What We Do
The new regulatory environment.
The new legislation, which is being debated in the Oireachtas, will apply to Property Services Providers (PSPs). These are persons involved either as corporate bodies, partnerships, sole traders or employees in:
1. The purchase or sale, by whatever means, of any estate or interest in land (including buildings) wherever situated;
2. The auction of private property other than land;
3. The letting of any estate or interest in land wherever situated;
4. The provision of property management services.
Thus Auctioneers, Estate Agents, Letting Agents and Property Management Agents will be regulated by the Authority. This will apply to property located in the Republic of Ireland and to transactions in Ireland which relate to property located abroad
The new regulatory environment provides for:
· a comprehensive licensing system covering all PSPs
· the investigation and adjudication of complaints made against PSPs
· the audit/inspection of PSPs operations
· the establishment of minimum qualification standards
The Authority will have power to sanction a licensee up to and including the revocation of a licence and may also impose fines of up to €250,000 where a PSP if found to have engaged in "improper conduct".
The Authority may bring a prosecution against a PSP for failing to comply with his or her statutory obligations or against any person providing a property service without a licence which may result in either a large fine or imprisonment or both.
Under the new regulatory regime all PSPs are required to contribute to the "Property Services Compensation Fund". Where a person suffers a loss due to the dishonesty of a PSP the Authority may award compensation from the "Fund”.
In this section, find out about:
Licensing
Investigation of Complaints
Codes of Practice
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