Housing Management Companies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2012

Thursday, 9 February 2012

Ceisteanna (178)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

180 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will direct each of the city and county managers to compile in 2012 a comprehensive register of estate management companies in each of their functional areas; if he will collect and publish figures on the numbers of households paying management charges; if he is satisfied that the services provided by estate management companies to residents are of a reasonable standard and are proportionate to the estate management costs levied by such companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7516/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

The principal objectives of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011, which entered into force on 1 April 2011, are to ensure the timely transfer of the common areas of multi-unit developments to owners' management companies and to facilitate the fair, efficient and effective management of such companies. As Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no statutory powers over the functions or activities of city and county managers in relation to multi-unit developments and owners' management companies.

As regards service charges, the position is that section 18 of the Act requires each owners' management company to establish and maintain a scheme of annual service charges to fund the costs of insurance, maintenance and other common or shared services. The service charge must be calculated on a transparent basis, be apportioned on an equitable basis between apartment owners and be approved at a general meeting of the apartment owners. In this way, the Act gives apartment owners a direct role in determining the level of annual service charge, the level of services to be funded and the manner in which such services are to be provided.