Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011

Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2011 Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Revised Act Acht Athbh… Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 40 of 2011 PROPERTY SERVICES (REGULATION) ACT 2011 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART 1 Preliminary and General Section 1. Short title and commencement. 2. Interpretation. 3. Exemptions. 4. Application of this Act to principal officers and employees. 5. Laying of regulations and orders. 6. Expenses. 7. Repeals and revocation. PART 2 Property Services Regulatory Authority 8. Establishment day. 9. Establishment of Property Services Regulatory Authority. 10. Membership of Authority and terms of membership. 11. Functions of Authority. 12. Meetings. 13. Membership of either House of the Oireachtas, European Parliament or local authority. 14. Advisory committees, consultants and advisers. 15. Non-disclosure of information. 16. Strategic plans. 17. Reports to Minister. 18. Codes of practice. 19. Chief Executive. 20. Staff of Authority. 21. Superannuation. 22. Accounts and audits. 23. Accountability of Chief Executive to Oireachtas Committee established to examine, etc., appropriation accounts, etc. 24. Accountability of Chief Executive to other Oireachtas Committees. 25. Power to charge and recover fees. 26. Advances by Minister to Authority. 27. Inspectors. PART 3 Licences to Provide Property Services 28. Prohibition of unlicensed property service. 29. Register of licensees. 30. Application for licence. 31. Issue or refusal of licence. 32. Tax clearance. 33. Documents to accompany certain applications. 34. Notification to applicant of refusal to issue licence, etc. 35. Renewal of licence. 36. Notification to applicant of refusal to renew licence, etc. 37. Display and production of licences. 38. Offence to use licence issued to another person. 39. Issue of replacement licence, etc. 40. Surrender and seizure of licence following suspension or revocation, etc. 41. Notification of material matter to Authority. 42. Provision of information by Garda Síochána. PART 4 General Obligations of Licensees 43. Letter of engagement. 44. Retention of records. 45. Professional indemnity insurance. PART 5 Client Accounts and Related Matters 46. Keeping and preservation of client accounts and records. 47. Offences relating to client accounts and accounting records. 48. Control of banking accounts or assets of licensees. 49. Priority of claims to client moneys. 50. Preservation of lien and other rights. 51. Provisions regarding banks. 52. Vesting in Official Assignee of sums to credit of certain client accounts. 53. Provisions relating to client accounts in event of bankruptcy. 54. Power of Authority to deal with documents. PART 6 Sale or Letting of Land 55. Vendor to be given statement of advised market value, etc. 56. Estimate of selling price not to be less than advised market value, etc. 57. Evidence of reasonableness of advised market value. 58. Sale by auction. 59. Disclosure requirements applicable to vendor and licensee in relation to sale of residential property. 60. Prohibition on provision of financial services, etc. 61. Retention of records where sale of land other than by auction. 62. Regulations under Part 6. PART 7 Complaints, Investigations and Sanctions 63. Complaints against licensees. 64. Circumstances in which application may be made to High Court for immediate suspension of licence, etc. 65. Investigations. 66. Powers of entry and inspection, etc., of inspectors for purposes of investigation. 67. Protection for persons reporting improper conduct, etc. 68. Actions to be taken by inspector and Authority upon completion of investigation. 69. Confirmation of High Court required before decision under section 68(4)(a) to impose major sanction takes effect. 70. Appeal to High Court against decision to impose major sanction. 71. Application to High Court to confirm decision to impose major sanction. 72. Provisions supplementary to sections 70 and 71. 73. Matters to be considered in determining sanctions to be imposed. PART 8 Appeals Against Certain Decisions of Authority 74. Property Services Appeal Board. 75. Appeal to High Court on question of law. 76. Taking effect of certain decisions of Authority. PART 9 Property Services Compensation Fund 77. Property Services Compensation Fund. 78. Compensation for loss due to dishonesty. PART 10 Maintenance of Professional Competence of Licensees 79. Regulations may provide for professional competence schemes. 80. Review of professional competence scheme. 81. Duty of licensees to maintain professional competence. PART 11 Property Services Provided by Certain Persons from EU Member States 82. Interpretation of Part 11> and Schedule 7. 83. Application of this Act to relevant persons. 84. Relations with competent authorities. 85. Effect of revocation or suspension of relevant person’s relevant authorisation. PART 12 Residential Property Sales Prices and Commercial Leases Database 86. Residential property sales prices. 87. Database of commercial property leases. 88. Tenants to provide Authority with particulars of relevant commercial leases. PART 13 Miscellaneous 89. Investigation of persons other than licensees. 90. Certain provisions to be void. 91. Publication of sanctions, etc. 92. Receipt of notice. 93. Restriction of Data Protection Act 1988. 94. Offences — general. 95. Regulations that may be made by Authority — general. 96. Regulations that may be made by Minister — general. 97. Power to specify form of documents. 98. Interpretation of transitional provisions. 99. Application of this Act to persons who were lawfully providing property service before commencement of relevant provisions of this Act in respect of that service. 100. Modification of operation of section 99(1) in specified circumstances. 101. Consequential amendments to other enactments. SCHEDULE 1 Repeals and Revocations PART 1 Acts Repealed PART 2 Statutory Instrument Revoked SCHEDULE 2 Information to be Contained in Property Services Agreements PART 1 Property Services Agreements — general PART 2 Property Services Agreements for Sale of Land PART 3 Property Services Agreements for Letting of Land PART 4 Property Services Agreements for Provision of Property Management Services SCHEDULE 3 Provisions applicable to Oral Hearings conducted pursuant to section 66 or 68 PART 1 Oral Hearing conducted by inspector pursuant to section 66 (15) PART 2 Oral Hearing conducted by Authority pursuant to section 68 (5) SCHEDULE 4 Redress for Contravention of section 67 (5) SCHEDULE 5 Provisions in respect of Property Services Appeal Board PART 1 General PART 2 Appeals SCHEDULE 6 Provisions Applicable to Administration of Property Services Compensation Fund SCHEDULE 7 Modifications of this Act in Relation to Relevant Persons SCHEDULE 8 Consequential Amendments to Other Enactments Acts Referred to Animals Act 1985 1985, No. 11 Auctioneers and House Agents Act 1947 1947, No. 10 Auctioneers and House Agents Act 1967 1967, No. 9 Auctioneers and House Agents Act 1973 1973, No. 23 Bankruptcy Act 1988 1988, No. 27 Building Societies Act 1989 1989, No. 17 Casual Trading Act 1995 1995, No. 19 Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004 2004, No. 21 Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 2010, No. 24 Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005 Companies Act 1963 1963, No. 33 Companies Act 1990 1990, No. 33 Companies Acts Companies (Amendment) Act 1982 1982, No. 10 Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 1993, No. 8 Consumer Credit Act 1995 1995, No. 24 Criminal Justice Act 2011 2011, No. 22 Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 2010, No. 6 Data Protection Act 1988 1988, No. 25 Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003 2003, No. 6 Debtors (Ireland) Act 1840 1840, (3 & 4 Vict.) c. 105 Deeds of Arrangement Act 1887 1887, (50 & 51 Vict.) c. 57 Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 1995, No. 22 European Parliament Elections Act 1997 1997, No. 2 Family Law Act 1995 1995, No. 26 Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 1996, No. 33 Finance Act 2002 2002, No. 5 Firearms Act 1964 1964, No. 1 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 1992, No. 18 Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 2009, No. 27 Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1980 1980, No. 10 Local Government Act 2001 2001, No. 37 Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993 1993, No. 34 Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 2011, No. 2 Pawnbrokers Act 1964 1964, No. 31 Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 1851, (14 & 15 Vict.) c. 93 Pounds (Provisions and Maintenance) Act 1935 1935, No. 17 Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act 1984 1984, No. 21 Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 2003, No. 29 Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 2004, No. 33 Registration of Business Names Act 1963 1963, No. 30 Sale of Land by Auction Act 1867 1867, (30 & 31 Vict.) c. 48 Sea Fisheries Act 1952 1952, No. 7 Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 2005, No. 26 Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 1999, No. 31 Succession Act 1965 1965, No. 27 Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 1997, No. 39 Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 1977, No. 10 Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007 Valuation Act 2001 2001, No. 13 Number 40 of 2011 PROPERTY SERVICES (REGULATION) ACT 2011 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BODY, TO BE KNOWN AS AN tÚDARÁS RIALÁLA SEIRBHÍSÍ MAOINE OR, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, THE PROPERTY SERVICES REGULATORY AUTHORITY, TO CONTROL AND SUPERVISE THE PROVIDERS OF PROPERTY SERVICES, TO CAUSE ANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST THOSE PROVIDERS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND TO ADJUDICATE ON ANY SUCH COMPLAINTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BODY TO BE KNOWN AS AN BORD ACHOMHAIRC UM SHEIRBHÍSÍ MAOINE OR, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, THE PROPERTY SERVICES APPEAL BOARD, TO HEAR AND DETERMINE APPEALS AGAINST CERTAIN DECISIONS OF THE AUTHORITY; AND TO PROVIDE FOR TAKING ACCOUNT OF DIRECTIVE 2006/123/EC IN SO FAR AS IT RELATES TO PROPERTY SERVICES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSEQUENTIAL REPEAL OR AMENDMENT OF CERTAIN ENACTMENTS AND THE REVOCATION OF A STATUTORY INSTRUMENT; AND FOR RELATED MATTERS. [20th December, 2011] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: PART 1 Preliminary and General Short title and commencement. 1.— (1) This Act may be cited as the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. (2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision, and different days may be so appointed for different purposes and different provisions. (3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), an order under that subsection may— (a) in respect of the repeal by section 7 (1) of the Acts specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 , appoint different days for the repeal of different Acts or different provisions of them, (b) in respect of the revocation by section 7 (2) of the statutory instrument specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1 , appoint different days for the revocation of different provisions of it, (c) appoint, whether by reference to paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of the definition of “property service” in section 2 (1) or otherwise, different days for the coming into operation of this Act (or of different provisions of this Act) in respect of different services which fall within that definition, or (d) in respect of section 28 (1) appoint, whether by reference to paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of the definition of “property service” in section 2 (1) or otherwise, different days for the coming into operation of section 28 (1) in respect of different property services. Interpretation. 2.— (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “act” includes an omission; “accounting records”, in relation to a licensee, mean the books of account and all other documents required to be kept by the licensee in accordance with regulations made under section 46 ; “advised letting value”, in relation to land valued for letting by a licensee, means the licensee’s reasonable estimate, at the time of such valuation— (a) of the amount that would be paid by a willing tenant on appropriate letting terms in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing where both parties act knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion, or (b) of the relevant price range within which would fall the amount that would be paid by a willing tenant on appropriate letting terms in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing where both parties act knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion; “advised market value”, in relation to land valued for sale by a licensee, means the licensee’s reasonable estimate, at the time of such valuation— (a) of the amount that would be paid by a willing buyer in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing where both parties act knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion, or (b) of the relevant price range within which would fall the amount that would be paid by a willing buyer in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing where both parties act knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion; “advisory committee” means an advisory committee appointed by the Authority under section 14 (1)(a); “Appeal Board” means the Property Services Appeal Board established by section 74 ; “appropriate contribution”, in relation to the Fund and an application for a licence or the renewal of a licence, means the amount of the contribution (if any) prescribed in regulations made under section 95 in respect of such application; “appropriate fee”, in relation to a provision of this Act, means— (a) subject to paragraph (b), the fee prescribed in regulations made under section 25 in respect of that provision, and (b) in the case of paragraph 14(1) of Schedule 5 , the fee prescribed in regulations made under section 74 (4) in respect of that paragraph; “approved housing body” means a body which has been approved under section 6 (6) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 ; “assets” include moneys; “auction” includes a Dutch auction; “Authority” means the Property Services Regulatory Authority established by section 9 ; “bank”, in relation to a client account of a licensee, means a credit institution authorised by a competent authority in an EEA Member State, within the meaning of Directive 2006/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions (recast) 1 ; “business”, in relation to a licensee, means the licensee’s business as a licensee; “Chairperson” means the chairperson of the Authority designated under section 10 (2); “Chief Executive” has the meaning given to it by section 19 (1); “client” includes— (a) a person for whom a property service is provided by a licensee, (b) a person to whom a refund of a deposit is due in relation to a property service provided to that person or another person, and (c) in the event of the death, insolvency or other incapacity of a person who falls within paragraph (a) or (b) (in this definition referred to as the “person concerned”)— (i) any person having authority to administer the estate of the person concerned, (ii) any beneficiary under a will, intestacy or trust of the person concerned, or (iii) any other personal representative of the person concerned; “client account” means a current or deposit account in the name of a licensee in the title of which the word “client” appears and which is kept with a bank; “client moneys” means moneys received by a licensee, in the course of the provision of a property service, from, for or on the account of a client other than moneys owed to the licensee by the client in respect of the provision of such property service; “code of practice” means a code of practice published or approved of under section 18 as it is in effect from time to time; “Commercial Leases Database” means the Commercial Leases Database established under section 87 (1); “commercial property” means property that is used for the purposes of business within the meaning of section 3 of the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1980 ; “commercial property lease” means an instrument creating a tenancy in respect of commercial property; “company” means a company registered under the Companies Acts; “complaint” means a complaint under section 63 ; “complainant”, in relation to a complaint, means the person who made the complaint; “connected relative”, in relation to a person, means— (a) the person’s spouse or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 , or (b) a parent, brother, sister or child of— (i) the person, or (ii) the person’s spouse or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 ; “Directive 2006/123/EC” means Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market 2 ; “director”, in relation to a body corporate, includes— (a) any person occupying the position of director, by whatever name called, (b) any person who effectively directs or has a material influence over the business of the body corporate, (c) any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the body corporate are accustomed to act, unless the directors are accustomed so to act by reason only that they do so on advice given by the person in a professional capacity, and (d) where the affairs of the body corporate are managed by its members, any of the members who exercises the functions of such management; “duplicate”, in relation to a licence, means a copy of the licence issued by the Authority and with the word “duplicate” stamped on it; “establishment day” means the day appointed under section 8 ; “financial services”, in relation to a licensee, means any, or any combination, of the following: (a) the provision by or on behalf of the licensee of advice to a purchaser in respect of his or her capacity to secure a loan in respect of the purchase of land and the amount of any such loan; (b) the offering by or on behalf of the licensee to provide a service referred to in paragraph (a); (c) the arranging by or on behalf of the licensee for a lender to provide a purchaser with a loan in respect of the purchase of land; (d) the offering by or on behalf of the licensee to provide a service referred to in paragraph (c); (e) the provision by the licensee of any service in the licensee’s capacity (if any) as a mortgage intermediary within the meaning of section 2 (as amended by item 1 of Part 12 of Schedule 3 to the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004 ) of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 ; (f) the offering by the licensee to provide a service referred to in paragraph (e); (g) the provision of any other service which would result in the licensee knowing the financial situation of the purchaser which could influence the price he or she might be willing to pay to purchase land; “Fund” has the meaning given to it by section 77 ; “grant” means a grant out of the Fund made pursuant to section 78 (1) to a client in respect of a loss sustained by the client as a result of dishonesty on the part of a licensee, or as a result of dishonesty on the part of any principal officer, employee or agent or former principal officer, employee or agent of the licensee, arising from the provision of property services by or on behalf of the licensee to the client; “improper conduct”, in relation to a licensee, means— (a) the commission by the licensee of an act which renders the licensee no longer a fit and proper person to provide property services or a particular class of property service, (b) the commission by the licensee of a contravention of— (i) section 28 (1), 29 (9), 31 (5), 37 (1), (2), (4), (5), (6) or (7), 41 (1), 43 (1), (2) or (3), 44 , 45 (1) or (2), 55 (1) or (2), 56 (1), 57 (1), 58 (3), 59 (1), 60 (1), 61 , or 81 (1) or (2), or (ii) a provision of regulations made under section 46 , 62 or 95 , or (c) the giving by the licensee of a statement of advised market value or advised letting value of land which is clearly unreasonable; “independent contractor” means an individual who provides a property service where— (a) no employee of the individual provides such service on behalf of the individual, and (b) in the case of an individual who is a partner in a partnership, no other principal officer provides such service on behalf of the individual, and whether or not the individual engages in any other business; “inspector” means a person appointed under section 27 (1) to be an inspector; “investigation” means an investigation under section 65 (1); “investigation report”, in relation to an investigation, means a report in writing prepared, following the completion of the investigation, by the inspector appointed under section 65 (1)(b) to carry out the investigation— (a) stating that the inspector— (i) is satisfied that improper conduct by the licensee to whom the investigation relates has occurred or is occurring, or (ii) is not so satisfied, as appropriate, (b) if paragraph (a)(i) is applicable, stating the grounds on which the inspector is so satisfied, and (c) if paragraph (a)(ii) is applicable, stating— (i) the basis on which the inspector is not so satisfied, and (ii) the inspector’s opinion, in view of such basis, on whether or not a further investigation of the licensee is