I can inform the Deputy that the Auctioneering/Estate Agency Review Group considered the question of whether intending vendors of property at auction or by private treaty should be required to prepare a "seller pack" containing a surveyor's report, title search, local authority search and draft contract, during preparation of its 2005 Report.
The Review Group was not convinced that the case for introducing such "seller packs" had been proven and recommended instead that the Property Services Regulatory Authority [PSRA] should, when established, examine the issue in light of future arrangements for electronic conveyancing of land and experience gained in respect of the operation of seller packs in other jurisdictions. The specific recommendation was as follows:
"The Regulatory Authority [PSRA] should at a future date review the case for mandatory seller packs, having regard to the proposed establishment of the Property Registration Authority, computerisation of Local Authority Records and the development of e-conveyancing. The impact of Home Information Packs on the UK property market should also be taken into account, as well as the differing characteristics of the Irish and UK residential property markets."
I wish to inform the Deputy that I will shortly be signing the first commencement order under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The Order will provide for the establishment of the Property Services Regulatory Authority. In line with the 2005 report recommendation as outlined above, I then propose to ask the PSRA, when established, to consider this matter.