Hosted by The Housing Agency, the event will be held at the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny on September 18 at 7pm. It is open to OMC members and anyone else involved with apartments or MUDs. The evening will cover stakeholders' roles and responsibilities, as well as the support available to them.
OMCs are responsible for looking after the shared spaces, facilities and services in a housing development, such as an apartment block.
David Rouse, Multi-Unit Developments Adviser with The Housing Agency, explains: "The OMC is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the common areas of the estate, for example lifts, corridors, hallways, stairs, gardens and car parks. Services for which it is responsible include building insurance, security, cleaning and waste management."
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The OMC is owned and controlled by all homeowners in a development, with ownership automatically conferring membership upon property purchase. Members then elect the OMC directors.
OMCs can encounter various challenges, such as ensuring timely and full payment of annual service charges, setting aside funds in a sinking fund for major repairs like lifts or roofs, appointing a competent property management agent for day-to-day operations and addressing construction defects.
Mr Rouse said: "The directors of an OMC, though usually volunteers, bear the ultimate responsibility for the management of the company, to ensure that it fulfils its purpose. Their role, therefore, can impact on the value of properties as well as the quality of residents’ living environment. Teamwork, communication and basic finance skills can help people to act effectively as directors of an OMC."
Although OMC directors are typically supported by the expertise of a licensed professional property management agent, they must still have a good understanding of the laws and regulations governing OMCs.
The Housing Agency will host a series of information evenings across the country in September and October for individuals involved with apartments and multi-unit developments. Previous events have highlighted issues such as service charge collection, dispute resolution and understanding company law and directors’ responsibilities.
