I think you've said it there, Orionstar21. You're cynical and negative.
If there's a good managment agent, and they do exist, and oversight by owner occupiers, you can be happy.
I am very happy with my situation, albeit because I got involved and helped make things better. And it isn't thankless, I often get thanked by people who live in the building.
Sorry but although a newbie I felt I need to chime in here on this. Purpeller I'm not sure what trying to say calling someone cynical and negative on this matter. The dearth of legislation in this area is a clear and resounding expose of the corrupt mentality that has been and is prevalent in the management sector. Lets not kid around here. Charging someone the equivalent of 10% or more of yearly rent is not trivial, is not regulated and although you have found it productive to get involved (hope that continues to work for you) it lacks any transparency. There are virtually no legal protective measures for tenants in place as of yet. All the good will and community spirit will mean nothing before a management companies counsel in court. Furthermore as explained above by ontour where if you rent 1 apt in a 50 apt complex your management fee = 2% = "your share of the cost of running the complex" it does not grant you additional equity in, legal recourse against, or locus standi to enforce as against any defects in another tenants premises which may increase your personal management costs. You pay for someone else, often their negligence, poor material usage, construction etc with no recourse. Similarly if 25 of the 50 apts are left vacant and your fee where to double, your now 4% stake in the fee payment does not grant you greater equity in empty premises which may suffer damage and you have to cover it. How very Celtic Tiger.
I'm truly glad you have found management company you feel happy to deal with but if your trying to say many Irish management companies and developers are not widely engaged with profiteering I think your missing the reality of Irish real estate and how the last 10 years of corrupt politics has assisted them, and the desperate need to regulate through legislation. Its not surprising they remained unregulated throughout the boom when its the politicians who make the laws is it.
If I'm in a management company, who just so happens to have close ties to a/the developer, who also happens to have close ties with (say own or have business interests with) contractors who do you think I will get to do my next paint job, my next lift maintenance. Thats right. Interweaving companies are a factor of Irish company law and little more than a law suit and applications for discovery (you should see that cost for laughs) will uproot the reality of a system of endemic corruption and back door profiteering where its basically a closed loop, even in tendering for maintenance.
Can you explain the rise in many tenants management fees this year as opposed to last, even in complexes with full capacity. I can. Its called covering your loss. Developers/landlords who have lost out during the downturn try to pick up part of the loss in rental prices by upping the management fee. They may make cross agreements with another development: developer A has ties to subsid management co A, who manages developer B's complex while developer B has a management co to manage A's complex. If they all raise prices together = revenue stream cross-flow.
Example:
Rent + management fee
'08 €2,000 + €2,000 = €26,000
'09 €1,800 + €3,000 = €24,600
Factor decreasing costs of materials for maintenance, vastly greater bargaining power of management companies as against contracting for workers (desperation in the industry means they will work for 25% less than last year just to see a paycheck) with many other potential savings as occurs during recession and even the gross loss of €1,600 above is not only wiped out but profits may be increased. Thats the reality.
To the OP, I'm paying 0 in management fees officially where I'm renting. I say officially as I have discovered the management company have been overcharging for utilities to the tune of nearly 250% and misrepresenting utility costs. They may also, in league with the overall landlord, who is a well known figure in Irish property, be charging and accounting the apartment blocks utility fees to a franchise business adjoining the premises owned by the landlord, but I believe not declaring the residential usage to revenue and instead claiming the usage as business purpose sole. I spotted this about 7 months ago and after chasing management I finally caught up with them and made them sign a statement refusing to pay utility fees until the discrepancies were explained. They can't and seemed worried by my discoveries. The management company have been telling foreign nationals in my development (majority) that their false costs are real (ESB + Gas) direct supply charges by doctoring and issuing false statements and playing on their unfamiliarity and often lack of good English. Thats a criminal matter and I'm only waiting till after Christmas to bring the matter to the attention of the Gardai. I doubt their '10 will be as good as '09 from where I intend to put them. Be cynical, be vigilant and if you spot any abnormalities, inform all other residents and hunt as a pack. Irrespective of the lack of legislation we have very clear laws regards fraud. Hope it works out for you and everyone else. Slan.