New licensing regime for auctioneers, estate agents and letting agents

Under the provisions of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, the licensing of auctioneers, estate agents and letting agents has been transferred from the courts and the Revenue Commissioners to the Property Services Regulatory Authority.

The authority will also, for the first time, licence management agents. The authority will take over the licensing of auctioneers/estate agents/letting agents and introduce the new licensing regime for management agents with effect from 6 July 2012.

Practitioners should note that one of the features of the new application procedure is that it is no longer necessary to place newspaper notices in advance of lodging the licensing application. Applications for licences may be made to the authority from 30 May 2012.

Further information, application forms and guidance notes are available on the
authority’s website, www.npsra.ie.