1.— (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

“Act of 1963” means the Companies Act 1963;

“Act of 1982” means the Companies (Amendment) Act 1982;

“childcare facility” means a building or structure which is in use for the purposes of providing—

(a) a pre-school service, or

(b) a pre-school service and a day care service or other service to cater for children other than pre-school children,

and in this definition “pre-school child” and “pre-school service” have the meanings respectively assigned to them by section 49 of the Child Care Act 1991;

“commercial unit” means a unit in a mixed use multi-unit development which is not a residential unit and is intended for commercial use;

“common areas” means all those parts of a multi-unit development designated, or which it is intended to designate, as common areas and including where relevant all structural parts of a building and shall include in particular—

(a) the external walls, foundations and roofs and internal load bearing walls;

(b) the entrance halls, landings, lifts, lift shafts, staircases and passages;

(c) the access roads, footpaths, kerbs, paved, planted and landscaped areas, and boundary walls;

(d) architectural and water features;

(e) such other areas which are from time to time provided for common use and enjoyment by the owners of the units, their servants, agents, tenants and licensees;

(f) all ducts and conduits, other than such ducts and conduits within and serving only one unit in the development;

(g) cisterns, tanks, sewers, drains, pipes, wires, central heating boilers, other than such items within and serving only one unit in the development;

“developer” means the person who carries out or arranges for the development or construction of a multi-unit development;

“development stage” means the period which begins when the first unit to be made available for sale is so made available and ends after all construction works and ancillary works (including works on the common areas), for the multi-unit development have been completed in accordance with—

(a) all relevant planning permissions under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2009,

(b) the requirements arising under the Building Control Acts 1990 and 2007, and

(c) in a case where section 3 applies, the contract referred to in section 3(1)(d);

“member” means member of an owners’ management company;

“Minister” means Minister for Justice and Law Reform;

“mixed use multi-unit development” means a multi-unit development of which a commercial unit (other than a childcare facility) forms part of the development;

“multi-unit development” means a development being land on which there stands erected a building or buildings comprising a unit or units and that—

(a) as respects such units it is intended that amenities, facilities and services are to be shared, and

(b) subject to section 2(1), the development contains not less than 5 residential units;

“owners’ management company” means, subject to subsection (3), a company established for the purposes of becoming the owner of the common areas of a multi-unit development and the management, maintenance and repair of such areas and which is a company registered under the Companies Acts;

“relevant parts” means, in relation to a unit, those parts of the common areas of a multi-unit development necessary for the enjoyment of quiet and peaceful occupation of such unit;

“residential unit” means a unit in a multi-unit development which is—

(a) designed for—

(i) use and occupation as a house, apartment, flat or other dwelling, and

(ii) has self-contained facilities;

or

(b) designed and used as a childcare facility and such facility is not intended to primarily share amenities, services and facilities with commercial units in the development;

“reversion” means the residue of ownership (if any) which continues in the transferor after the grant of any leasehold estate in land;

“unit owner” means a person other than the owners’ management company who holds the highest freehold or leasehold estate or interest in respect of a unit in a multi-unit development.

(2) In this Act a unit shall not be treated as having self-contained facilities unless the unit has bathroom facilities and cooking facilities within it for the exclusive use of the occupants of the unit concerned.

(3) In this Act a reference to an owners’ management company shall be construed, other than in the case of an owners’ management company to which section 3 or section 14 applies, as including a reference to an industrial and provident society and to a partnership or unincorporated body or group of persons owning the common areas of a multi-unit development, and in the case where such ownership is held by a partnership or unincorporated body or group of persons any of the persons in such partnership, body or group shall be entitled to enforce the covenants and house rules concerned.

(4) In this Act, save where the context otherwise requires, a reference to a transfer of ownership shall, subject to sections 3(7) and 4(2), be construed as a reference to a lease or a deed of transfer, conveyance or assignment.

(5) For the purposes of this Act a member of an owners’ management company shall be regarded—

(a) as being present at a meeting of members where he or she has validly appointed a proxy to attend and that proxy has attended the meeting,

(b) as having voted at a meeting of members where the member has validly appointed a proxy to vote at the meeting and the proxy (but not the member) has voted at the meeting,

where the appointment of proxies by members is permitted under the articles of association or other document which regulates the operation of the owners’ management company concerned.

(6) Subject to any order made by a court pursuant to section 24, nothing in this Act relating to—

(a) the obligation to transfer the ownership of the common areas of a multi-unit development or a relevant part of such common areas to the owners’ management company concerned,

(b) the obligation to establish an owners’ management company as respects that development, or

(c) the structure or conduct of the affairs of an owners’ management company,

shall be construed as preventing compliance with that obligation by the establishment of different owners’ management companies in respect of different parts of the multi-unit development or by the transfer to such companies of the ownership of such parts of the development.

2.— (1) Notwithstanding the definition of multi-unit development in section 1, the provisions of this Act specified in Schedule 1 shall apply to a multi-unit development comprising 2 or more residential units but less than 5 residential units.

(2) Where—

(a) all the units in a multi-unit development are residential units, and

(b) the structure, or that part of the structure, in which the residential units are situate, does not form part, and was never intended to form part, of the common areas of the development,

the provisions of Schedule 2 shall apply as respects the common areas of the development.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), in the case of a mixed use multi-unit development, this Act applies to—

(a) residential units in the development, and

(b) commercial units in the development, to the extent that amenities, facilities and services are shared by such commercial units and residential units.

(4) In the case of a mixed use multi-unit development the obligations imposed on an owners’ management company by this Act shall as respects such a company in which membership is held otherwise than by reason of ownership of a residential unit, be regarded as being complied with where—

(a) as between different classes of units in such a development sections 18 to 21 are complied with and a fair and equitable apportionment of the costs and expenses attributable to the different classes of units is applied, and

(b) in place of the requirements set out in section 14(1) and (2), the voting rights of the members in such an owners’ management company are apportioned in a manner which is fair and equitable.

