Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policy changes which he plans to introduce in relation to the management fees charged by owners of property in multi-unit developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13300/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Section 15 of the Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009, which is awaiting Report Stage in the Seanad, provides that an owners' management company must establish and maintain a scheme for annual service charges. These charges must be calculated on a transparent basis and be equitably apportioned between apartment owners. The income from charges must be used for the purposes of maintenance, insurance and repair of common areas and providing common services (legal, security, accounting etc.) for the apartment owners.

This section also provides that the service charge must be approved by a general meeting of the members of the company and where over 75% of the members do not approve the proposed charge, the existing charge shall remain in place until adoption of a new charge. The owners' management company will also be required to maintain sufficient and proper records of expenditure incurred by it to enable verification and audits to be undertaken.