warranted and, if warranted, the inspector’s opinion on the principal matters to which the further investigation should relate; “land” has the meaning assigned to it by the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 ; “landlord” means the person, including a sublandlord, entitled to the legal estate immediately superior to a tenancy; “lessor”, in relation to land, includes a prospective lessor of the land; “licence” means a licence in the specified form issued under section 31 ; “licensee”, in relation to a licence, means the holder of the licence; “local authority” has the same meaning as it has in the Local Government Act 2001 ; “maintain”, in relation to a record, includes keep; “major sanction”, in relation to a licensee, means— (a) the revocation of the licence of the licensee and a prohibition (which may be a permanent prohibition, a prohibition for a specified period or a prohibition subject to specified conditions) against the former licensee applying for a new licence or a particular class of licence, (b) the suspension for a specified period of the licence of the licensee or, in any case where the period of such suspension (in this paragraph referred to as “the relevant period”) sought to be imposed is longer than the period of validity of the licence left to run, the suspension of the licence during that period and a prohibition for a specified period against the former licensee applying for a new licence or a particular class of new licence, which periods, added together, are equivalent to the relevant period, (c) a direction to the licensee that the licensee pay a sum, as specified in the direction but not exceeding €50,000, into the Fund, (d) a direction to the licensee that the licensee pay a sum, as specified in the direction but not exceeding €50,000, to the Authority, being the whole or part of the cost to the Authority of an investigation of the licensee, (e) a direction to the licensee that the licensee pay a sum, as specified in the direction but not exceeding €250,000, to the Authority by way of a financial penalty for an act of the licensee specified in the direction, or (f) any combination of any of the sanctions specified in paragraphs (a) to (e); “management body”, in relation to a multi-unit development, means— (a) that company or unincorporated body— (i) which is formed for the purposes of becoming the owner of all or some of the common areas of the development, and (ii) which manages all or some of the common areas of the development, and (b) any person who manages the common areas referred to in paragraph (a) at any time before the company or unincorporated body referred to in that paragraph starts to manage such common areas; “Minister” means the Minister for Justice and Equality; “minor sanction”, in relation to a licensee, means— (a) the issue, to the licensee, of— (i) advice (including advice relating to participation in a professional competence scheme), (ii) a caution, (iii) a warning, or (iv) a reprimand, or (b) any combination of any of the sanctions specified in paragraph (a); “multi-unit development” means an apartment complex, housing estate, or any other complex or estate containing residential units within the meaning of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 ; “Official Assignee” has the meaning assigned to it by section 3 of the Bankruptcy Act 1988 ; “personal representative”, in relation to the estate of a deceased person, means that person’s personal representative within the meaning of section 3 (1) of the Succession Act 1965 , and includes any person having, in respect of the deceased, under the law of another state any functions corresponding to the functions for administration purposes under the law of the State of a personal representative within the meaning of that section, and references to personal representatives as such shall be construed as references to personal representatives in their capacity as having such functions; “principal officer”— (a) in relation to a body corporate, means any person who is— (i) a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or (ii) a person purporting to act in any such capacity, (b) in relation to a partnership— (i) means any person who is— (I) a partner in, or a manager or other similar officer of, the partnership, or (II) a person purporting to act in any such capacity, and (ii) if any partner in the partnership is both a body corporate and a licensee or an applicant for a licence, includes any person who is— (I) a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of such partner, and (II) a person purporting to act in any such capacity; “professional competence scheme” means a scheme of education and training provided for in regulations made under section 79 ; “professional indemnity insurance” means a policy of indemnity insurance against losses arising from claims in respect of any description of civil liability incurred— (a) by a licensee arising from the provision of property services, or (b) by a principal officer, employee or agent or former principal officer, employee or agent of the licensee arising from such provision; “property management services” means services in respect of the management of a multi-unit development carried out on behalf of a management body, and such services include— (a) administrative services, and (b) the procurement of or any combination of the maintenance, servicing, repair, improvement or insurance of the development or any part of the development; “property service” means the provision, for consideration, in the State, in respect of property located within or outside the State, of any of the following— (a) the auction of property other than land, (b) the purchase or sale, by whatever means, of land, (c) the letting of land (including a letting in conacre or for the purposes of agistment), or (d) property management services, by— (i) a property services employer, (ii) an employee of a property services employer, (iii) a principal officer of a property services employer, or (iv) an independent contractor; “property services agreement” means a letter of engagement referred to in section 43 (1) which has not ceased to have any force and effect by virtue of the operation of section 43 (2); “property services employer” means a person (referred to in this definition as “the employer”)— (a) who is an individual who provides a property service where an employee of the employer may also provide such service on behalf of the employer, or (b) whose employees or principal officers provide a property service on behalf of the employer, and whether or not the employer engages in any other business; “purchaser”, in relation to land, includes a prospective purchaser of the land; “Register” means the Property Services Register established under section 29 (1); “relevant commercial lease” means a commercial property lease entered into on or after the commencement of section 87 ; “relevant price range”, in relation to land valued for sale or letting by a licensee, means a price range where the difference between the upper limit of such valuation and the lower limit of such valuation is not more than 10 per cent of such lower limit; “residential property” means a property that is used as a self-contained residential unit and includes any land appurtenant to it or usually enjoyed with it; “satisfied” means satisfied on reasonable grounds; “specified”— (a) in relation to a form of document, means specified under section 97 , (b) in relation to a period, means a period which is reasonable in the circumstances concerned, (c) in relation to a time, date or place, means a time, date or place, as the case may be, which is reasonable in the circumstances concerned; “tenancy” means the estate or interest which arises from the relationship of landlord and tenant however created; “tenant” means the person, including subtenant, in whom a tenancy is vested; “terms” include conditions; “vendor”, in relation to land, includes a prospective vendor of the land. (2) For the purposes of this Act, a property service shall be regarded as being provided in the State if the property service is provided by a person established in the State and whether or not— (a) the client concerned is ordinarily resident in the State, or (b) the property concerned is located in the State. