Auctioneers/House Agents
Legislation
The main statutory requirements covering auctioneers are contained in the Auctioneers and House Agents Acts 1947–1973. These Acts cover:
- licences and auction permits
- certificates of qualification to hold an auctioneer’s or house agent’s licence
- deposits
- provisions as to licences and auction permits
Establishment of the National Property Services Regulatory Authority
In July 2004, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform commissioned the Auctioneering/Estate Agency Review Group to examine the licensing and regulatory requirements for property services providers (PSPs), including auctioneers, estate agents, letting agents and property management agents. The Government, on foot of the review group’s report, decided to establish the National Property Services Regulatory Authority (NPSRA) on a statutory basis to licence and regulate the industry. On 21 December, 2006, the General Scheme of the Bill to give effect to this was published. The Bill is currently undergoing final drafting in the Attorney General’s Office and is expected to be published before the end of 2008.
The Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009, which provides for the establishment of the Property Services Regulatory Authority on a staturory basis, was published on 11 May 2009. The principal role of the Authority is to control and supervise providers of property services (auctioneers, letting agents and property management agents) and to improve standards in the provision of those services. The Bill is available on the website of the Houses of the Oireachtas http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=11740&&CatID=59&StartDate=01 January 2009&OrderAscending=0.
Further Information
Further information, including information concerning complaints against auctioneers and obtaining an auctioneer's licence, can be found on the National Property Services Regulatory Authority website.