Vol. 566 No. 3
425 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider introducing legislation to protect purchasers of apartments from ever increasing management service charges such as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [13196/03]
447 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he proposes to set guidelines for the levying of management fees on private apartment blocks or new housing estates as charges have greatly increased in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13001/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 447 together.
An Agreed Programme for Government undertook to consider whether legislation was required to regulate the establishment and operation of apartment complex management companies. The matter is still under consideration, and the national housing conference, organised this week by my Department and the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, will offer an opportunity to examine some issues in relation to apartment complex management companies.
As regards management fees in particular, I have no immediate plans to set guidelines on the levying of fees. It has always been a feature of home ownership that expenses arise for households on the ongoing maintenance of the property, whether the property is in more traditional housing estates where the householder directly manages this process, or some new estates and apartment blocks which have specific arrangements with companies to look after these aspects. It would not be appropriate for Government to seek to control the level of fees which should be applied as part of the maintenance of these properties.
