The Housing Agency to bring national information event to Leitrim for apartment and homeowners

Carrick-on-Shannon will host the next in a series of nationwide information evenings for owners of apartments and homes in managed estates. 

The event, organised by The Housing Agency, takes place at 7pm on Wednesday, September 10 in the Landmark Hotel and is open to members and directors of owners’ management companies (OMCs), as well as anyone else involved with apartments or multi-unit developments (MUDs).

The number of apartments and multi-unit developments in Ireland continues to grow. It is estimated that there may be as many as 10,000 OMCs operating nationally. 

OMCs look after shared services and facilities supporting the majority of the 270,000 or so apartments and flats in the country. OMCs also support houses and duplexes in managed estates.

Where there are four or five directors serving on each OMC board of directors, this means that there are at least 40,000 to 50,000 directors of OMCs, most of them volunteers, working in support of their estates and communities around the country.

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Owners of apartments and homes in MUDs are invited to attend the Carrick-on-Shannon event to help them take a full and active role in their OMC. 

The meeting will look at stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities and the supports available to them.

OMCs are responsible for looking after the shared spaces, facilities and services in a housing development, such as an apartment block.

“The OMC is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the common areas of the estate, for example lifts, corridors, hallways, stairs, gardens and car parks,” explained David Rouse, MUDs Adviser with The Housing Agency.

“Services for which it is responsible include building insurance, security, cleaning and waste management.”

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The OMC is collectively owned and managed by all homeowners in the development. When someone purchases a property, they automatically become a member of the OMC. These members then elect the directors of the OMC.

OMCs can face a range of issues, including making sure all owners pay their annual service charge on time and in full, establishing a building investment fund to replace parts of the building such as lifts and roofs, engaging with licensed property management agents to look after the day-to-day running of the estates, and dealing with construction defects.

“The directors of an OMC, though usually volunteers, bear the ultimate responsibility for the running of the company, to ensure that it is managed in an open and transparent manner, and operates in the interests of all its members,” said Mr Rouse.

“Their role, therefore, can impact on the value of properties as well as the quality of residents’ living environment.

“Teamwork, communication, governance and finance skills can help people to act effectively as directors of an OMC.”

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While in most cases OMC directors are supported by the skills and experience of a licensed professional property management agent, directors must still be familiar with the laws and regulations around running an OMC.

The Housing Agency is hosting a nationwide series of information evenings in September and October. 

These events aim to address key issues frequently raised by OMC members, including challenges with service charge collection, dispute resolution, and understanding company law and the duties of directors. 

Developments in relation to current and proposed regulation of the sector will also be addressed.

While attendance at the information evenings is free, registration is required. More information can be found here or by emailing MUD@housingagency.ie