, SCI companies, transfer mechanisms, inheritance and tax planning relating to property.
Incorporating the challenges of sustainable property development
Finally, the fifth pillar is that of the sustainable property development. This is a key priority, as the sector must now take into account environmental issues, land-use efficiency, new building standards, bio-based materials, the reversibility of buildings and the objectives relating to ZAN (zero net land take).
It is no longer possible to design a building without considering how it might evolve in the future: could an office be converted into a home? Can a property development adapt to new uses? How can we reduce the carbon footprint whilst remaining economically viable? These questions have become central to developers, investors and local authorities, as sustainable property is no longer just a matter of image: it is essential to the viability of projects.
The aim of this new offering is therefore clear: to enable property professionals to develop their skills in areas that are truly transforming their industry. The property sector can no longer be managed solely on the basis of intuition or experience. It requires increasingly specialised expertise, at the intersection of legal, technical, commercial, tax and environmental matters.
It is precisely this growing expertise that ORSYS aims to capitalise on, with a range of services designed to address the realities on the ground and the profound changes taking place in the market.
Why did you launch this new product?
Why this offer? Because The property sector is the lifeblood of the French economy, but it is also a sector undergoing rapid change. These days, we can no longer make do with a vague understanding. Between sustainable property, temporary structures and the proliferation of standards, there was a gap to be filled. As a major player in the training sector, ORSYS needed to establish itself in this specialist field with a range of highly specialised services.
What specific needs of the property market do they meet?
The market is facing a over-regulation. France is a country governed by regulations, and in the property sector, every mistake can prove costly. Professionals have a pressing need to understand complex mechanisms such as the Energy Performance Certificate (Energy Performance Certificate) or the law ZAN (Zero Net Land Development).
Furthermore, we are currently in a period of unprecedented crisis. Property developers are struggling, and sales are slowing down. In this climate, the only way to come out on top is through professionalisation. It is essential to be able to provide precise advice on tax matters, energy-efficient refurbishment and new trends such as co-living in order to remain relevant to an increasingly well-informed clientele.
These training courses therefore meet a very specific need: to help professionals ensure their practices are compliant, to better understand the rules of the game, and to turn regulatory constraints into opportunities for providing advice and standing out from the crowd.
Which types of candidates can benefit from these training courses?
The scope is very broad, as the requirements span the entire value chain. This naturally applies to estate agents, who, incidentally, are required by regulation to undergo training every three years. But we also target:
- The wealth managers and bank advisers, who need to be familiar with the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in order to approve loans.
- The asset managers and property management companies (such as those owned by major chains like McDonald’s), which manage complex property portfolios.
- The property managers and estate agents, high-pressure roles where technical skills are lacking.
- Managers at the property development facing the challenges of sustainable construction.
More broadly speaking, these training courses are aimed at anyone who needs to make informed decisions regarding property: estate agents, property transaction professionals, developers, asset managers, banking professionals, wealth advisers, etc.
What skills will participants gain?
Depending on the course they choose, participants will acquire specialised and immediately applicable skills:
- Legal: have a thorough understanding of town planning law, the legal fundamentals of co-ownership and new property regulations (the ALUR Act, etc.).
- Technique: understand the «Projected» Energy Performance Certificate», in other words, knowing what work needs to be carried out to improve a property’s energy rating.
- Sales: to optimise an agency’s lead generation, client acquisition and digital communications.
- Strategic: gain an understanding of property taxation (SCI, transfer of ownership, inheritance) and sustainable construction solutions.
The challenge is not simply to acquire knowledge, but to know how to apply it in a real-world professional context: securing a mandate, advising a seller, supporting a buyer, anticipating the consequences of a poor energy performance certificate, or steering a project towards more sustainable solutions.
In what ways are these training courses practical and directly applicable in the field?
It’s our obsession. We’re aiming for a ratio of 70 % of practical work for 30 % of theory. This involves real-life case studies and practical feedback. Above all, These training courses are run exclusively by practising professionals with over 10 years’ experience: specialist solicitors, authors of reference works or presidents of federations.
