The Dublin West Labour Party held a highly successful public information meeting on property management companies on Thursday, 18th September in the Tyrellstown Park Plaza Hotel. There were over 50 people in attendance from areas as diverse as Ongar, Clonsilla, the city centre and Tyrellstown itself.

There were presentations from Adrienne Roche, resident of Allendale and management company activist, and from Gavan Carty, a solicitor with particular expertise in the area.

The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session. The sense of frustration was palpable. People across Dublin 15 are sick and tired of paying exorbitant management fees for very little in return. Developer controlled management companies, people said, are an information vacuum. Management fees are often at low ‘teaser’ rates for the early years before being jacked up when all units in the development have been sold.

Deputy Joan Burton has been a leading advocate the urgent need for management company legislation in the Dáil, raising the matter on an almost weekly basis. Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Burton gave a commitment that she would continue harrying the Government until the necessary legislation was passed: “For too long, cowboy developers have been able to get away with murder. This has to stop.”

Adrienne Roche and local Latchford residents’ committee chairperson Conor Deane informed the meeting that they are putting the finishing touches to an information website about management companies and they expect the site, www.right2manage.ie, to go ‘live’ in early November.