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), a client is ordinarily resident in the State if the client is— (a) an individual who has had his or her principal residence in the State for the period of 12 months immediately preceding the provision of the property service concerned referred to in that subsection, (b) a company, or (c) any other body corporate established under a law of the State. (4) References in this Act (excluding subsection (5) but including sections 48 and 54 and regulations made under this Act) to a former licensee also include a person— (a) who was lawfully providing a property service immediately before the commencement of section 28 in so far as such commencement relates to such property service, and (b) in respect of whom the Authority refuses to issue a licence in respect of such property service. (5) References in Part 7 (including sections 69 , 70 and 71 ) to a licensee include a former licensee and the other provisions of this Act (including the definitions of “investigation report”, “major sanction” and “minor sanction” in section 2 (1), section 11 (2)(h), (i) and (j), Part 8 and Schedule 5 ) shall, with all necessary modifications, be construed accordingly. (6) References in the definition of “financial services” in section 2 (1) to “on behalf of the licensee” include references to the service concerned being provided through a subsidiary or associated body of the licensee. (7) Where a provision of this Act confers a discretion on the Authority, the Appeal Board or a court to revoke or suspend the licence of a licensee and the licensee holds 2 or more licences, that discretion may be exercised so as to revoke or suspend, as the case may be, one, some or all of those licences as the Authority, the Appeal Board or the court, as the case may be, thinks fit in the circumstances of the case, and the other provisions of this Act shall, with all necessary modifications, be construed accordingly. Exemptions. 3.— (1) This Act shall not apply to— (a) an auction conducted by an officer of the Revenue Commissioners while performing the functions of that office or employment, (b) an auction conducted by, or by an officer of, a sheriff, under-sheriff, or county registrar, (c) an auction, under any statutory provision relating to distress in respect of rates, conducted by a rate collector, (d) an auction conducted under a power of sale conferred by— (i) section 8 of the Pounds (Provisions and Maintenance) Act 1935, or (ii) section 5 of the Animals Act 1985 , (e) a sale of wreck conducted by a receiver of wreck appointed under section 41 of the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993 , (f) an auction of fresh fish, (g) an auction of State property conducted by an officer of the State, (h) an auction conducted by a person authorised by or under any statutory provision to do so without being licensed, (i) an auction of property, other than land, for charitable purposes, (j) a person acting as agent for a Minister of the Government, the Commissioners for Public Works in Ireland or any person authorised by any statutory provision to acquire land compulsorily, (k) the purchase or sale, by whatever means, of any land whether in or outside the State on behalf of another person in the course of and ancillary to the provision of legal services by a solicitor to that other person, (l) a property service consisting solely of a short-term letting to a person where such letting— (i) does not exceed or is unlikely to exceed 8 consecutive weeks, and (ii) is for bona fide tourism or other leisure purposes, (m) an approved housing body when providing a property service in respect of its own properties, (n) a property service provided by a local authority in the course of the performance of its functions under any statutory provision, (o) a property service provided by an employee of a licensee where— (i) the licensee is a property services employer or an independent contractor licensed to provide that service in that capacity, (ii) the principal function of the employee is the provision of secretarial, reception, human resource management, information technology or financial services, or any combination thereof, for the licensee, and (iii) the employee does not, in relation to the provision of that property service to a client of the licensee, directly engage with the client except to the extent necessary for the purposes of the performance of such principal function, and (p) such other property service as may be prescribed in regulations made under section 96 for the purposes of this paragraph. (2) The Authority may from time to time issue guidelines with respect to the practical operation of subsection (1) (o). Application of this Act to principal officers and employees. 4.— (1) A licensee who is licensed to provide a property service as a principal officer of a property services employer in his or her capacity as such principal officer is only entitled to provide such service on behalf of any licensee— (a) who is licensed as a property services employer to provide the same property service, and (b) in respect of whom the first-mentioned licensee is a principal officer at the time of providing the property service in his or her capacity as such principal officer, and the references in this Act to licensee and property service (howsoever expressed) shall, in their application to the first-mentioned licensee and the property service which he or she is licensed to provide in his or her capacity as such principal officer, be construed accordingly. (2) A licensee who is licensed to provide a property service as an employee of a property services employer in his or her capacity as such employee is only entitled to provide such service on behalf of any licensee— (a) who is licensed as a property services employer to provide the same property service, and (b) in respect of whom the first-mentioned licensee is an employee at the time of providing the property service in his or her capacity as such employee, and the references in this Act to licensee and property service (howsoever expressed) shall, in their application to the first-mentioned licensee and the property service which he or she is licensed to provide in his or her capacity as such employee, be construed accordingly. (3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (2)— (a) a licensee who is a principal officer of a property services employer but who is not licensed to provide a property service in his or her capacity as such principal officer is not entitled to provide a property service in such capacity until becoming so licensed, (b) a licensee who is an employee of a property services employer but who is not licensed to provide a property service in his or her capacity as such employee is not entitled to provide a property service in such capacity until becoming so licensed, and the references in this Act to licensee and property service (howsoever expressed) shall be construed accordingly. Laying of regulations and orders. 