Conduct rules and ethics Flashcards
What are the Five Global Professional and Ethical Standards
Five Global Professional and Ethical Standards
- Service (high standard) - best advice /performance
- Integrity (Act with) - Honesty and straightforwardness
- Trust (promote it) - Professional and private life
- Respect (Treat others) Cultures, politeness
- Responsibility (Take it) be accoutable/ whistleblow STIRR
What is the professional and ethical standards decision tree?
- Provides questions you can ask yourself when you are in an ethics situation to help you determine the best ethical outcome as per RICS rules of conduct
- Helps you consider your actions.
- e.g. would you happy to read about your actions in a newspaper/the media?
- There is also a regulation hotline for assitance with ethical issue
What are the international Ethics Standards 2016
- ethical framework for the gloval property market
- Not from RICS but RICS promotes them
- Current review they may be incorporated by RICS
- 8 ethical standards.
What are the Rules of Conduct for Members?
A set of 7 rules for how to behave in compliance with the RICS professional standard.
- Ethical Behaviour -integrity, avoid COIs
- Competence - Due skill, care and diligence
- Service - timely, as per service standards
- Continuing Professional Development - comply with RICS regs.
- Solvency - mange personal &professional finances
- Information to the RICS - as reasonabley required.
- Cooperation with RICS staff or regulatory board.
ECS CPD SIC
Every Candidate Spends CPD Snoring In Cinemas
What is the RICS’s Motto?
Est modus in rebus “There is measure in all things”
Can you outline some of the stages within the decision tree?
- FACTS - Sufficient facts to support decision
- LEGAL? - Is it legal?
- RICS STANDARDS - does it confirm to these?
- CONSULTATION with appropriate people
- REASONING - clear?
- RISKS - what are they?
- PUBLICITY - would you be content for your decision to be made public?
THEN ACT AND REFLECT
What are the Rules of conduct for firms?
A set of 7 rules for how to behave in compliance with the RICS professional standard.
- Professional Behaviour -integrity, avoid COIs
- Competence - Due skill, care and diligence, proper regard for technical standards
- Service - timely service, as per service standards
- Continuing Professional Development - Properly trained competent staff
- Client’s Money- keep secure
- Indemnity all work covered by appropriate indemnity and run off as approved by the regulatory board
- Complaints handling- operate a CHP including ADR approved by regulatory board
PCS CPD CIC
Property & Construction Surveyor’s CPD Comes In Cakes
State 3 benefits of a regulations for firm
- Confidence-(for clients)
- Professsionalism - you know you’re receiving expert impartial advice
- Security CHP, indemnity
CPS CRIME PREVENTION SERVICES!
Can you register as an RICS regulated firm with no RICS members?
NO!
What types of regulated firm are there?
- sole practitioner
- LLP (Limiated liability partnership)
- Partnership
- Corporate Body
What do the RICS rules of regulation 2019 for firms state and when were they effective from?
- Effective from April 2020
- 50% of principals RICS members the firm MUST BE REGULATED
- 25% can apply to be regulated.
- Responsible principle - must be nominated to ensure compliances with regulatory and RICS practice and report to RICS. they are someone with authority who can act without supervision - e.g. sole practioner or director, partner.
- Disputes with the RICS about a firms regulation are heard by the Registration Panel
- Logo rules -only RICS registered firms and RICS members can use the logo.
- Regulated firms include a prescribed text in the terms of engagement to explain what being RICS means.
- What are the rules of firm administration?
THE SIX rules of firms administration
- ADVERTISING - promote truthfully
- SOLVENCY - manage finances appropriately
- DEATH/INCAPACITY COVER (sole practicitoner)
- DESIGNATION - display on company literature it is regulated by RICS
- INFORMATION - submit as regulatory board reasonabley require
- COOPERATION - cooperate fully with Regulatory board.
Awesome Surveyors Dont Drive inexpensive Cars
Who are the RICS groups involved in disiplinary action?
- Action by head of regulation
- Disciplianrry panel
- Appeal Panel
What events could trigger disciplinary proceedings?
- Complaint to the RICS
- Allegation by a client
- information established by RICS
What rules might be breached to result in diciplinary proceedings?
