The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) announced today that since the implementation of the property management (PM) industry licensing regime from August 2020, nearly 300 property management companies (PMCs) have submitted licence applications, and of which over 100 have already been successfully licensed. In addition, the PMSA has issued over 8,000 property management practitioner (PMP) licences, with formal PMP licences accounting for 65% and provisional PMP licences accounting for 35%.
The PMSA will organise the PMSA PM Pioneer Awards Ceremony at the 2nd International Property Management and Procurement Expo (Expo) on 31 August this year to award the first batch of licensed PMCs in Hong Kong in recognition of their active support for the PM licensing regime, thus driving the PM industry of Hong Kong towards enhanced quality and professionalism.
To ensure PMCs are licensed as required by law after the PM licensing regime transitional period (up to July 31, 2023) in order for them to continue to provide PM services to the public seamlessly, in addition to launching the television and radio announcements in the public interest earlier to appeal for members of the public to pay attention to whether the PMCs they have engaged in their properties are licensed, the PMSA will also send letters to over 10,000 owners’ organisations in Hong Kong to remind them that the PMCs they have engaged have to be licensed in accordance with the law from 1 August 2023 onwards in order to continue to provide PM services.
The PMSA Chairperson Mr Tony TSE said, “The community has come to recognise and support the PM licensing regime gradually. Many owners’ organisations have now stipulated PMCs holding licence issued by the PMSA as a prerequisite or a preference when tendering for PM services. Many organisations have also deemed PMSA-licensed PMCs and PMPs as a requirement for consideration of engagement or professional recognition. PMCs and PMPs who have yet to be licensed should seize the opportunity to apply for licence now so as to avoid falling behind the market and their peers in the industry.”
The Government Property Agency has recently stipulated in its contracts related to the management, operation and maintenance of boundary control points that the contractor has to possess valid PMC licence issued by the PMSA after the end of the transitional period of the PM industry licensing regime and their staff members performing the role of facilities manager or officer at the boundary control points also have to possess valid PMP licence after the transitional period.
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has established a list of Assets and Property Management Services in June 2022 and will invite suitable PMCs for inclusion in the list for participation in tenders to provide asset and property management services (covering residential buildings, shopping malls, public recreational spaces, historical buildings and other properties) to the URA. PMCs which apply for inclusion in the list have to possess PMC licence issued by the PMSA and engage at least two PMP (Tier 1) licensees.
In addition, the Hong Kong Housing Society has accepted PMP (Tier 1) licensees to register as Assessors of their Voluntary Building Assessment Scheme (List 2B) who may be engaged by building owners to conduct building assessment under the scheme.
From 1 August 2023 onwards, all PMCs providing more than one category of prescribed PM services for properties (subject to deeds of mutual covenant) and PMPs assuming a managerial or supervisory role in such PMCs providing PM services are required to be licensed in accordance with the law in order to continue to provide PM services. Failure to be licensed by then will affect PM service provision and contravene the law.
Ends/Monday , 1 August 2022
Issued at HKT 15:30
NNNN