Fairer OMCs. Better protection. Confident boards.

 

A Dublin Real proposal for owners’ management company reform in Ireland. Prepared by Ian Croft • October 2026 • Open for consultation.

 

1. INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT

Establish a dedicated OMC oversight function, through a new body or a clearly mandated existing institution. Provide clear governance standards, a confidential complaints route, early mediation and proportionate investigation and enforcement powers. Avoid unnecessary duplication and preserve access to the courts.

 

2. PROTECTION FOR PEOPLE RAISING CONCERNS

Review the protections available to owners, residents and unpaid directors reporting suspected wrongdoing in good faith. Develop confidential reporting, safeguards against retaliation, fair investigation procedures and support. Identify gaps in existing law rather than assume every OMC disagreement is a protected disclosure.

 

3. PRACTICAL BOARD TRAINING

Provide free or low-cost induction and refresher guidance for volunteer directors. Cover directors’ responsibilities, governing documents, service charges, budgets, sinking funds, conflicts of interest, meetings, records and respectful complaints handling. Supply model policies and practical templates.

 

OUR REQUEST TO POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES

Support a cross-departmental review and public consultation involving owners, residents, volunteer directors, managing agents and relevant professionals. Identify the department responsible for coordinating reform, seek a parliamentary question or committee discussion, and help arrange a meeting on practical options and implementation.

 

PRINCIPLES FOR WORKABLE REFORM

Fairness to every owner. Transparent records and decisions. Proportionate costs. Due process. Early dispute resolution. Support for responsible volunteer directors. Clear boundaries between OMC oversight and regulation of professional managing agents.

 

HELP SHAPE THE PROPOSAL

This is a developing policy proposal. We welcome evidence and further ideas on financial transparency, reserve planning, handover standards and affordable dispute resolution. Contributions will help refine the campaign; they are not endorsements unless expressly agreed.

 

Policy correspondence: ian@dublinreal.com

General enquiries: info@dublinreal.com

Please share an anonymised summary first. Avoid confidential documents and other people’s personal information.

 

WHY DUBLIN REAL IS DOING THIS

Founded by Ian Croft, Dublin Real turns lived experience into constructive civic discussion and practical reform proposals. This campaign seeks improvements that can benefit developments across Ireland.

 

These are proposed reforms, not a statement that the measures are already law or a determination of any individual dispute.