About Licensing Regime
The enactment of the PMSO (Cap. 626) signifies a general recognition of the importance of property management services in our society. Property management companies (PMCs) and property management practitioners (PMPs) play a vital role in assisting property owners to manage their properties. Property management requires professional service across multi-disciplines and its service quality also affects the safety and hygiene standards of buildings as well as the living environment of the public. Therefore, regulation and quality enhancement of property management services become more important.
The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) is a statutory body established under the PMSO. As a statutory regulatory body, the PMSA is tasked to regulate and promote the development of the industry. Through formulating and implementing a licensing regime and other complementary measures that suit the situation in Hong Kong, the PMSA aims to encourage and assist the property management industry and its practitioners in striving for enhancement in quality and professionalism for better living environment.
Licensing Regime
For the implementation of a mandatory licensing regime, minimum qualification requirements are set for PMCs and PMPs. Under the regulatory regime, PMSA is empowered to enforce the PMSO, issue codes of conduct, and take disciplinary actions against PMCs and PMPs committing disciplinary offences for regulating and controlling the provision of property management services.
There are two types of licences:
Property Management Company Licence
Subject to section 7 of the PMSO, PMCs providing properties (subject to deeds of mutual covenant) in Hong Kong with property management services falling within more than one category of services under the PMSO after the transitional period are required to be licensed. The criteria for holding a licence, the conditions that may be imposed on a licence and relevant details (including transitional arrangements) are stipulated in the subsidiary legislation, and other relevant documents or guidelines.
Property Management Practitioner Licence
The PMSO provides for a two-tier licensing regime of PMPs, namely PMP (Tier 1) licence and PMP (Tier 2) licence. Only those individuals assuming a managerial or supervisory role in a PMC which is required to hold a licence for the property management services provided by the PMC to a property are required to be licensed. The criteria for holding a licence, the conditions that may be imposed on a licence and relevant details (including transitional arrangements) are stipulated in the subsidiary legislation, and other relevant documents or guidelines.