Ethics Flashcards
What includes key background to the RICS?
- Established in 1868
- Gained its Royal Charter in 1881
- Governed by various by-laws and regulations
- 130,000 global members
- 4 levels - Trainee/Student -> FRICS
What is the RICS Motto?
There is measure in all things
What is the address of the RICS?
125 Great George Street, Parliament Square, London
What is Lionheart?
Charity set up for RICS members, for RICS members. Provides advice and suppport on matters including:
- Well-being and mental health
- Financial support
- Illness & legal advice
What is Modus and Matrix?
Modus - RICS publication (magazine)
Matrix - division for young surveyors - provides events, networking, seminars etc
How much is RICS membership?
£354 for first 2 years, £539 afterwards
What are the professional groups?
- Divisions of the RICS providing technical advice and contributing to policy in relevent discipline
- 17 groups
- E.g. PM, Valuation, Rural etc
What is the governance structure of the RICS?
- Governing council - 25 members, runs RICS
- Regulatory Board, Management Board & Various Committees reporting to gov council
17 specialist professional groups
Who makes up the professional team?
- Nick Maclean - Head of Governing Council
- Richard Collins - CEO
- Anne Gray - President
What is the role of the Standards and Regulation Board?
Responsible for the Strategy, Policy, Operation and admissions into the profession
What is the role of the Governing Council?
Responsible for global strategy and ensures obligations under the Royal Charter are met
What is the role of the Audit Committee?
Maintain the effectiveness and integrity of RICS functions?
What is the role of the managing board?
Directs RICS affairs under delegated authority from the governing council
How would you become a RICS Fellow?
Provide assessors:
- Evidence of
- 5+ years at MRICS
- leadership role
- professional and technical achievement
- raising the profile of the RICS
- Portfolio of professional achievement to support application and CPD record
What is the key role of the RICS?
- Promote and enforce the highest professional standards and qualifications in the development and management of property, real estate and the enviro
- Be accountable to members and the public
- Involved in policy influence and political engagement
What are the three main roles?
- Maintain highest standards of education and training
- Protect customers through strict regulations and professional standards
- Be a leading source of information and expert advice on land property and construction
What were the aims of the Bichard Review?
- Clarify purpose of the RICS
- Make recommendations on the governing structure
- Provide proposals on incoming leadership and governing body on future culture and strategy
What are the 5 benefits of being a RICS member?
- Status
- Recognition
- Market advantage
- Knowledge
- Networking
What are the 3 key benefits for firms regulation?
- Confidence - from clients
- Professionalism
- Security
What is the Royal Charter?
- Passed in 1881 by Queen Victoria
- Established the independent legal identity of the RICS, while defining its constitution and powers to govern its own affairs
Who is the current RICS president?
Anne Gray
What are the 5 principles of better regulation?
TPACT
- Transparent
- Proportional
- Accountable
- Consistent
- Targeted
What is a bye-law?
Regulation made by an organisation (RICS last updated theirs in Feb 2021)
What are the 5 professional and ethical standards?
- Act with integrity
- Provide a high standard service
- Act in way that promotes trust in the profession
- Treat others with respect
- Take responsibility
What is the latest edition of the Rules of Conduct?
RICS Rules of conduct 2021
- Published October 2021, effective feb 2022
Replaced previous Rules of Conduct for Members and Firms, and professional and ethical standards
What did the new rules on conduct replace?
Replaced previous Rules of Conduct for Members and Firms, and professional and ethical standards
Why is there a need for the rules of conduct?
- To ensure there is a framework for appropriate behaviour
- To ensure consistency and clarity
- To ensure members serve the needs of their client, while also acting in a way that serves the public interest
What were the key changes made to the Rules of Conduct in 2022?
- Simpler structure
- Use of specific examples
- Greater focus on respect, diversity and inclusion
- Recognition of progressions in new technologies
- Look to address global challenges
What is rule 1 of the Code of Conduct
Members and firms must act with integrity, ensuring that they comply with their own personal obligations, while complying with their obligations to the RICS
Give three examples of rule 1
- Not taking advantage of others
- Ensuring that others are not mislead by their own personal judgement
- Handling clients money - keeping this safe and having sufficient accounting processes in place
When have I acted in accordance with rule 1
- Conflict of interest check for a new instruction
- Tenant overpaid in relation in Workman professional fees for a Licence to Assign. I informed the client and tenant of this and arranged a refund of the excess
What is rule 2?
Members and firms must maintain their professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals with necessary experience
Provide examples of behaviour in relation to rule 2
- Members and firms must only undertake work that they have the skills, knowledge and resources to carry out competently
- Members and firms supervise employees undertaking work for them and ensure that have necessary skills, knowledge and resources to carry out work competently
When have I acted in accordance with Rule 2?
- Maylands Avenue Application to alter - instructed building surveyors to review, given my level of competence
What is rule 3
Members and firms must provide high quality, diligent service
What are 3 examples of behaviours for Rule 3?