(5) Except where otherwise provided, this Act applies to every multi-unit development.

(6) In this section—

(a) a reference to fair and equitable apportionment of the costs and expenses of the mixed use multi-unit development shall mean that account is taken of all relevant matters including the respective level of use of any common areas by the owners of different classes of units and their servants, agents and invitees; and

(b) a reference to costs and expenses shall be taken to be a reference to the matters referred to in sections 18(3) and 19(1).

3.— (1) A person to whom this section applies shall not, after the coming into operation of this section, transfer his or her interest in a residential unit in a multi-unit development to which this section applies unless—

(a) an owners’ management company has been established at the expense of the developer of the multi-unit development concerned,

(b) ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas of the multi-unit development and of any reversion in the residential unit being transferred has, subject to subsection (7), been validly transferred by deed (or otherwise) to the owners’ management company relating to that unit,

(c) a certificate from a suitably qualified person that the relevant parts of the multi-unit development have been constructed in compliance with the fire safety certificate concerned issued pursuant to the Building Control Acts 1990 and 2007 has been furnished by the person to whom subsection (2) (b) refers to the owners’ management company, and

(d) a contract in writing is entered into between the developer and the owners’ management company concerned prior to such transfer setting out the rights and obligations of each of those persons relating to the completion of the development and which includes particulars of the arrangements relating to—

(i) confirmation of compliance with all relevant statutory requirements,

(ii) completion of the work on the common areas concerned,

(iii) the release to the developer of monies held by the owners’ management company where the contract provides for monies to be so held by the owners’ management company pending completion of the common areas concerned, and

(iv) the process for resolving disputes between the parties to the contract as respects the completion of the development.

(2) This section applies to—

(a) a multi-unit development in which a residential unit has not previously been sold; and

(b) a person, other than the owners’ management company concerned, who is the owner of relevant parts of the common areas of a multi-unit development.

(3) The obligation, under this section, to transfer ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas of a multi-unit development includes an obligation—

(a) to transfer any right of way or access and any other easements appurtenant to the land so transferred or necessary for the reasonable use and enjoyment of the land concerned,

(b) to transfer all rights necessary to enable the owner of each residential unit to enjoy the quiet and peaceful occupation of the residential unit of which he or she is the owner, and

(c) to transfer all necessary amenities intended to be available for use in conjunction with the ownership and occupation of the residential units in the multi-unit development.

(4) Without prejudice to subsection (3), the person to whom subsection (2)(b) refers shall do all things within his or her power which are reasonably necessary to ensure that each owner of a residential unit in the development concerned enjoys the rights referred to in that subsection.

(5) The developer shall ensure that the owners’ management company established for the purposes of ownership and management of the common areas of a multi-unit development shall have all the powers necessary—

(a) to perform functions conferred or imposed on owners’ management companies by this Act, and

(b) to exercise any powers conferred on such a company by this Act,

in relation to the multi-unit development concerned.

(6) As respects the negotiation of and entering into the contract referred to in subsection (1)(d) and the transfer of the common areas concerned, the owners’ management company shall have legal representation and shall not be represented by the same solicitor or firm of solicitors as the developer or other person who is the owner of the common areas, and the reasonable costs of such representation shall be discharged by the developer or other person who is the owner of the common areas concerned.

(7) The transfer, in compliance with this section, of the ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas of a multi-unit development and in the reversion relating to the residential units shall reserve the beneficial interest therein to the person transferring the ownership of those parts (including any mortgagee or the owner of a charge affecting any such beneficial interest).

(8) In this section—

“suitably qualified person” means a person who is a member of a class or classes of persons prescribed by the Minister for the purposes of this section;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister having consulted the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

(9) Regulations made by the Minister under this section may prescribe a class or classes of persons who in the view of the Minister, having considered the qualifications, training, and expertise of such class or classes of persons by reference to the functions to be performed by members of such class pursuant to this section, are suitably qualified.

4.— (1) Where, before the coming into operation of this section, the ownership of a residential unit in a multi-unit development has been the subject of a transfer by or on behalf of a developer to a purchaser, and the ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas and in the reversion relating to the residential units has not been transferred to the relevant owners’ management company, the developer shall, subject to subsection (2), arrange for the transfer of the ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas of the multi-unit development concerned together with the reversion to the relevant owners’ management company within 6 months of the coming into operation of this section.

(2) The transfer, in compliance with subsection (1), of the ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas of a multi-unit development and in the reversion relating to the residential units concerned shall reserve the beneficial interest therein to the person transferring the ownership of those parts (including any mortgagee or the owner of a charge affecting any such beneficial interest).

5.— (1) Where, before the coming into operation of section 4, a multi-unit development has been substantially completed by or on behalf of the developer, and the ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas or the reversion in the units concerned has not been transferred to the owners’ management company concerned, the developer shall within 6 months of such coming into operation arrange for the transfer of such ownership to the owners’ management company concerned of the lands referred to in section 3(1)(b), without the reservation of any beneficial interest.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a multi-unit development shall be regarded as being substantially completed if the sales of not less than 80 per cent of the residential units in the development have been closed.

6.— Each owners’ management company concerned shall, where requested by the developer to do so, join in a deed of conveyance or transfer relating to a residential unit in the multi-unit development and take such other steps as are reasonably requested of it to enable a good marketable title of a residential unit in a multi-unit development to vest in the purchaser of the unit concerned from the developer.

