The Property Management Services (Licensing and Related Matters) Regulation (the Regulation) was gazetted today. The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) plans to implement the licensing regime for the property management (PM) industry starting from 1 August 2020.
Mr Tony TSE, the PMSA Chairperson said, “We are grateful to the stakeholders of the PM industry who have been proactively giving advice to us on the proposed licensing regime and the related subsidiary legislation. In light of the views received, the PMSA has suitably refined the licensing regime and the subsidiary legislation to enhance clarity and completeness, while retaining flexibility to cope with the future development of the industry. The PMSA has widely communicated with various stakeholders, and the licensing regime and related subsidiary legislation have received general support from the industry.”
Under the proposed licensing regime, property management companies (PMCs) which provide more than one category of PM services are required to be licensed. Property management practitioners (PMPs) assuming managerial or supervisory roles in these PMCs are also subject to licensing while frontline staff will not be required to obtain licences.
To allow the industry sufficient time to adapt to the new licensing regime, there will be a three-year transitional period after the licensing regime comes into operation. During the period, PMCs and PMPs may choose, but are not required, to be licensed.
During the transitional period, PMPs who do not meet the licensing requirements of academic and/or professional qualifications but possess the relevant work experience may apply for provisional PMP licences with a validity period of up to three years. Upon completion of a PMSA specified course within the validity of the provisional licence, a PMP may apply for a formal licence without having to comply with the requirements of academic and/or professional qualifications.
The Regulation will be submitted to the Legislative Council on 27 May for negative vetting. Subject to its passage, the licensing regime will commence operation from 1 August this year.
The Secretary for Home Affairs has also made the Property Management Services Ordinance (Commencement) Notice 2020 (the Notice) under the Propoerty Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) (PMSO) to appoint 1 August 2020 as the day on which relevant provisions in the PMSO come into operation so as to tie in with the implementation of the licensing regime by the PMSA. The Notice was gazetted today.
Ends/Friday, 22 May 2020
Issued at HKT 09:00
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