5.— Every regulation made under this Act and every order made under section 11 (4) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation or order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation or order is laid before it, the regulation or order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder. Expenses. 6.— The expenses incurred by the Minister, the Authority and the Appeal Board in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. Repeals and revocation. 7.— (1) The Acts specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 are repealed. (2) The statutory instrument specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1 is revoked. PART 2 Property Services Regulatory Authority Establishment day. 8.— The Minister shall by order appoint a day to be the establishment day for the purposes of this Act. Establishment of Property Services Regulatory Authority. 9.— (1) On the establishment day there stands established a body, to be known as An tÚdarás Rialála Seirbhísí Maoine or, in the English language, the Property Services Regulatory Authority, to perform the functions conferred on it by this Act. (2) The Authority— (a) is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a seal, (b) may sue, and be sued, in its corporate name, (c) may, with the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, acquire, hold and dispose of land, and (d) may acquire, hold and dispose of any other property. (3) Subject to this Act, the Authority shall be independent in the performance of its functions. (4) The seal of the Authority may be authenticated by— (a) the signature of the Chairperson or another member of the Authority authorised by the Authority to act in that behalf, and (b) the signature of the Chief Executive or a member of the staff of the Authority so authorised. (5) Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of the Authority and, accordingly, every document— (a) purporting to be a document made by the Authority, and (b) purporting to be sealed with the seal of the Authority authenticated in accordance with subsection (4), shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such document without further proof unless the contrary is proved. (6) Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed by an individual, would not require to be under seal may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Authority by any person generally or specially authorised by the Authority in that behalf. Membership of Authority and terms of membership. 10.— (1) The Authority shall consist of not more than 11 members. (2) The members of the Authority shall be appointed by the Minister, who shall designate one of them as its chairperson. (3) In appointing persons to be members of the Authority, the Minister shall, subject to subsection (4), have regard to the desirability of their having knowledge or experience in consumer affairs, business, finance, management or administration or any other subject which would, in his or her opinion, be of assistance to the Authority in performing its functions under this Act. (4) Of the members of the Authority— (a) not more than 3 shall be persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, are representatives of persons who provide property services, (b) not less than 3 shall be persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have knowledge of, or experience in, consumer affairs, and (c) one shall be an officer of the Minister. (5) The Minister shall, in so far as is practicable and having regard to the knowledge or experience of matters relevant to the functions of the Authority of the persons concerned, ensure an appropriate balance between men and women in the composition of the Authority. (6) Subject to this Act, a member of the Authority shall hold office for a period of 4 years from the date of his or her appointment. (7) (a) Of the members appointed to the Authority on the establishment day, 5 members (but excluding the Chairperson) shall, subject to this Act, hold office for a period of 3 years from the date of their respective appointments as such members. (b) The 5 members of the Authority referred to in paragraph (a) shall be selected by the drawing of lots, conducted in such manner as the Chairperson of the Authority thinks proper, at the first meeting of the Authority referred to in section 12 (3). (c) A member of the Authority may be selected as one of the 5 members of the Authority referred to in paragraph (a) notwithstanding the fact that he or she is not present at the first meeting of the Authority referred to in section 12 (3). (d) Notwithstanding section 12 (2), the quorum for the first meeting of the Authority referred to in section 12 (3) shall be 7 in so far as that meeting relates to selecting the 5 members of the Authority referred to in paragraph (a). (8) A person may not be appointed to be a member of the Authority for more than 2 consecutive terms but is otherwise eligible for reappointment. (9) A member of the Authority may at any time resign from office by letter addressed to the Minister and the resignation shall take effect on the date specified in the letter or the date the letter is received by the Minister, whichever is the later. (10) A member of the Authority shall, unless he or she sooner dies, becomes disqualified for, resigns, is removed from office or otherwise ceases to be a member, hold office as such member until the expiration of his or her term of office. (11) The Chairperson shall hold office as Chairperson until his or her term of office as a member of the Authority expires, unless that person sooner dies, becomes disqualified from holding office, resigns, is removed from office or otherwise ceases to be a member, but, if reappointed as a member, shall be eligible to be designated as the Chairperson. (12) Each member of the Authority— (a) shall hold office on a part-time basis and on such other terms (other than the payment of remuneration and allowances for expenses) as the Minister may determine, and (b) shall be paid by the Authority, out of the resources at its disposal, such remuneration (if any) and allowances for expenses (if any) as the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, determine. (13) The Minister may for stated reason remove a member of the Authority from office if, in the opinion of the Minister— (a) the member has become incapable through ill health of effectively