When a participant attends a training course with an expert who deals with these issues on a daily basis, they do not just learn about a piece of legislation; they learn how to apply it, how to avoid the pitfalls, and sometimes even gain indirect access to the expert’s network.
That is the key difference between theoretical training and practical training: participants work on scenarios they may encounter as early as the very next day in their day-to-day work. They leave with practical methods, key considerations, concrete examples and a greater ability to engage with their clients, partners or legal advisers.
What are the main challenges facing property transaction professionals today?
The first challenge is the bureaucratic red tape. These days, an estate agent has almost become a legal expert and a building technician. The second challenge is the housing shortage in France (with a shortfall of more than 200,000 new homes per year), which is putting enormous pressure on land supplies.
Finally, there is the challenge of the urban densification. Mayors are reluctant to build high-rise buildings (20 storeys or more), preferring urban sprawl, which runs counter to current environmental concerns. Professionals must learn to navigate this unstable political and economic climate.
Added to this is a major development: clients now expect very specific answers regarding energy, building works, financing, taxation and the future value of properties. Transactions are therefore becoming a global consultancy service, and not just intermediation.
What are the key legal, regulatory or compliance issues that need to be addressed?
We must be on high alert regarding the Energy Performance Certificate, as a poor credit rating can prevent a sale or bank financing. Another crucial point is the the adaptability of buildings. These days, you can no longer build an office without allowing for the possibility that it might be converted into housing in the future; this is what is known as the reversibility, a cornerstone of sustainable property.
We must also keep a close eye on the materials bio-based and changing building standards designed to reduce the carbon footprint. Finally, the management of co-ownerships is becoming increasingly technical with the requirements for comprehensive energy-efficiency refurbishment.
Professionals must also ensure that files comply with regulations, that the information provided to clients is of a high standard, and that their advice can be properly traced. In such a highly regulated environment, training serves as both a safeguard and a driver of performance.
What is it that gives these ORSYS training courses their added value?
The added value lies in the exceptional calibre of the speakers whom we have selected via the DELF network. Among them are leading figures and big names such as:
- Ms Songul Top, specialist solicitor and international speaker on legal matters
- Olivier Ducelier, president of the leading federation of French building surveyors
- Pascal Buscarlet, a recognised expert in co-ownership management and property management
As I often say, you cannot compare mass-produced «Jambon de Paris» with «Noir de Bigorre». At ORSYS, we have chosen excellence. These are not trainers who just teach theory, but experienced practitioners. Furthermore, ORSYS allows you to create full courses to support an employee’s long-term career development.
What advice would you give to a property professional who wants to develop their skills?
My advice is not to go it alone. The property market can no longer be approached on the basis of mere passion or intuition; it requires a hyper-professionalism.
Find out about the regulatory requirements specific to your sector (new-build, second-hand, commercial) and seek out expertise wherever you can find it.
Taking part in training courses also means exchanging ideas with colleagues and comparing working practices, so as not to be left behind by technical developments such as AI or new materials.
We must accept the idea that the industry is changing and that expertise is becoming a competitive advantage. Those who have a better understanding of the rules, practices, energy constraints and customer expectations will be better equipped to survive in the long term.
How do you think careers in the property sector will develop over the next few years?
This is the «3-million-question»! I can see three main areas:
- Energy specialisation : Jobs in the building renovation and energy efficiency sectors (C2E, energy-saving contracts) are set to boom.
- Commercial property: We will focus less on outright ownership and more on how properties are used. Co-living and intergenerational housing are major trends that are helping to rebuild social ties.
- Proptech and materials: The surge in start-ups working on bio-based materials (enriched wood, modern cut stone) is set to transform the way we design cities.
These developments will require professionals to move away from a purely transactional view of their profession. In the future, they will need to understand the ways in which homes are used, environmental constraints, technical innovations and new social expectations relating to housing.
What message would you like to convey to future participants? In a nutshell, why should they take these courses?
The property sector has become too complex to navigate without cutting-edge expertise. Taking these training courses ensures that you learn from the very best professionals, enabling you to turn regulatory constraints into genuine business opportunities.
It is also a way of staying one step ahead: gaining a better understanding of the sector, advising clients more effectively, and carrying out your work with greater confidence, credibility and impact.
