What you need to know as an Owners Association Manager

You Need a License to operate as an Owners Association Manager in Bahrain

Owners Association Managers will be required to have a RERA Owners Association Manager license to operate in Bahrain based on Decision No. (4) on Licensing the Management and Operation of Real Estate Properties (the Resolution) which was published in the Gazette on 5 July 2018. It provides a process for the issuance of Owners Association Manager and Property Manager licenses as authorised by Article 66 of Law 27 of 2017.  

Articles 3 and 9 of the Resolution empowers RERA to issue Owners Association Manager and Property Manager licenses for the management and operation of real estate properties in Bahrain. The Resolution outlines the role and responsibilities of the Owners Association Manager /Property Manager as:

The tasks the Owners Association /Property Manager undertakes to do under delegation by the Owners Association in relation to some of its competencies, which include facilitating meetings, coordinating with the Owners Association Board of Directors, supporting the development and implementation of the operational rules of the Owners Association, the annual budget of the Owners Association, the preparation of financial and technical reports and other works that may be assigned to him.

Article 66 of Law 27 of 2017 permits RERA to issue a property manager’s license which includes the provision of Owners Association management functions subject to the licensee meeting agreed competency and experience criteria and the completion of RERA specified Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training. In the event that an Owners Association Manager undertakes the role and duties of a Property Manager, he must disclose in writing any potential conflicts of interest to the Owners Association Board of Directors and the parties to the property management contract. Similarly, the same rule applies to a Property Manager undertaking the role and duties of an Owners Association Manager. The RERA Code of Conduct outlines the Conflicts of Interest Policy which must be adhered to at all times in order to receive and renew real estate service providers licenses.

Regarding Property Managers

As a guideline an Owners Association Manager should not provide Property Manager services in the same building /development where he fulfills the role of Property Manager functions unless he discloses in writing any potential conflict of interest to the Owners Association Board of Directors and the parties to the property management contract in advance of taking up such duties. An Owners Association Manager can provide property management services in another building/development where there is no conflict of interest.

Property Managers with relevant experience and qualifications in association management and subject to completion of the relevant RERA CPD training may have the additional function of owners association management recorded on the license issued by RERA. The reciprocal arrangement also applies where an Owners Association Manager wishes to have the additional practice of property management recorded on the license.