7.— The transfer of the ownership of an interest in the relevant parts of the common areas of a multi-unit development shall not relieve the person who would otherwise have been responsible from the duty, obligation or responsibility to ensure completion of the development, including—

(a) compliance with the requirements or conditions of a planning permission under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2009 which relates to the development concerned, and

(b) compliance with the Building Control Acts 1990 and 2007.

8.— (1) Where ownership of a residential unit in a multi-unit development is transferred, whether by conveyance, transfer, assignment, by operation of law or otherwise, membership of the owners’ management company which arises by virtue of ownership of that unit shall, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Companies Acts or any other enactment, on such transfer stand transferred to the person becoming entitled to the freehold or leasehold interest in the unit concerned without the need to execute a transfer or have it approved by the directors of the company, and such person shall—

(a) be entitled to exercise the powers, rights and entitlement of a member in the company concerned, and

(b) be obliged to perform all the obligations (including the payment of service charges) pertaining to the membership of such company concerned.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) an owners’ management company shall take all steps necessary to ensure—

(a) that the share certificate or membership certificate, as appropriate, is issued to the member concerned as soon as practicable following notification of the change of ownership of the residential unit,

(b) that the register of members of the company is altered accordingly, and

(c) that there is compliance with all other relevant requirements under the Companies Acts.

(3) A unit owner (whether the owner of a residential unit or a commercial unit) shall be under an obligation to furnish to the relevant owners’ management company—

(a) particulars of his or her name,

(b) particulars of his or her address,

(c) particulars of the names of the tenants in the unit,

(d) particulars of any habitual occupiers of the unit other than tenants, and

(e) such other contact particulars as the owners’ management company may reasonably request,

and shall promptly notify the owners’ management company of any change in such particulars.

9.— (1) Where a transfer of the ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas of a multi-unit development is made in compliance with sections 3, 4 or 5 then, notwithstanding any agreement, contract, deed, instrument or rule of law the developer shall retain the right to pass and re-pass and have access to such parts of the common areas as is reasonably necessary to enable the multi-unit development to be completed.

(2) The developer shall indemnify the owners’ management company in respect of all claims made against the company of whatever nature or kind in respect of acts or omissions by the developer in the course of works connected with the completion of the multi-unit development.

(3) The developer shall, at its expense, effect and keep in force a policy of insurance with an authorised insurer providing adequate insurance in respect of all risks in respect of the developer’s use or occupation of the multi-unit development.

(4) Subject to subsection (2), in exercising any rights or in discharging any obligations in relation to the multi-unit development (whether those rights or obligations arise under this Act or otherwise), the developer shall take all reasonable steps necessary to minimise inconvenience to the unit owners in the multi-unit development.

(5) The developer shall ensure that access to the transferred common areas by unit owners in the transferred common areas and their servants, agents, tenants and licensees, is maintained at all reasonable times, and that such access is maintained in a clean and safe fashion.

(6) The owners’ management company and unit owners shall not obstruct the developer—

(a) in exercising any rights in relation to the multi-unit development or adjacent land, or

(b) in discharging obligations pursuant to section 7 in relation to the multi-unit development or adjacent land.

(7) References in this section to the developer shall be construed as including a reference to servants, agents and licensees of the developer.

(8) References in this section to a unit owner shall be construed as including a reference to servants, agents, tenants and licensees of the unit owner concerned.

10.— (1) If ownership of an interest in or responsibility for the maintenance and management of a part of a multi-unit development is vested in or imposed on the unit owner in a multi-unit development and such part of the development is one the ownership of or responsibility for which is commonly held by an owners’ management company, or comes within the definition of common areas in section 1—

(a) the unit owner concerned may by agreement transfer and the owners’ management company concerned may by agreement accept, or

(b) the owners’ management company concerned may by agreement transfer and the unit owner concerned may by agreement accept,

the transfer of the ownership of the interest in, or the transfer of responsibility for the maintenance and management of, the part concerned.

(2) Agreement by an owners’ management company under subsection (1) shall not be given unless such agreement has been approved by a general meeting of the members of the company.

(3) Where a unit owner or an owners’ management company of a multi-unit development considers that the other has, in relation to a matter referred to in subsection (1), unreasonably withheld consent to such matter the aggrieved party may make an application to court under section 24.

11.— (1) Where in respect of a multi-unit development the development stage has ended and either section 3(7) or 4(2) applies, the owner of every beneficial interest in the relevant parts of the common areas and the reversion in the residential units which is reserved by virtue of those provisions shall, subject to subsection (2), as soon as practicable thereafter make a statutory declaration for the benefit of the owners’ management company that the beneficial interest concerned stands transferred to the owners’ management company concerned, and the effect of the making of such declaration is that the beneficial interest and legal interest stand merged.

(2) A declaration under subsection (1) shall be made with the consent of each mortgagee or owner of a charge in relation to the interest of the owner of the common areas and reversion in the residential units concerned which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(3) Consent under subsection (2) shall not be treated as being unreasonably withheld where the mortgagee or owner of the charge makes the giving of such consent subject to a condition that the developer’s interest in any residential unit which remains unsold be made subject to the granting of a mortgage or charge in favour of the mortgagee or owner of the charge.

12.— (1) Where in respect of a multi-unit development the development stage has not ended and either section 3(7) or 4(2) applies, and the owners of 60 per cent of the residential units in a multi-unit development or a relevant part of the development request the owner of every beneficial interest in the common areas concerned and the reversion in the residential units which is reserved by virtue of those provisions to do so, such owner shall, subject to subsection (2), or unless good and sufficient cause is shown, as soon as practicable thereafter make a statutory declaration for the benefit of the owners’ management company that as respects the development or the relevant part of the development concerned the beneficial interest concerned stands transferred to the owners’ management company concerned, and the effect of the making of such declaration is that the beneficial interest and legal interest in the common areas concerned and in the reversion in the residential units concerned stand merged.

