Govt assisting 'property rip-off' - Sargent

Green Party Leader Trevor Sargent has accused the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Government of facilitating property 'rip-offs', by failing to regulate auctioneers, estate agents, management companies and developers.

Deputy Sargent said: "The excellent Prime Time Investigates programme broadcast last night shows that the Government has been turning a blind eye to unethical, illegal and conspiratorial practices at the expense of ordinary buyers, sellers and occupiers of homes.

"The fact that the property industry is virtually unregulated and that the industry funds the main political parties is not a coincidence.

"The Taoiseach should come clean on how much Fianna Fáil has received from estate agents, auctioneers, management companies and developers in the past ten years.

"The Prime Time programme displayed the Government's failure to legislate on unethical practices. The Government has endorsed the recommendations of the Estate Agency Review Group, but has failed to act upon these recommendations, which include establishing an Independent Regulatory Authority with powers of inspection to investigate complaints and requiring estate agents to keep written records of the bidding process."

"It has also failed to ensure that estate agents do not fail to disclose defects or accurate basic details such as the floorspace of the property, this is illegal in the US and in EU states; prevent estate agents and others from representing sellers who engage in gazumping and to punish developers leaving estates unfinished. "

"This Prime Time programme showcases the Government's abject failure to face down rogue elements in the property industry.

"The suffering of Individuals and families at the hands of unscrupulous auctioneers, estate agents, developers and management companies is a symptom of the political culture, whereby political parties are parasites on the construction industry.

"With the industry and the Government conspiring against them, where is the protection for ordinary individuals and families?" said Deputy Sargent"