The PMSA Issued an Appeal Letter to Owners’ Organisations on the Property Management Industry Licensing Regime
The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) issued an appeal letter to over 10,000 owners’ organisations (OOs) (including incorporated owners and owners’ committees) in Hong Kong, urging them to encourage the property management companies (PMCs) of their properties to apply for licence as soon as possible.
The Property Management Industry Licensing Regime (Licensing Regime) came into operation since 1 August last year. It aims to encourage and assist the property management (PM) industry and its practitioners to strive for enhancement in quality and professionalism through formulating and implementing a licensing regime and other complementary measures which tie in with the situation in Hong Kong. To allow the industry sufficient time to adapt, there is a three-year transitional period under the Licensing Regime. During the transitional period, PMCs and PMPs may choose, but are not required, to be licensed. After the transitional period (i.e. from 1 August 2023), any business entity which provides more than one category of prescribed PM services (PMSs) must hold a PMC licence, and any PMP assuming a managerial or supervisory role in such a PMC will also have to be licensed. Unlicensed PMCs and PMPs will not be allowed to operate or practise in the PM industry.
In the letter, Mr Tony TSE, the PMSA Chairperson noted, “If OOs engage PMCs to provide PMSs, it is advised that they should communicate with the concerned PMCs early and encourage them to apply for PMC licences as soon as possible and arrange for their PMPs who assume managerial or supervisory roles to apply for PMP licences early in order to comply with the Property Management Services Ordinance (PMSO).” Chairperson TSE also emphasised, “If the contract period of the PMCs engaged by the OOs will exceed 1 August 2023, it is important to ensure that the PMCs should have obtained licence before the above-mentioned date so that the PMCs can continue to operate after the date. After licensing, the PMSA can regulate the PMCs’ and PMPs’ operation in the provision of PMSs in accordance with the PMSO.”
Chairperson TSE also reminded the OOs to take note of the following matters in the letter:
- Unless the relevant PMC holds a licence on or before 1 August 2023, it cannot act as a PMC or claim to be a licensed PMC from that date;
- As it takes time to process a licence application, consideration should be given to appealing to the relevant PMC for it to submit its licence application to the PMSA as soon as possible and commit to the OO a timetable for the application;
- Regarding tendering and engagement of PMC in future, consideration should be given to stipulating PMCs participating in the tender to be licensed as a prerequisite; and
- If the PMS contract between the OO and the relevant PMC will not expire before 1 August 2023, the OO should seek professional advice if in doubt and make appropriate arrangements in case the PMC may not obtain a licence by then.
In addition, in order for the public to access more comprehensive information and with greater protection when selecting and engaging property management services, the public may check the register in the PMSA website to obtain the latest information about licensed PMC.
Register of PMCs: https://www.pmsa.org.hk/en/licensing-regime/registers-of-licensees/
Ends/Thursday, 8 April 2021
Issued at HKT 18:30
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