(2) A declaration under subsection (1) shall be made with the consent of each mortgagee or owner of a charge in relation to the interest of the beneficial owner of the common areas concerned or reversion concerned which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(3) Consent under subsection (2) shall not be treated as being unreasonably withheld where the mortgagee or owner of the charge makes the giving of such consent subject to a condition that the developer’s interest in any residential unit in the development which remains unsold be made subject to the granting of a mortgage or charge in favour of the mortgagee or owner of the charge.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) good and sufficient cause includes the reason that to do so would interfere in a material manner with the completion of the entire multi-unit development and that the interference could not be removed, overcome or resolved in any other effective manner than by the beneficial interest in the development or relevant part of the development continuing to be retained by the developer.

(5) Where the unit owners in the multi-unit development or a relevant part of the development do not accept that good and sufficient cause has been shown as to why a declaration should not be made under subsection (1) the owners concerned may make application to the Circuit Court under section 24 for an order directing that a declaration be made as respects the development or part of the development in respect of which the request was made under subsection (1) or such other part of the development as the Court considers appropriate.

13.— (1) Subject to subsection (2), where the effective maintenance or management of the common areas of a multi-unit development so require, the owners’ management company shall have a right to carry out repairs or maintenance on a part of a relevant multi-unit development which is not in their ownership or control where such repairs are reasonably necessary to ensure the safe and effective occupation or the peaceful enjoyment of occupation of any unit or units in the development, and such right shall include the right of access for such purposes to or through any part of the multi-unit development not in common ownership.

(2) An owners’ management company shall not carry out repairs or maintenance pursuant to subsection (1) unless it has—

(a) requested the person who had responsibility for carrying out such repairs or maintenance to do so, and

(b) afforded such person a reasonable opportunity to carry out the repairs or maintenance.

(3) Subsection (2) shall not apply where it is essential that the repairs or maintenance concerned be carried out in the shortest possible period, so as to reduce or minimise any loss to the owners’ management company or the owner or occupier of a unit in the development.

(4) Where expenditure is incurred pursuant to subsection (1) the owners’ management company may recover such expenditure from any person (including the developer) who had responsibility for incurring such expenditure or carrying out the repairs and maintenance concerned.

14.— (1) The voting rights of members in an owners’ management company to which this section applies shall be structured in such a manner that in the determination of any matter by the members of the company one vote shall attach to each residential unit in a multi-unit development to which the owners’ management company relates, and that no other person has voting rights in respect of such determination.

(2) Each vote referred to in subsection (1) shall be of equal value.

(3) The words “owners’ management company” shall be included in the name of every owners’ management company to which this section applies which words may be abbreviated to “OMC”.

(4) This section applies to owners’ management companies of multi-unit developments in respect of which no contract for the sale of a residential unit has been entered into prior to the enactment of this Act.

(5) This section applies to the owners’ management company of a mixed use multi-unit development subject to section 2 (4).

15.— (1) This section applies to owners’ management companies of multi-unit developments to which section 14 does not apply and which are not mixed use multi-unit developments.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the voting rights of members in the owners’ management company which relates to a multi-unit development to which this section applies shall be structured in such a manner that in the determination of any matter by the members of the company, one vote shall attach to each residential unit in the multi-unit development to which the owners’ management company relates, and that no other person has voting rights in respect of such determination.

(3) Where the voting rights of members of an owners’ management company to which this section applies are allocated on a basis other than that specified in subsection (2) a person who, but for this section, would be entitled to exercise such voting rights, shall not exercise such rights unless that person has applied for and has been granted an authorisation to exercise those rights by the Circuit Court which application shall be made under section 24.

(4) The Court shall not make an order authorising the exercise of voting rights referred to in subsection (3) unless it is satisfied—

(a) that the person concerned has an essential economic interest in the development concerned or a part of the development concerned (other than as the owner of a residential unit in the development) and that in order to adequately protect such interest it is necessary to authorise that person to exercise such voting rights, or

(b) that, for any other reason, it is necessary in the interests of fairness and justice to authorise that person to exercise such voting rights.

16.— (1) A person shall not be appointed as a director of an owners’ management company after the coming into operation of this section if such appointment is—

(a) for life, or

(b) for a term greater than 3 years.

(2) A person who, on the coming into operation of this section, stands appointed as a director of an owners’ management company, and the appointment is—

(a) for life, or

(b) for a term greater than 3 years,

shall be deemed to vacate that office—

(i) in the case of an appointment for life on the day which is 3 years after the coming into operation of this section, and

(ii) in the case of an appointment referred to in paragraph (b) on the day of the expiry of the term concerned or the day which is 3 years after the coming into operation of this section whichever is the earlier.

(3) Subject to subsection (1), nothing in subsection (2) shall prevent the appointment or election of a person to whom subsection (2) applies as a director of an owners’ management company at the annual general meeting of the owners’ management company concerned unless this is prohibited by the articles of association or other governing document of the company.

17.— (1) An owners’ management company shall—

(a) prepare and furnish to each member an annual report which complies with subsection (2),

(b) hold a meeting at least once in each year for purposes which include the consideration of the annual report referred to in paragraph (a).

(2) An annual report of an owners’ management company shall include:

(a) a statement of income and expenditure relating to the period covered by the report;

(b) a statement of the assets and liabilities of the company;

(c) where the owners’ management company is required to establish and maintain a sinking fund—

(i) a statement of the funds standing to the credit of the sinking fund, and

(ii) details of the amount of the annual contribution to the fund and the basis on which such contribution is calculated;

(d) a statement of the amount of the annual service charge and the basis of such charge in respect of the period covered by the report;

(e) a statement of the projected or agreed annual service charge relating to the current period;

(f) a statement of any planned expenditure on the refurbishment, improvement or maintenance of a non-recurring nature which it is intended to carry out in the current period;

(g) a statement of the insured value of the multi-unit development, the amount of the premium charged, the name of the insurance company with which the policy of insurance is held and a summary of the principal risks covered;

(h) a statement setting out, in general terms, the fire safety equipment installed in the development and the arrangements in place for the maintenance of such equipment; and

(i) a statement fully disclosing any contracts entered into or in force between the owners’ management company and a director or shadow director of the company or a person who is a connected person as respects that director or shadow director.

