Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Up to recently, property management received relatively little notice in residential housing, but that has changed radically. Much of the focus has been on negatives, including management fees, poor maintenance, complaints, management companies being dissolved and so on, and this has given rise to considerable misunderstanding and even misinformation.

I am glad to say that the information deficit has recently been reduced through a series of publications and consultation processes undertaken by a number of organisations, including the National Consumer Agency, the Director of Corporate Enforcement, Dublin City Council and the Law Reform Commission. There is no doubt that better consumer information and awareness will help to avoid some of the problems and frustration that have been experienced in the past.

My Department is not responsible for the wider range of legislation and regulation relevant to management companies in apartment complexes. The Law Reform Commission's consultation paper on legal aspects relating to multi-unit developments is currently the subject of a public consultation process. Possible measures to be taken in this area will be considered by the relevant Departments and agencies, and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has convened an interdepartmental committee to help develop appropriate legislative responses.

Indeed, a number of legislative measures are already in the pipeline. The Government has already decided that property managing agents will be regulated by the Property Services Regulatory Authority under legislation currently being prepared by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Property managing agents are commercial firms engaged by management companies to provide management and maintenance services for which management charges are paid.

With regard to company law, which is the framework within which management companies operate, forthcoming legislation will also provide a chance to ensure that the framework of law supports the effective operation of management companies. It is a moot point whether there should be further regulation of management companies since they consist of the property owners themselves——

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