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Complicated        *       Confusing       *       Frustrating       *       Annoying

These four words best describe the phenomenon of apartment ownership in Ireland today.

Of the 80,000 housing units completed throughout Ireland in 2005, over 18,000 (22.4%) were in apartment complexes and it is estimated that over 500,000 people now live in such developments.*

It is clear that there is a widespread ‘understanding deficit’ among owners of apartments, and houses in privately managed developments, in relation to the structure of such developments and the duties and rights of the various parties - the developer, the owners and the residents.  This ‘understanding deficit’ appears to be increasing rather than decreasing and is directly leading to situations where many apartment developments are on the road to crisis and disaster, with little or no input from the owners, a completely inadequate or non-existent Sinking Fund and a general atmosphere of abandonment.

Now available 

   €17 Incl shipping & handling

The Essential Guide
to Apartment living in Ireland
 
   by Robert Gogan

   Published by MI Publications

   © Robert Gogan 2008

There are many reasons why this set of circumstances exists, among which are:

• Lack of regulation within the industry.
• Lack of information about Service Charges and how they’re calculated.
• Refusal or delay in handing over the development to the owners.
• Lack of transparency of Managing Agents.
• No information provided to owners when buying an apartment.
• Confusion over the different roles of the Management Company and Managing Agent.
• Lack of long-term vision by owners.
• Lack of information on the responsibility of Management Companies.

The underlying  problem which is the cornerstone of these difficulties is that there is no information available to owners, and potential owners, in relation to the inner workings and legal structures of multi-unit developments.

A new book has been written by Robert Gogan - The Essential Guide to Apartment Living in Ireland - and self published by his own company, MI Publications, which aims to solve the problem of the ‘understanding deficit’ by explaining in a clear and down-to-earth manner the structure of multi-unit developments.  It also gives useful practical advice on how to tackle the many issues which arise for residents in such developments, such as:

• Explaining entities involved in the multi-unit development structure.
• The important factors to check before buying an apartment.
• What to check before hiring a Managing Agent.
• The best ways to deal with anti-social neighbours.
• What to know before becoming director of Management Company.
• How to deal with the developer and/or builder.
• How to deal with the poor management of the development.
• What an owner should expect in return for his/her Service Charges.

*The Law Reform Commission Consultation Paper on Multi-Unit Developments (LRC CP 42-2006)


01 January 2008

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