(3) At least 21 days notice of the meeting referred to in subsection (1)(b) shall be given to each member.

(4) A copy of the annual report referred to in subsection (1)(a) shall be furnished to each member at least 10 days before the meeting referred to in subsection (1)(b).

(5) The meeting referred to in subsection (1)(b) shall take place within reasonable proximity to the multi-unit development and at a reasonable time (unless otherwise agreed in writing by a 75 per cent majority vote of the members).

(6) The obligations of an owners’ management company under this section are in addition to any other obligation or duty of such company whether arising under an Act, statutory instrument, by rule of law or otherwise.

18.— (1) An owners’ management company shall, as soon as practicable, establish and maintain a scheme in respect of annual service charges from which the owners’ management company may discharge ongoing expenditure reasonably incurred on the insurance, maintenance (including cleaning and waste management services) and repair of the common areas of the multi-unit development concerned and on the provision of common or shared services to the owners and occupiers of the units in the development.

(2) The annual service charge in respect of a multi-unit development relating to a particular period shall not be levied unless it has been considered by a general meeting of the members concerned called for purposes which include the consideration of an estimate of the expenditure it is anticipated will be incurred by the company in that period and the meeting shall take place within reasonable proximity to the multi-unit development and at a reasonable time (unless otherwise agreed in writing by 75 per cent of the members).

(3) The estimate referred to in subsection (2) shall be broken down into the following categories:

(a) insurance;

(b) general maintenance;

(c) repairs;

(d) waste management;

(e) cleaning;

(f) gardening and landscaping;

(g) concierge and security services;

(h) legal services and accounts preparation; and

(i) other expenditure arising in connection with the maintenance, repair and management of the common areas anticipated to arise.

(4) (a) The proposal in relation to the setting of an annual service charge may be amended at the meeting referred to in subsection (2) with the approval of 60 per cent of those present and voting at the meeting.

(b) Where the service charge proposed to the general meeting is disapproved by not less than 75 per cent of the persons present and voting, the proposed service charge shall not take effect but the charge applying to the previous period shall continue to apply pending the adoption of a service charge in respect of the period concerned.

(5) Where the proposed service charge is disapproved pursuant to subsection (4) and no service charge applied in the previous period the directors of the owners’ management company may determine a scheme to operate for a period of 4 months from the date of the meeting, and such charges may be levied and recovered as if such scheme had been approved by the members.

(6) Service charges levied under this section may not be used to defray expense on matters which are or were the responsibility of the developer or builder of the multi-unit development concerned unless such expenditure is approved in writing by 75 per cent of the members of the owners’ management company concerned.

(7) An approval under subsection (6) shall not have effect unless—

(a) at least 65 per cent of the units in the development have been transferred to a person who is not a connected person as respects the person who was—

(i) the developer or builder of the multi-unit development concerned, or

(ii) a director or shadow director of a company which was the developer or builder of the development,

and

(b) at least 3 years have elapsed since the transfer of the ownership of the relevant parts of the common areas of the multi-unit development concerned.

(8) (a) Notwithstanding subsection (2) an owners’ management company may, prior to the completion of the sale of the first unit in a multi-unit development, set the annual service charge to be levied on unit owners in the development without holding a meeting in accordance with subsection (2) and such charge may be levied and recovered in accordance with this section.

(b) Prior to the annual service charge pursuant to paragraph (a) the owners’ management company shall prepare an estimate and have regard to the items of expenditure specified in subsection (3).

(9) Where expenditure is incurred following an approval under subsection (6) the owners’ management company may recover such expenditure from any person (including the developer) who had responsibility for incurring such expenditure or carrying out the works concerned.

(10) The owner of each unit in a multi-unit development (including a person who is the developer or building contractor of the development) shall be under an obligation to pay all service charges levied under this section.

(11) For the purposes of this section a developer or building contractor, as the case may be, shall be regarded to be the owner of a unit in a multi-unit development the first sale of which unit has not been completed, as and from the day on which the first sale of a residential unit in the relevant part of the development is closed.

(12) Nothing in this section shall operate to prevent a unit owner from seeking and recovering reimbursement of service charges levied under this section from a tenant of that owner where so provided by agreement.

(13) The annual service charge shall be calculated on a transparent basis and shall be equitably apportioned between unit owners.

(14) (a) The owners’ management company in setting the annual service charge shall do so by reference to the actual or projected expenditure for the year in respect of which the same is levied.

(b) To the extent that any part of the service charge levied is not required for the year concerned any excess shall be taken account of in setting the service charge for the following year.

(c) To the extent that the service charge is inadequate for the expenditure in the year concerned the extent of such inadequacy may be added to the service charge otherwise payable in respect of the following year.

(15) An owners’ management company shall maintain sufficient and proper records of expenditure incurred by it to enable appropriate verification and audits to be undertaken.

(16) Service charges levied pursuant to this section shall be applied for the purposes specified in subsection (1) but any excess may, notwithstanding subsection (14), be applied on expenditure which may be incurred by the sinking fund established pursuant to section 19.

(17) The Minister may, for the purpose of advancing the objective of the fair, effective and efficient operation of owners’ management companies and the fair, efficient and effective management of the common areas of multi-unit developments, make regulations prescribing the class or classes of items of expenditure which may be the subject of annual service charges, the procedures to be followed in setting such charges and matters to be taken into account in the setting of such charges, and arrangements for the levying and payment of such charges.

