A licensed property services provider has been sanctioned by an industry watchdog after the provider was found charging a non-refundable “technology fee” of €125 to prospective purchasers to register on online bidding platforms.
In the case, the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) imposed a sanction where the provider failed to explain why they deemed it appropriate for prospective purchasers to cover the costs of hosting an online auction.
The licensed provider told the PSRA investigation that the fee covered the cost of hosting the bidding platform and payment processing charges.
The investigation established that in order for a prospective purchaser to bid on a property advertised for sale by auction by the service provider, they must pay the non-refundable technology fee of €125 to the service provider.
The case study contained in the 2025 annual report of the PSRA reveals that on completion of investigation, the authority found the provider to be in breach of Minimum Standards Regulations and the authority imposed “minor sanctions of warnings” on the licensed provider.
The provider was sanctioned for imposing the €125 technology fee; for making access to an online auction conditional on payment of the €125 fee and for restricting access to an online auction and thereby reducing the opportunity for the sale of the service provider’s clients’ properties.
In the case, the PRSA initiated an investigation into the licensed provider of its own volition after becoming aware of the €125 non-refundable technology fee.
During 2025, the Authority received 304 complaints, which represents a 27.73% increase on the 238 complaints received in 2024.
Of the complaints received in 2025, 119 concerned dis-satisfaction with service provided; 113 concerned owner of management company matters; 28 were over- advertising; 28 over retention of money by licensed property services provider; 27 over bidding issues and and 23 over tenancy matters.
The case involving the €125 technology fee was one of 62 licensed businesses that received 74 minor sanctions in 2025.
Of the sanctions imposed, 32 warning letters were sent out and 31 cautions were issued.
The PSRA imposed “major sanctions” in three cases.
In one instance, the High Court affirmed penalties imposed by the PSRA concerning the non-performance of several duties agreed between a property services provider and the owners’ management company in their letter of engagement.
In the case, the PSRA directed the licensed business and the licensed individual to pay €50,000 and €20,000 respectively to the authority by way of financial penalty.
The PSRA also directed the licensed business and the licensed individual to pay a sum of €2,000 and €1,000 respectively to the authority, for the cost of the investigation.
In that case, the owners management company alleged that the licensed property services provider had failed to collect management fees from unit owners and this had resulted in the non-payment of insurance for the development for a significant period.
The PSRA investigation found that both the individual and the business failed to inform the OMC that the block insurance was not paid, meaning that the development was uninsured for a period of up to eight months.
In a separate investigation concerning a licensed business who withdrew their fee from a booking deposit received for the sale of a property, prior to contracts for the sale being concluded, the PRSA imposed a financial penalty of €10,000 on the licensed business.
In a third case concerning a letting agent’s failure to account for moneys received on behalf of his client, the PRSA suspended the letting agent’s licence for six months; directed the letting agent to pay €1,000 to the Authority’s Compensation Fund and €3,000 for the cost of the investigation.
The report states that 206 or 67.76% of the 304 complaints received in 2025 were concluded without the requirement to appoint an inspector to conduct an investigation.
It also states that complaints are declined for investigation where the subject matter does not fall under the remit of the Authority, or where the subject matter of the complaint does not fall within the definition of “improper conduct”.
The report states that the difference between perception of wrongdoing and what constitutes improper conduct, largely explains the high number of complaints, which the Authority concluded without investigating.
The report states that the complainant may genuinely feel dissatisfied or aggrieved at what transpired in their dealings with the licensed Property Services Provider, but it may not fall under the definition of “improper conduct” under Section 2 of the Act.
In total, the PSRA concluded 256 complaints in 2025.
At the end of 2025, there were a total of 5,996 licence holders compared to 5,952 at the end of 2024 – a 0.74% increase in licence holders.
Last year, the PSRA conducted 479 compliance audits and found 387 service providers to be compliant, imposed sanctions in 62 cases and in 30 cases found that the provider was not providing property services.
In June of last year, the licence fee or licence renewal fee payable by a property services employer increased from €1,100 a year to €1,210 while for an employee increased from €110 a year to €125.
The report states that in 2025 the Authority paid licence fees of €2.62m to the Exchequer.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
