THE Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has published a new consumer guide ‘Apartment Ownership under the MUD Act 2011’ to provide apartment owners with information to improve apartment living under the Act. The society says the new consumer guide will provide apartment owners with an overview of the important regulations contained in the Act and explains its practical requirements, in a user-friendly format. The guide answers some key questions about the Multi-Unit Development Act including:
* What is an Owners’ Management Company (OMC) and what are its rights and responsibilities?
* The transfer of the common areas of a development from the developer to the OMC
* Obligations on the developer to complete the development
* New requirements for fire safety
* New measures to resolve disputes
* New Service Charge budget arrangements
* New and fairer voting rights
Siobhan O’Dwyer, chair of the Property & Facilities Management Professional Group of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, says “This guide sets out the key provisions of the legislation which will enhance consumer protection for apartment owners.
“It includes the new conditions and obligations on developers, dispute resolution measures and the rights and responsibilities of Owners’ Management Companies and Directors which directly affects the common areas of the development and consequently, the value of the properties in the development”.
Apartment owners, landlords and tenants living in a Multi Unit Development are advised to download this free consumer guide available on the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland website www.scsi.ie.

* The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland was formed in April 2011 as a result of a merger between the Society of Chartered Surveyors and the Irish Auctioneers & Valuers Institute.

Pictured at the launch of the new consumer guide is chartered quantity surveyor Patricia Power from the RTE programme ‘Room to Improve’ and Siobhan O’Dwyer, chair of the Property & Facilities Management Professional Group of the SCSI.