19.— (1) An owners’ management company shall establish a building investment fund (in this Act referred to as a “sinking fund”) for the purpose of discharging expenditure reasonably incurred on—

(a) the refurbishment,

(b) improvement,

(c) maintenance of a non-recurring nature, or

(d) advice from a suitably qualified person relating to paragraphs (a) to (c),

of the multi-unit development in respect of which the owners’ management company stands established.

(2) Expenditure shall be regarded as being expenditure on maintenance of a non-recurring nature where—

(a) the expenditure relates to a matter in respect of which expenditure is not generally incurred in each year,

(b) it is certified by the directors of the owners’ management company as being expenditure on maintenance of a non-recurring nature, and

(c) the expenditure is approved by a meeting of the members of the owners’ management company as being expenditure of a non-recurring nature.

(3) The owner of each unit in a multi-unit development (including a person who is the developer or building contractor of the development) shall be obliged to make payment to the sinking fund of the amount of contribution fixed in respect of the unit concerned in accordance with this section.

(4) For the purposes of this section a developer or building contractor, as the case may be, shall be regarded to be the owner of a unit in a multi-unit development the first sale of which unit has not been completed, as and from the day on which the first sale of a residential unit in the relevant part of the development is closed.

(5) Subject to subsection (6) the amount of the contribution to be paid as respects a unit by each unit owner of such a unit to the sinking fund in respect of a particular year shall be the amount of €200 or such other amount as may be agreed by a meeting of the members as the contribution in respect of the year concerned.

(6) The obligation to establish a sinking fund and to make contributions to such fund shall apply on the happening of the later of—

(a) the passing of a period of 3 years since the first transfer of the ownership of a unit in the multi-unit development concerned, or

(b) the expiry of 18 months from the coming into operation of this section.

(7) The contributions made to the sinking fund shall be held in a separate account and in a manner which identifies these funds as belonging to the sinking fund and such funds shall not be used or expended on matters other than expenditure of a type referred to in subsection (1).

(8) Where a dispute arises in relation to whether assets of an owners’ management company should properly be applied to the sinking fund account or the annual service charges account the dispute may be the subject of an application under section 24.

(9) The Minister may, for the purpose of advancing the objective of the fair, prudent, effective and efficient operation of owners’ management companies and the fair, prudent, efficient and effective management of the common areas of multi-unit developments, make regulations prescribing—

(a) a class or classes of expenditure which may be incurred by a sinking fund,

(b) the procedures to be followed in setting contributions to the sinking fund,

(c) the matters to be taken into account in the setting of such contributions,

(d) the arrangements for the levying and payment of such contributions, and

(e) the thresholds of expenditure (by reference to amounts of expenditure or by reference to the proportion of the sinking fund) which necessitate approval of the members of the owners’ management company.

20.— Where in relation to a multi-unit development to which section 2(2) applies a sinking fund stands established or an agreement exists between the unit owners, or by them with another person, to establish a sinking fund, the provisions of section 19 (other than the requirement to establish a sinking fund) shall apply to such sinking fund.

21.— (1) An owners’ management company may issue a single request for payment of the aggregate of the charges arising under section 18 and the contributions fixed under section 19, and every request for payment, whether in reliance on this section or on section 18, 19, or 20 shall set out the basis of the calculation of the charge and contribution, a breakdown of how it is calculated and the amount payable in respect of the unit concerned.

(2) Where payment of charges under section 18 and contributions under section 19 or 20 are requested or collected together such charges and contributions may collectively be referred to as “owners’ management company annual charges”.

22.— Charges under section 18 and contributions under section 19 or 20 , whether requested or sought to be collected separately or together may be recovered by the owners’ management company concerned as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.

23.— (1) An owners’ management company may, as respects the multi-unit development for which that company has responsibility, make house rules as respects the development or part of the development relating to the effective operation and maintenance of the development and with the objective of enhancing the quiet and peaceable occupation of units generally in the development, and such house rules shall be binding on—

(a) unit owners,

(b) tenants of unit owners, and

(c) servants, agents and licensees of persons referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(2) House rules made pursuant to subsection (1) shall be consistent with the covenants and conditions contained in—

(a) the documents of title under which unit owners in the multi-unit development concerned have title to the units concerned, and

(b) the documents of title under which the owners’ management company concerned has title to the multi-unit development concerned.

(3) House rules made under subsection (1) shall be made in a manner consistent with—

(a) the objective of advancing the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of the property by the unit owners and the occupiers, and

(b) the objective of the fair and equitable balancing of the rights and obligations of the occupiers and the unit owners,

in the development or part of the development concerned.

(4) Subject to subsection (8), house rules shall not be made under this section unless the rules have been considered and approved by a meeting of the unit owners in the part of the development concerned.

(5) Notice of a meeting referred to in subsection (4) shall be given to each unit owner not less than 21 days prior to the meeting.

(6) The notice of the meeting to consider the making of house rules under this section shall be accompanied by a draft of the proposed rules.

(7) Following the approval of rules under this section the owners’ management company shall furnish a copy of the rules to each unit owner and shall also send a copy to each unit in the development.

(8) Notwithstanding subsections (4) to (6), in the case of a multi-unit development to which section 3 applies, house rules may be made by the owners’ management company before the completion of the sale of the first unit in the relevant part of the development, and in such event the first purchaser of each unit in the relevant part of the development shall be given a copy of such house rules on or prior to the completion of the sale of the unit unless prior to that day other house rules have been made in accordance with this section.

(9) House rules made pursuant to this section may be amended from time to time in the same manner as house rules may be made.