- RULE 3 proffesional behaviour breaches - passing confidential client information, continuing to trade knowing firm was insolvent
- RULE 6 CPD not doing enough of it.
- RULE 8 failing to protecting clients money
What actions may be undertaken upon completion of formal investigation by the Head of Regulation
- FIXED PENALTY NOTICE
- REGULATORY COMPLAINCE ORDER
- CPD SANCTION
- DISCIPLINARY PANEL ACTION
FRICS REALLY CANT DANCE!
When might a fixed penalty be used by RICS?
Disciplinary action for failure to supply information to RICS
This is a disciplinary action following investigation by the head of regulation due to breach of the rules, failure to supply the correct information to the RICS by firms and members.
What is a regulatory Compliance Order?
- A discplinary proceedure used by RICS for minor breachesof the rules whicj are easily corrected
- Written document
- States the actions the member or firm must or must not do.
Why might happen if you fail to carry out your CPD as per the RICS rules of conduct
- Could be subject to discplinary action by RICS
- CPD sanctions in the first instance to follow the CPD requirement.
What might happen to you if you were involved in a serious breach of conduct?
- head of regultion investigates
- may decide a hearing required
- hearing panel has 50% non RICS members
- Can issue a penalty such as a compliance order or fine.
Can you name all the penalties avaiable to an RICS disciplinary panel?
- Compliance Order
- Fine (proportionate to the offence)
- Conditional RICS Registration
- Expulsion
- Publication of hearing results in Modus, website local newspaper
Who can you appeal a disciplinary proceedure to and what happens?
- Appeal Panel
- Review decision inlight of new evidence and previous
- Can vary the penalty imposed before
- 50% Of the membership are ‘lay’ members (non RICS).
Are you aware of any recent changes to the RICS disciplinary proceedure
- On 2 March 2020, the Conduct and Appeal Committee was renamed the Regulatory Tribunal, tribunals are now undertaken in birmingham and parliament square and can be witnessed by the public
What are the RICS international Standards and give me 3 examples?
- Mandatory standards developed in collaboration with other organisations e.g.:
- IPMS international property measurement standards
- ICMS (construction!)
- RICS valuation
- pofessional statements
3.
What are RICS Professional Statements and can you name three?
mandatory
include:
- conflicts of interest 2017
- Property measurement 2018
- RICS Home Survey Standards 2019
What are practice statements?
Mandatory guidance from RICS
E.g.
Surveyors acting as Expert Witnesses
Surveyors acting as advocates.
What are RICS Guidance Notes
- Voluntary
- e.g. Reinstatement cost Assessment of Buildings 2018
- Surveying Safely 2018
- Surveyors acting as Adjudicators 2017
What are RICS codes of practice
Can be mandatory or recomended good practice
Examples include#:
S/C Residential management code 2016
Rating Consultancy code of practice 2017
What RICS core material is mandatory and which are voluntary?
MANDATORY
- international standards
- professional statements
- practice stateements
- some codes of practice.
VOLUNTARY
Guidance notes
kCan you describe best practice for fee negotiations?
- AVOID COLLUSION (competition and markets authority)
- AVOID PRICE FIXING
- AVOID UNDERCUTTTING OTHER COMPANIES
- PROFESSIONAL RENEGOTIATION OF FEES IS ALLOWED AFTER INITIAL PROPOSAL
- TRANSPARENCY on referral fees (bribery act, 5 global ethical standards!)
You grant referral fees on behalf of your client,what should you consider?
- RICS ethical standards
- Bribery Act 2010
- Be transparent with your client
What are terms of engagement?
Terms of engagement
- Signed agreement with the client to a surveyors fee proposal
- Confirmed terms of engagement in writing
- must state how calculated
- Must state copy of firms CHP available on request
- MUST CHECK NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST
- MUST BE COMPETENT to carry out the works
- Must get client approval before starting works.
- There is a 14 day cooling off period under The Consumer Rights Act
When would it be appropriate to decline an instruction?
- Not competent, outside limitations
- Not enough information (FACTS)
- Conflict of interest
- Client wont sign terms of engagemetn or sign AML checks (Anti money Laundering)
- PI insurance cap cannot be agreed
- PI wont cover
- Client is in government sanctions list
- Not happy for actions to be made public (ethics test)
What would you include in your terms of engagement for?
