Ethics Flashcards
Why do you want to be a member of the RICS?
Status, Recognition, Market Advantage, Knowledge and Network.
For me: You have global status and worldwide recognition and it allows me access to a network of competent professionals
What are the RICS Rules of Conduct?
1) Act with honesty and integrity
2) Maintain professional competence
3) Provide good quality diligent service
4) Encourage diversity and inclusion and to treat others with respect
5) Act in the public interest and take responsibility for your actions, maintain public confidence in the profession.
What are the mandatory obligations for members?
Cooperate with RICS
Comply with CPD
Provide information when requested
What are the mandatory obligations for firms?
Provide the RICS logo on all marketing materials
Provide a complaints handling procedure
Provide appropriate PII cover
Sole practioneer arrangements
What are the 6 principles of the Bribery Act 2010?
Proportionality
Risk Assessment
Top Level commitment
Due Diligence
Communication
Monitoring and reviewing
Can you give the definition of a Conflict of Interest?
An existing relationship that can hinder your ability to provide impartial advice
Can you give the definition of money laundering?
Proceeds of criminal activity which are disguised as legitimate assets
How would you carry out a money laundering check?
I would ask them for photographic ID, and also check their proof of funds.
How would you agree a fee?
I would ensure that it was in line with the market and be transparent and honest when agreeing
When is it appropriate to decline an instruction?
When a conflict cannot be managed or controlled
If you are not competent
If they are on the government sanctions list
If you cannot agree the appropriate PII (professional indemnity insurance) cover
What is the role of the RICS?
To promote and enforce the highest professional qualifications and standards in property
What are the 3 main roles of the RICS?
Maintain standards of education and training
Protect consumers through regulation of professional standards
Be a leading source of information and independent advice
What are the 3 conflicts which can arise?
Party Conflict
Personal Conflict
Confidential Information Conflict
What is the three step process to take when a conflict arises?
Conflict avoidance
Written advice
Conflict management
What is conflict avoidance?
When the conflict is irresolvable because my impartiality is compromised and should therefore be avoided
What is written advice?
When you assume that you wish to proceed with the instruction, you write out:
the disclosure of the conflict and any relevant facts, and also the proposal on how you’re going to manage it
Be clear that the own parties can make their own decision
Request written confirmation of their INFORMED CONSENT that I can proceed in accordance with the provisions of the proposed procedure
What is conflict management?
Use of information or ethical barriers to prevent information passing between parties
What are Cluttons policy on receiving a gift?
If a gift is under £50 we are allowed to accept it as long as we log it in our gift policy register
We do not accept cash, money vouchers, tickets or invitations to events where the donor is not going to be present
What are the four offences in the Bribery Act 2010?
receiving, giving, failing to prevent a bribe and bribing a foreign public official
What are the penalties in the Bribery Act 2010?
Max penalty of 10 years in prison and or an unlimited fine
What would you do if you were in a pub and a friend asked you to give them a quick estimated value of their property?
I would remain polite and explain that I cannot provide any work or give them any advice until our Terms of Engagements have been signed. (if they ask why: because they could claim for negligence and my companies PII cover would not cover anything if ToE are not signed)
What are the RICS bye laws on confidentiality?
States that confidentiality must be maintained for all client affairs, which includes historic information and information provided by a client prior to an instruction.
All files must be held for a minimum of 6 years before they can be destroyed securely
What are the RICS bye laws on confidentiality?
States that confidentiality must be maintained for all client affairs, which includes historic information and information provided by a client prior to an instruction.
All files must be held for a minimum of 6 years before they can be destroyed securely
Why were you breaching professional competence when someone asked you to carry out a valuation in Cornwall?
Because I am not a registered valuer
Tell me, how would you go about setting up your own practice?
I would start by informing the RICS by completing a Firms Detail Form
Appoint a responsible principle
Do the statutory regulated activities
State nature of clients
Arrange complaints handling procedure details and records
Arrange PII cover
Set up clients money handling
State whether the firm holds clients money
If you were to then close the practice down, how would you do this?
Inform the RICS
Ensure clients are aware at the earliest opportunity
Return any monies held by clients
Inform insurers and procure PII run off cover for a min of 6 years
Retain a copy of the clients files and records for a min of 6 years
What is a sanction?
Fine or restriction on a person or company, applied to legal entities and countries
How does Cluttons handle client money?
We hold it in line with the guidance note, and we have pooled accounts which are labelled CLIENT and within those accounts we have discretionary accounts which have the clients NAME as well as my companies name and the word client.
Our accounts are always signed off by 2 authorised members of staff and their money always remains in credit
Who are the client accounts regulated by?
By the Financial Conduct Authority - ensures that the accounts are separate and specific from my companies
You have identified a COI, and the client wants to proceed. What do you do?
I would inform them that I would not be able to proceed with the instruction until they have given me written informed consent which would be stated in the ToE
What is the definition of unconcious bias?
Thoughts and beliefs from previous experiences, that you might not be aware of that could lead to unethical decisions
Why does a firm want to be accredited by the RICS
Confidence
Professionalism
Security
What are the regulations for Money Laundering?
Money Laundering Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulation 2017