(10) It shall be a term of every letting of a unit in a multi-unit development that the letting is subject to the observance by all those occupying the property (including their licensees, servants or agents), in whatever capacity, of—

(a) the conditions and covenants in the title documents relating to the use and enjoyment of the property, and

(b) house rules made under this section,

and a summary of such relevant conditions and covenants together with a copy of any house rules shall be incorporated into the letting agreement relating to the unit concerned.

(11) Where a person, who by reason of subsection (1) is obliged to comply with house rules, commits a material breach of such rules, the owners’ management company of the development concerned may recover the reasonable costs of remedying such breach from such person which costs may be recovered as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(12) The Minister may make regulations relating to—

(a) the making of house rules, and

(b) the matters to which they may relate.

24.— (1) A person specified in section 25 may make, in respect of a multi-unit development, an application to the court—

(a) for an order under this section to enforce any rights conferred, or obligation imposed, by this Act or any rule of law, or

(b) for an order relating to any matter to which reference to making an application under this section is made in this Act.

(2) An application under this section shall state the circumstances giving rise to the application and the order or orders that the applicant invites the court to make and whether or not mediation or other dispute resolution process has been attempted.

(3) In a case to which subsection (1)(a) applies, where the court is satisfied that a right has been infringed or an obligation has not been discharged, it shall make such remedial order as it deems appropriate in the circumstances with a view to ensuring the effective enforcement of a right or the effective discharge of an obligation relating to the multi-unit development.

(4) In a case to which subsection (1)(a) does not apply but subsection (1)(b) applies, the court may make such order as it considers just and equitable with a view to ensuring the effective operation of the owners’ management company concerned and the quiet and peaceful occupation of the common areas of the multi-unit development concerned by the owners and occupiers of the residential units in that development.

(5) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (3), an order under that subsection may include an order:

(a) that the legal documentation relating to the owners’ management company be amended;

(b) in the case of a multi-unit development consisting of more than one structure, to provide that, where an issue relating to one structure only in the multi-unit development arises, only the unit owners in that structure shall have the right to be consulted and vote on the issue;

(c) in the case of a multi-unit development with more than one owners’ management company, that a single owners’ management company be formed to replace the existing owners’ management companies;

(d) directing the establishment of an additional owners’ management company in respect of a multi-unit development where—

(i) there are separate blocks or buildings in the development,

(ii) there are units of a different character in the development, or

(iii) there are units which are used for different purposes within the development;

(e) apportioning the funds of an owners’ management company as between its sinking fund and its service charges;

(f) determining the extent to which a part of the common areas of a multi-unit development forms part of the relevant parts of the common areas of the development;

(g) amending the covenants contained in an agreement (including a lease) between the developer, owners’ management company and the unit owners;

(h) approving a proposal to enable an owners’ management company—

(i) deal with a debt, whether caused by an inadequacy in, or the absence of, a sinking fund, and

(ii) any issues arising therefrom in relation to the future management of the owners’ management company;

(i) transferring control of an owners’ management company from a developer to the unit owners, where the court is satisfied the developer has unreasonably refused to effect such transfer, or the unit owners have unreasonably refused to accept such transfer;

(j) determining whether the management structure of an owners’ management company in a mixed use multi-unit development complies with the provisions of this Act, and if not the order may direct that such steps as the court considers necessary to ensure that the arrangements concerned do so comply, be taken;

(k) determining whether a proposal to materially alter the physical character of a multi-unit development would disproportionately or inequitably affect any class of unit owners;

(l) directing the developer of a multi-unit development to complete the multi-unit development in accordance with—

(i) the terms of any contract,

(ii) the conditions of a relevant planning permission under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2009, or

(iii) the Building Control Acts 1990 and 2007;

(m) directing a unit owner or a minority of unit owners to co-operate with decisions made by a majority of the unit owners in the development.

(6) Before making an order pursuant to this section the court shall be satisfied that all parties likely to be affected by the making of the order have received notice of the making of the application (unless the court has dispensed with the giving of such notice or deemed service of the notice good) and the court shall be satisfied that in all the circumstances, it is just to do so.

(7) (a) The court may make such ancillary orders as it considers necessary in order to give effect to any order or orders made by it under subsection (3), including an order directing—

(i) the registration in the appropriate manner of any deed required to be executed in compliance with the order, and

(ii) compliance with subsection (8).

(b) Where—

(i) a person is directed by an order under subsection (3) or this subsection to execute a deed or other instrument in relation to land, and

(ii) such person refuses or neglects to comply with the direction, or

(iii) for any other reason, the court considers it necessary to do so,

the court may order another person to execute the deed or instrument in the name of the first-mentioned person and a deed or other instrument executed by a person in the name of another person pursuant to such an order shall be as valid as if it had been executed by that other person.

(8) When any deed required to be executed by reason of an order under this section and such order has been registered in the appropriate manner, each unit owner in the relevant part of the multi-unit development shall without charge to such unit owner be furnished with a duly certified copy of such deed by the owners’ management company concerned.

(9) Notwithstanding subsection (1), and subject to subsections (2) and (6), where the court is satisfied that the structure of the voting rights of members in an owners’ management company is not established on a fair and equitable basis, the court may, where it is satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of justice to do so, make an order altering the voting rights of members in the owners’ management company concerned.

25.— (1) The following persons may apply for, or appear and be heard at an application for, an order under section 24:

(a) the owners’ management company relating to the relevant multi-unit development or a part of the relevant multi-unit development;

(b) any member of such an owners’ management company;

(c) any trustee under a will, settlement or other disposition of land by such member;

(d) the personal representative of a member of such an owners’ management company;

(e) the developer of the multi-unit development;

(f) with the permission of the court, such other person as the court sees fit.

(2) A person referred to in paragraph (f) of subsection (1) shall apply for permission to make an application, or to appear and be heard at an application, for an order under section 24, as the case may be, in a summary manner and shall include in such application for permission the reasons why such permission should be granted.