performing the functions of the office, (b) the member has committed stated misbehaviour, (c) the member has a conflict of interest of such significance that, in the opinion of the Minister, the person should cease to hold the office, or (d) the member’s removal appears to be necessary for the effective performance of the functions of the Authority. (14) A person shall be disqualified from holding and shall cease to hold office as a member of the Authority if he or she— (a) is adjudicated bankrupt, (b) makes a composition or arrangement with his or her creditors, (c) is convicted on indictment of an indictable offence, (d) is convicted of an offence involving dishonesty, (e) has a declaration under section 150 of the Companies Act 1990 made against him or her or is subject or is deemed to be subject to a disqualification order by virtue of Part VII of that Act, (f) ceases to be ordinarily resident in the State, or (g) falls within any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 13 (1). (15) Where a member of the Authority dies, becomes disqualified from holding office, resigns, is removed from office or otherwise ceases to be a member, the Minister may appoint a person to be a member of the Authority to fill the resultant casual vacancy. (16) A person appointed to be a member of the Authority under subsection (15) shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office of the member who occasioned the casual vacancy. (17) (a) A member of the Authority who, pursuant to subsection (7), holds office for a period of 3 years from the date of his or her appointment shall, for the purposes of subsection (8), be considered to have served a term as a member of the Authority even though he or she did not hold office for the period of 4 years referred to in subsection (6). (b) A person who occasions or fills a vacancy shall, for the purposes of subsection (8) be considered to have served a term as a member of the Authority even though he or she held office for part only of the term. (18) Subject to section 12 (2), the Authority may act notwithstanding one or more vacancies in its membership. Functions of Authority. 11.— (1) Subject to this Act, the Authority shall control and supervise licensees and maintain and improve standards in the provision by them of property services. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Authority may, and where required by this Act shall— (a) issue and renew licences, (b) establish and maintain the Register, (c) specify and enforce— (i) qualification requirements, including levels of education, training and experience, and (ii) any other requirements, including the nature and minimum levels of professional indemnity insurance, for the issue and renewal of licences, (d) specify and enforce standards, including— (i) technical standards, and (ii) appropriate ethical standards, to be observed in the provision of property services by licensees, (e) disseminate information in respect of qualification requirements and other requirements referred to in paragraph (c), and standards referred to in paragraph (d), to such extent and in such manner as it thinks fit, (f) establish, maintain and administer the Fund, (g) where appropriate, cause the provision of any property service by any licensee or other person to be investigated, (h) establish and administer a system of investigation of licensees, whether following complaints against licensees or otherwise, (i) impose minor sanctions or major sanctions on licensees, (j) apply to the High Court for the confirmation of the imposition of major sanctions on licensees, (k) promote public awareness and disseminate information to the public in respect of property services, in particular the cost of such services, and the risks and benefits associated with the provision of those services, (l) promote the development and adoption of codes of practice, (m) keep the Minister informed of developments in respect of the provision of property services by licensees and assist the Minister in co-ordinating and developing policy in that regard, (n) undertake or commission, or collaborate or assist in, research projects and other activities in respect of the provision of property services, in order to promote and improve standards for the provision of those services and public awareness of them, (o) maintain and publish particulars of residential property sales prices, (p) establish and maintain the Commercial Leases Database, and (q) perform any other functions conferred on it by any other provision of this Act or any other enactment or by regulations made under this Act or any other enactment. (3) The Authority shall, in performing its functions under this Act, promote the best interests of clients and other users and potential users of property services in a manner that is consistent with the orderly and proper functioning of the property services markets and the orderly control and supervision of the providers of those services. (4) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, by order— (a) confer on the Authority such additional functions relating to property services and connected with the functions conferred on it by subsections (1), (2) and (3) or any order made under this subsection as the Minister thinks fit, and (b) make such provision as the Minister considers necessary or expedient in respect of matters ancillary to or arising out of any of the functions referred to in paragraph (a). (5) Subject to this Act, the Authority may do anything which it considers necessary or expedient to enable it to perform its functions, including liaison and co-operation with other statutory bodies and with other relevant professional and consumer bodies. (6) Any function of the Authority may, without prejudice to its general responsibilities under this Act, be performed through or by the Chief Executive or any member of its staff duly authorised in that behalf by the Authority. (7) The Chief Executive or a member of staff of the Authority who performs any of its functions is presumed in any proceedings to have been authorised by it to do so on its behalf, unless the contrary is shown. Meetings. 12.— (1) The Authority shall hold such and so many meetings as may be necessary for the performance of its functions but in each year shall hold not less than one meeting in each period of 3 months. (2) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall be 4 or such other number, not being less than 4, as the Authority may determine. (3) The Minister shall, in consultation with the Chairperson, fix the date, time and place of the first meeting of the Authority. (4) At a meeting of the Authority— (a) the Chairperson shall, if present, be the chairperson of the meeting, and (b) if and so long as the Chairperson of the Authority is not present or if the office of Chairperson is vacant, the members of the Authority who are present shall choose one of their number to act as the chairperson of the meeting. (5) Each member of the Authority (including the Chairperson) present at a meeting of the Authority shall have a vote. (6) At a meeting of the Authority, a question on which a vote is required shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members of the Authority present and voting on the question and, in the case of an equal division of votes, the chairperson of the meeting shall have a casting vote. (7) Subject to this Act, the Authority may regulate its own procedure. Membership of either House of the Oireachtas, European Parliament or local authority. 