- Understand clients needs and objectives before accepting professional work
- Communicate with clients and others in a way they understand
- Understand the risks and benefits of using relevant technology
When have I acted in accordance with Rule 3?
- By ensuring I have been responsive to clients throughout my career
- Unit 10 Olympus Close Licence to Assign -
+ Processed without delay
+ Through due diligence, I ensured my clients aims and objectives were achieved
through agreeing a Rent Deposit and AGA
What is Rule 4?
Members and firms must treat others with respect and ensure that they encourage diversity and inclusion
Give three examples of Rule 4?
- Respect the right of others and treat them with respect and curtesy
- Do not bully, victimise or harass
- Members and firms work collaboratively with others
What is Rule 5?
Members and firms act in the public interest, take responsibility for their actions and act to prevent harm and maintain public confidence in the profession
Give two examples of behaviour in relation to rule 5?
- Respond to complaints openly, promptly and professionally
- Members and firms do not dissuade complaints from approaching ADR, RICS or other regulatory boards
Can you provide a time when you promoted trust in the profession?
- Putting a stop to illegal parking at Yardley Business Park
- Returning overpaid fees
What are the mandatory professional obligations?
Contained within the appendix of the rules of conduct- additional requirements for firms and members
What are the mandatory professional obligations for members?
- Cooperate with the RICS
- Comply with CPD requirements
- Provide information to the Standards and Regulations Board in a reasonable timeframe when requested
What are the Mandatory Professional obligations for firms?
- Cooperate with the RICS
- Publish a complaints handling procedure approved by the RICS and maintain a complaints log
- Ensure all previous and current professional work is covered by professional indemnity insurance cover that meets RICS approved standards
What is the Ethics decision tree?
- Provides a framework for questions members should ask themselves when faced with a potential unethical scenario
- Considers legality of actions and consistency with the Rules of conduct
What supporting info does the RICS provide to support the rules?
- Ethics decision tree
- RICS regulations confidential hotline
How is a disciplinary procedure triggered?
- Complaint made to the RICS
- Allegation made by a client or third party
- Information obtained by or provided to the RICS
What are the three levels of disciplinary action?
- Head of Regulation
- Regulations Tribunal
- Appeals Panel
What is a breach of conduct?
When a member of firm fails to comply with the Rules of Conduct or brings the profession into disrepute
What is the RICS disciplinary procedure?
- Receipt of complaint
- Investigation by the RICS
- Serving of penalty - e.g. Fixed Notice, Regulatory Compliance Order
What disciplinary procedures can the RICS impose?
- Serve a fixed penalty notice
- Make a regulatory compliance order
- CPD sanction
- Refer matter to Disciplinary Panel - consider expulsion
What is a fixed penalty?
Usually a fine for a minor breach
What is a regulatory compliance order?
- Penalty served for smaller scale breached
- Provides restrictions on a member from particular actions for a certain time period, along with usually a £2k fine
What is a CPD sanction?
Obligation for a minimum requirement for CPD
What disciplinary/regulatory sanctions can the RICS impose?
- Caution
- Reprimand
- Fine
- Conditions
- Expulsion
What actions are taken by the regulations tribunal?
Procedure for more serious breaches, impose penalties when referred to by the Head of Regulation
What penalties are available to the regulatory tribunal?
- Regulatory Compliance Order
- Unlimited fine per breach
- Impose conditions on future RICS registration
- Expulsion
When is the appeals panel used?
Consider an appeal made by a member or firm following disciplinary procedure
When did the RICS last update the disciplinary panel rules?
RICS disciplinary, registration and appeal panel rules (October 2019)
What are the levels of action within Disciplinary Panel rules?
- Investigation of receipt of info
- Decision to realistic prospect
- If realistic prospect - disciplinary procedure
What is professional practice?
Conduct and work of someone in a particular practice
Where are the outcomes of disciplinary proceedings published?
Modus and the RICS website
What is integrity to me?
Being honest and doing the right thing
How do I ensure that I provide a high standard of service
Ensure advice I give is accurate, clear and concise and in a way clients can understand
How do you act in a way promoting trust in the profession?
By following the rules of conduct in my professional and personal life
What does taking responsibility mean?
Being accountable for my actions and having the courage to take the stand
What does treating people with respect mean?
Being polite, courteous and valuing peoples opinions. Treating others how you would like to be treated
What publication does the RICS publish in relation to social media?
The Use of Social Media: Guidance for RICS Members (2016)
- Standards of communication should also be upheld on social media
When are the RICS likely to investigate a social media post?
When is discriminatory, abusive etc
What are the RICS Core materials made up of?
- International Standards
- Professional Statements
- Practice Statements
- Guidance Notes
- Codes of Practice
What are the international standards?
International high level principle based mandatory standards developed in collaboration with several bodies
- E.g. RICS Valuation Global Standards (2022)
What are examples of professional statements and practice statements?
What are examples of guidance notes?
What are the key requirements of fee negotiations?
- There must be no price fixing, aggressive fee cutting or collusion
- Fees should be market based and agreed on an ad-hoc basis
- Competition encouraged, but fee cutting avoided