26.— (1) The Circuit Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine applications under section 24 and such applications shall not be made to the High Court.

(2) The jurisdiction conferred on the Circuit Court by this Act may be exercised by the judge of the circuit in which the relevant multi-unit development or any part thereof is situated.

27.— (1) (a) Upon its own motion or upon the request of any party to an application under section 24, the court may at any stage during the course of the proceedings (including immediately after the issue of the proceedings), if it considers that the holding of a meeting pursuant to a direction under this subsection would assist in reaching a settlement of the matter, direct that the parties to the application meet to discuss and attempt to settle the matter.

(b) A meeting held pursuant to a direction under this subsection is in this Act referred to as a “mediation conference”.

(2) Where the court gives a direction under subsection (1), each party to the application concerned shall comply with that direction.

(3) A mediation conference shall take place—

(a) at a time and place agreed by the parties to the application concerned, or

(b) where the parties do not agree a time and place, at a time and place specified by the court.

(4) There shall be a chairperson of a mediation conference who shall—

(a) be a person appointed by agreement of all the parties to the application concerned, or

(b) where no such agreement is reached—

(i) be a person appointed by the court, and

(ii) (I) be a practising barrister or practising solicitor of not less than 5 years standing, or

(II) a person nominated by a body prescribed, for the purpose of this section, by order of the Minister.

(5) Subject to section 28, the notes of the chairperson of a mediation conference and all communications during a mediation conference or any records or other evidence thereof shall be confidential and shall not be used in evidence in any proceedings whether civil or criminal.

(6) The costs incurred in the holding and conducting of a mediation conference shall be paid by such party to the application concerned as the court hearing the action shall direct.

28.— (1) A person appointed under section 27(4) to be the chairperson of a mediation conference shall prepare and submit to the court hearing the application under section 24 a report, which shall set out—

(a) where the mediation conference did not take place, a statement of the reasons as to why it did not take place, or

(b) where the mediation conference did take place—

(i) a statement as to whether or not a settlement has been reached in respect of the application, and

(ii) where a settlement has been entered into, a statement of the terms of the settlement signed by the parties thereto,

or

(c) where the mediation conference did take place and no settlement has been entered into, a statement as to whether such outcome is substantially due to the conduct of one or more than one of the parties, and in that case specifying the identity of such party or parties.

(2) A copy of a report prepared under subsection (1) shall be given to each party to the application at the same time as it is submitted to the court under that subsection.

(3) At the conclusion of the hearing of an application under section 24, the court may—

(a) having considered the report prepared under subsection (1),

(b) having heard submissions by or on behalf of the parties to the application, and

(c) if satisfied that a party to the application—

(i) failed to comply with a direction under section 27(1)(a), or

(ii) is a person specified pursuant to subsection (1)(c) and that the conduct of such person is substantially the cause of the failure to reach a settlement,

make an order directing that party to pay the costs of the application, or such part of the costs of the application as the court directs, incurred after the giving of the direction under section 27 (1).

29.— Nothing in this Act shall be taken to derogate from any right or power which may, whether before or after the passing of this Act, be vested in any person or court, by statute or otherwise, and the powers conferred by this Act shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for, such other rights or powers.

30.— (1) Where a company to which this section applies has been struck off the register in accordance with—

(a) section 311 of the Act of 1963, or

(b) section 12 of the Act of 1982,

then, without prejudice to the provisions of section 311(8) or 311A(1) of the Act of 1963 or subsection (3) or (7) of section 12B of the Act of 1982, if a member or officer of a company is aggrieved by the fact of the company having been struck off the register under section 311 of the Act of 1963 or section 12 of the Act of 1982 the registrar of companies, on an application made in the prescribed form by the member or officer before the expiration of 6 years from the publication in Iris OifigiúilF1[or, as the case may be, the Companies Registration Office Gazette] of the notice that the company was struck off the register, provided that the registrar has received all annual returns outstanding, if any, from the company, may restore the name of the company to the register.

(2) Upon the registration of an application under subsection (1) and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, the company shall be deemed to have continued in existence as if its name had not been struck off.

(3) This section applies to a company—

(a) which is an owners’ management company, and

(b) which immediately prior to the name of the company having been struck off the register pursuant to section 311 of the Act of 1963 or section 12 of the Act of 1982 had vested in it ownership of the common areas or a part thereof of the multi-unit development in respect of which the company was incorporated.

(4) Each application pursuant to subsection (1) shall be accompanied by a certificate from a solicitor or an accountant certifying that the company is an owners’ management company operating as such.

(5) In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister having consulted with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.

31.— (1) Notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, where a person develops a multi-unit development the benefit of any warranty or guarantee relating to any materials used in the construction, repair or improvement of a multi-unit development or plant, machinery or equipment installed in the multi-unit development shall stand transferred to the owners’ management company concerned without any requirement for the giving of a notice of assignment to any person for the benefit of the unit owners in the development.

(2) Where the development stage of a multi-unit development has ended, a developer shall furnish to each owners’ management company concerned the documentation specified in Schedule 3 relating to the development concerned.

32.— An owners’ management company shall not, after enactment of this Act, enter into a contract for the provision of a service or the purchase of goods—

(a) which is expressed to run for a period in excess of 3 years from the date the contract is entered into by the owners’ management company, or

(b) which provides for a penalty to be imposed on or damages to be paid by the owners’ management company if the contract is terminated by it after a period of 3 years from the date the contract is entered into by the owners’ management company.

33.— Before making regulations under sections 18, 19 or 23, the Minister shall consult with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

34.— (1) This Act may be referred to as the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011.

(2) This Act, other than sections 14 and 32, 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 or provisions.