Staffing issues hinder property regulator PRSA

The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA)has claimed it has had insufficient staff over recent years to process the volume of complaints about auctioneers and estate agents.

A total of 710 complaints against property service providers, which also includes letting and management agents, have been made to the PSRA between its establishment in April 2012 and the end of 2014.

However, just 179 cases have been investigated and completed. In most, the PSRA did not accept the complaint on the basis it did not constitute improper conduct within the meaning of the legislation governing the regulation of the property services industry.