Clare Daly
Question:409. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress that has been made by the Property Services Regulatory Authority regarding the introduction of mandatory seller packs. [41235/12]
View answerTuesday, 2 October 2012
Questions (409)
Written answers
The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) was established on a statutory basis on 3 April 2012 in accordance with the provisions of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The new legislation provides for the establishment of the Authority to licence, control and regulate Property Service Providers (PSPs), i.e. Auctioneers/Estate Agents, Letting Agents and Management Agents. The new PSRA licensing system came into effect on 6 July 2012.
I am advised by the Authority that its main priorities for the short to medium term are: Introduction of the new licensing system for PSPs; Setting and enforcing of new standards for PSPs; Establishment of a system of investigation and adjudication of complaints; Establishment and maintenance of the Compensation Fund; Establishment and maintenance of the Property Prices Register; Establishment and maintenance of a Commercial Leases Database; Establishment and maintenance of a Public Register of Licensed Property Services Providers.
The Authority has further advised that the question of examining the feasibility of the introduction of “seller packs” cannot be considered until the Authority’s main priorities have been addressed. It might be noted that in the United Kingdom, "Home Information Packs" which were a form of mandatory seller pack were discontinued with effect from 21 May 2010.