- Description of the works
- List of services to be included
- List of services not to be included
- Limitations of liability
- Timescales
- Fee and how calculated
- Terms and conditions (CHP, payment terms)
What is a conflict of interest, can you provide an example?
When a member or firm is not able to act impartially or independtely on an instruction due to conflicting interests
3 types:
- party conflict -between two client interests e.g. acting for the tenant and landlord on same instructions ooposing sides
- confidential information - between the duty of an RICS member to provide material information to one client and their duty or that of a regulated firm to another client to keep that same information confidential (restricted to the member)
- own interest - personal interest by member directly/indirectly involved in the instruction conflicts
Conflicts of interest global professional statement 2017 provides a framework of the principles that must be followed when assessing whether there is a conflict of interest, and what action should be taken if there is.
How would you deal with a conflict of interest?
- Obtain full facts
- I would consult the Conflicts of interest global professional statement 2017 which provides a framework of the principles that must be followed when assessing whether there is a conflict of interest, and what action should be taken if there is.
- 2 possible actions
-
conflict avoidance
- If impartiality will be compromised
- dont accept instruction, politely decline.
-
conflict management
- TELL CLIENT IN WRITING
- nature of conflict
- any relevant facts
- proposal for dealing with it
- inform to seek independent advice if required.
- Request written confirmation of their consent
- set up measures to protect client with the written agreement of all parties such as an information barrier or chinese wall.
- Information barriers are arrangements that are designed to prevent the flow of information between separate departments or individuals.
- In practice, they may consist of restricting access to electronic documents; and/or separating personnel so that they are located on separate floors of the same office or in different locations completely.
- Management does not work unless there is informed consent
- informed consent should only be sought if the surveyor is happy that proceeding is in the interest of both parties and legal.
- TELL CLIENT IN WRITING
-
conflict avoidance
When would you decline an instruction on the grounds of a conflict of interest?
- I would use the RICS Global Professonal Statement 2017 on conflict of interest to determine the best action.
- If it was not in the interests of both parties or legal to proceed I would decline the instruction.
- If I could not obtain informed consent from both parties to manage a conflict of interest for example with an information barrier.
- I would seek advice also from a more senior colleague.
What must firms do regarding conflicts of interest?
- Manage in accordance with the professinal statement.
- Have effective controls in place appropriate to the size fo their business
- Keep records to demonstrate compliance with the RICS Professional global staement on COI 2017
What are the 3 types of conflict of interest?
3 types:
-
party conflict -between two client interests e.g.
- DUAL AGENCY -acting for the tenant and landlord on same instructions opposing sides at the same time (MUST NOT BE UNDERTAKEN as per the conflcit of interest professional statement 2017.
- MULTIPLE INTRODUCTIONs - real estate agents dealing with multiple buyers for a property -must state exclusive (decline other instructions) or non exclusive basis (manage but obtain informed consent)
- INCREMENTAL - e.g. act for seller of property re disposal then for buyer afterwards to provide a valuation
- confidential information - between the duty of an RICS member to provide material information to one client and their duty or that of a regulated firm to another client to keep that same information confidential (restricted to the member)
- own interest - personal interest by member directly/indirectly involved in the instruction conflicts - connected person e.g. famil relationship - must declare
What examples of conflicts of interest do you know?
- financial interests
- personal interests
- commercial relationships
- acting on both sides of a transaction
What is an information barrier?
- A type of conflict of interest management proceedure
- Information barriers are arrangements that are designed to prevent the flow of information between separate departments or individuals.
- Must be robust so no info passes
- you must take reasonable steps to operate the barrier
- Information must be securely stored
- In practice, they may consist of restricting access to electronic documents; and/or physical separation of personnel so that they are located on separate floors of the same office or in different locations completely.
- Firms compliance manager should over see
- Keep records and audit trail of corrospondance and oral communication e.g. telephone calls.
- Management does not work unless there is informed consent
- informed consent should only be sought if the surveyor is happy that proceeding is in the interest of both parties and legal.