Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 27:

In page 8, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following:

4.—No person may sell a unit unless the purchaser has supplied his or her residential address to the owners' management company and has undertaken that if he or she resides elsewhere than at the unit he or she shall notify the company of any future changes in address until he or she disposes of any interest in the unit or resides in the unit.".

This amendment arises from a suggestion by the Apartment Owners' Network. They make the point, which is manifestly the case, that in this Bill second-hand sales are not regulated. Such purchasers are often unaware of the obligations of membership of an owner-management company. To a large extent, the success of this type of housing depends on the collective effort of citizens being prepared to make the concept of a management company work. There are many obstacles in the way of that, especially during a housing crash. Many young people bought such apartments but are now in negative equity as well as being unemployed. This amendment seeks to address one aspect, which is the second-hand ownership issue. I cannot think of any reason the Minister would not want to accede to it.

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