13.— (1) Where a member of the Authority, the Chief Executive or a member of the staff of the Authority is— (a) nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, (b) elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or to be a member of the European Parliament, (c) regarded pursuant to section 19 of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 as having been elected to that Parliament, or (d) elected or co-opted as a member of a local authority, he or she shall thereupon— (i) in the case of a member of the Authority or the Chief Executive, cease to be a member of the Authority or the Chief Executive, as the case may be, and (ii) in the case of a member of the staff of the Authority, stand seconded from employment by the Authority and shall not be paid by, or be entitled to receive from, the Authority any remuneration or allowances for expenses in respect of the period commencing on such nomination or election, or when he or she is so regarded as having been elected or on such election or co-option, as the case may be, and ending when he or she ceases to be a member of either such House, a member of such Parliament or a member of the local authority. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), that subsection shall be construed as prohibiting the reckoning of a period mentioned in it as service with the Authority for the purposes of any superannuation benefits payable under section 21 or otherwise. (3) A person who is for the time being— (a) entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein, (b) a member of the European Parliament, or (c) entitled under the standing orders of a local authority to sit as a member thereof, shall, while he or she is so entitled under paragraph (a) or (c) or is such a member under paragraph (b), be disqualified from being a member of the Authority, the Chief Executive or a member of the staff of the Authority. Advisory committees, consultants and advisers. 14.— (1) (a) The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister, appoint such and so many advisory committees and such and so many consultants or advisers as it may consider necessary to assist it in the performance of its functions. (b) The approval of the Minister under paragraph (a) is subject to the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of fees or expenses to which subsection (3) relates. (2) The appointment of a person to an advisory committee or as a consultant or adviser shall be for such period and subject to such terms and conditions as the Authority thinks fit. (3) Any fees or expenses which have been approved by the Minister, with the prior consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and are due to a member of an advisory committee or to a consultant or an adviser shall be paid out of the resources at the disposal of the Authority. (4) An advisory committee shall include persons who have knowledge or experience in matters relevant to the functions of the committee. (5) An advisory committee shall consist of a chairperson and such number of other members as the Authority may determine and may include persons who are not members of the Authority or its staff. (6) The Authority shall, in so far as is practicable and having regard to the knowledge and experience of matters relevant to the functions of the advisory committee of the persons concerned, ensure an appropriate balance between men and women in the composition of the committee. (7) A member of an advisory committee may be removed at any time from membership of the committee by the Authority. (8) The Authority may at any time dissolve an advisory committee. (9) The Authority may regulate the procedure and business of an advisory committee but, subject to any such regulation, the committee may regulate its own procedure and business. (10) An advisory committee may act notwithstanding one or more vacancies in its membership. Non-disclosure of information. 15.— (1) A person shall not, without the consent in writing of the Authority or as required by law, disclose confidential information obtained by that person in any capacity, or while performing functions, as any of the following: (a) a member of the Authority or an advisory committee; (b) the Chief Executive; (c) a member of the staff of the Authority; (d) a consultant or adviser appointed by the Authority or an employee of a consultant or adviser; (e) an inspector. (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a class A fine. (3) Nothing in subsection (1) shall prevent the disclosure of information by a person in the circumstances referred to in section 35 (2) of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 . (4) Nothing in subsection (1) shall prevent the disclosure of information— (a) to the Authority, (b) by or on behalf of the Authority to the Minister, or (c) which, in the opinion of a person referred to in that subsection, may relate to the commission of an indictable offence to— (i) the Director of Corporate Enforcement, (ii) the Competition Authority, (iii) a member of the Garda Síochána, (iv) an officer of the Revenue Commissioners, (v) the Central Bank of Ireland, or (vi) such other person as may be prescribed under section 96 after consultation by the Minister with any other Minister of the Government appearing to the Minister to be concerned. (5) In this section, “confidential information” means information that is expressed by the Authority to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description. Strategic plans. 16.— (1) The Authority shall, as soon as is practicable after the establishment day and thereafter within 6 months before each third anniversary of the establishment day, prepare and submit to the Minister, for approval by the Minister with or without amendment, a strategic plan for the ensuing 3 year period. (2) A strategic plan shall— (a) comply with any directions issued from time to time by the Minister in respect of the form and manner of the plan’s preparation, (b) set out the key objectives, outputs and related strategies of the Authority, including its use of its resources, and (c) have regard to the need to ensure the most beneficial and efficient use of the Authority’s resources. (3) The Minister shall, as soon as is practicable after a strategic plan has been so approved, cause a copy of it to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. Reports to Minister. 17.— (1) The Authority shall, not later than 30 June in each year, make a report (in this section referred to as “the annual report”) to the Minister on the performance of its functions during the preceding year. (2) The Minister shall, as soon as is practicable, cause copies of the annual report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. (3) The annual report shall be in such form and shall include information in respect of such matters as the Authority thinks fit or as the Minister may direct. (4) The Authority may make such other reports to the Minist …