A move to a new way of working is the wrong time to let your standards slip. The opposite, in fact: it is the moment to prove you run a tight, compliant business. These modules are the essentials every Irish agent is expected to keep current, written in plain terms rather than as a legal wall.
Annual CPD — keeping your knowledge current
Continuing professional development is a condition of holding your licence. You are expected to complete a minimum of five hours of PSRA-approved CPD each year: a set of core mandatory topics that everyone must cover, plus electives you choose to suit your work. Miss it, and licence renewal is at risk.
What you work through
- The mandatory core topics set for the year, such as legislation updates, anti-money-laundering and professional standards.
- Electives you pick: property law, ethics, consumer protection, or the areas where you want to be stronger.
- Keeping evidence of the hours you have done, ready for renewal.
Anti-money-laundering — your duties as a designated person
Estate agents are designated persons under anti-money-laundering law. That means you have hard legal duties to check who you are dealing with, to watch for the signs of dirty money, and to report your suspicions. This is not optional and it is not just paperwork; getting it wrong is a serious matter.
What you work through
- Customer due diligence: verifying the identity of your clients before you act, and knowing who you are really dealing with.
- Enhanced due diligence: the extra checks you must run when a client or a deal carries higher risk.
- Monitoring: keeping an eye on transactions for anything that does not add up.
- Suspicious-activity reporting: how and when to report a concern, and keeping records that stand up to inspection.
Client-money rules — handling other people's money
The moment you hold money that belongs to a client, a landlord or a buyer, strict rules apply. The principle is simple: their money is theirs, kept apart from yours, tracked to the penny, and ready to show an inspector at any time. Get this wrong and you can be suspended or prosecuted, and consumers can claim against the Compensation Fund.
What you work through
- Designated client accounts: holding client money in properly named, separate accounts.
- Separation: never mixing client money with the money of your own business.
- Reconciliation: checking your records against the bank regularly so nothing drifts.
- Record retention: keeping detailed records for the period required, ready for inspection.
The Codes of Practice — how you are expected to behave
The PSRA sets Codes of Practice that spell out the standard of conduct expected of a licensed agent. They are the difference between an agent who is trusted and one who ends up in front of the regulator. Four areas run through everything you do.
What you work through
- Ethics: honesty, integrity and fair dealing with everyone in a transaction.
- Client care: written terms of engagement, clear fees, straight communication, and acting in your client's best interests.
- Advertising: accurate marketing, no misleading statements, and proper disclosure.
- Complaints handling: a written procedure, proper records, and a clear route to escalate.
Consumer protection and GDPR — looking after people and their data
You owe duties to vendors, landlords, purchasers and tenants alike, under consumer protection law, advertising standards, and the PSRA Codes. On top of that, every name, number and note you hold is personal data you are trusted to protect. Treat both as part of the same job: dealing fairly, and handling data properly.
What you work through
- Your fair-dealing duties to consumers on both sides of a transaction.
- Advertising standards and the rules on accurate, non-misleading marketing.
- Data protection: holding client data lawfully, with recorded consent, and keeping it safe.
- Why this matters most when you change business: client data cannot simply be copied across.
Keep your standards, keep your options open
A tight, compliant business is the one that can move cleanly when the moment comes. Register your interest and we will help you line up training and a compliant move to eXp Ireland when it opens.
Register your interest