Ethics Flashcards
What are the five Rules of Conduct?
- Members and firms must be honest, act with integrity and comply with their professional obligations, including obligations to RICS.
- Members and firms must maintain their professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise.
- Members and firms must provide good-quality and diligent service
- Members and firms must treat others with respect and encourage diversity and inclusion.
- Members and firms must act in the public interest, take responsibility for their actions and act to prevent harm and maintain public confidence in the profession
Name some typical behaviours for each of the rules of conduct?
- Open and transparent about fees, keep client money safe and do not take unfair advantage of others
- Only undertake works that they and employees have the knowledge to carry out competently, check subcontractors are competent, reflect on lessons learnt
- Communicate with clients and others clearly, understand the risks and benefits of modern technology, agree the scope of service to be provided.
- Work cooperatively with others, not bully / victimise or harass anyone, to respect the rights of others and treat others with courtesy.
- Respond to complaints promptly and professionally, take appropriate actions if rules have been breached, manage their professional finances responsibly.
Give an example of a time you complied with a Rule of conduct
Name the professional obligations for members?
- Members must comply with the CPD requirements set by the RICS which requires 20 hours of CPD for each calendar year, 10 hours of which must be formal CPD.
- Members must cooperate with RICS.
- Members must promptly provide all information reasonably requested by the Standards and Regulation Board, or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf.
What do you need to do when starting up your own firm?
Assign a RICS member as a principal, adequate PII, CHP, training and development programme for employees to undertake CPD, locum agreement.
Name some RICS policy documents
Rules of Conduct, Professional Indemnity Insurance Requirements, Regulations, Rules for Registration of Firms, Use of Firm Designations.
What do the RICS regulations cover?
definitions, membership and registration, designations, contributions to funds, conduct, governing council officers and staff, subordinate boards committees and groups, procedure for general meetings and voting, accounts and audit, general.
What is the RICS CPD policy? What is required in regards to ethics?
RICS members minimum of 20 hours CPD with 10 hours formal and undertake learning in relation to ethical standards once every three years.
What is RICS Lionheart and Matrix?
Lionheart - confidential support and therapists in difficult times.
Matrix - network to support younger members.
What are terms of engagement?
The written terms of agreement between the client and the Company for a contract.
What is adequate PI cover? Where would you find guidance for this?
RICS Professional Indemnity Insurance Requirements 2022
Firms’ turnover in preceding year (or estimated if new) vs minimum level of indemnity
£100,000 or less - £250,000
£100,001 to £200,000 - £500,000
£200,001 and above - £1,000,000
How do you distinguish between professional statements, code of practice document and guidance notes?
Professional statement - A document that provides members with mandatory requirements
Guidance note - A document that provides users with recommendations for professional advice and areas of good practice
Code of Practice - developed in collaboration with other professional bodies / stakeholders.
Provide different examples of professional statements and guidance notes?
Professional statements - RICS Conflict of Interest 1st Ed 2017, RICS Property Measurement 2nd Ed 2018, RICS Countering Bribery and Corruption, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing 1st Ed 2019, RICS Home Survey Standard 1st Ed 2019, RICS Rules of Conduct October 2021 effective February 2022.
Guidance Notes - RICS Contract Administration Guidance Note 1st Ed 2011, RICS Conflict Avoidance and Dispute Resolution in Construction Guidance Note 1st Ed 2012, RICS Party Wall Legislation and Procedure 7th Ed 2019, RICS Code of Measuring Practise 6th Ed 2015, RICS Surveying Safely 2nd Ed 2018
What is involved in a conflict check email?
- States the property, service being provided and client.
- Requests that if anyone is bidding or working with the client or properties to make the sender aware before a specified date.
- Also system search undertaken at same time.
Is there anything that your PI Insurance doesn’t let you advise on?
Anything outside Building Surveying expertise.
- VAT
- Bespoke contract production
- Fire stopping specification
- Re-cladding specification
For the Party Wall Award complaint, why did you not use your complaints handling procedure?
Informal complaint, individual just wanted to award issued, I could therefore deal with it and engage the procedure if they are still unhappy.
What is your companys complaints handling procedure?
complaint investigator to contact within 14 days to request further information, within 21 days of receipt of information investigator to confirm outcome, dissatisfied write to investigator and still dissatisfied redress scheme (DRS).
Give an example of a time when you dealt with a complaint? How did you resolve the complaint?
Complaint about party wall timing - resolved through communication and interpersonal skills
How did you ensure you had no involvement in your parent’s party wall project?
- I had no further involvement.
- A communication barrier was set up to prevent me from accessing the project.
- I did not communicate to anyone about the project.
In your ethics section, why could you not accept the gift from the contractor? What documents did you review to confirm this?
- They were tendering for a project.
- It was a few bottles of wine.
- I reviewed the ethical decision tree and did not want to be influenced in any way.
Give an example of a particularly interesting CPD you attended?
- Automist CPD
- Asbestos CPD
- Party wall podcast
What does a sole practitioner need to have in place as a precaution? What does the agreement include?
Locum Agreement with third party in case the sole practitioner cannot act. It should include the terms and conditions, arrangement of when to act, resource schedule, passwords and required details.
What is the purpose of ethical standards?
- Regulates RICS members and firms.
- Promotes trust in RICS.
- Give justifiable reason as to why members may not be able to act in a certain way.
Name some key guidance notes for Building Surveyors?
- Surveying Safely 2nd Ed 2018
- Party Wall Legislation and Procedure 7th Ed 2022
- Tendering Strategies 1st Ed 2014
- Conflict Avoidance and Dispute Resolution in Construction 1st Ed 2012
What is a conflict of interest? What are the different types?
Conflict of interest impacts the ability of a member to act impartially and in the impacts of the client.
Own interest conflict, party conflict, confidential information conflict.
What is informed consent? What information should be provided when gaining informed consent?
permission given willingly by a party who may be affected by a Conflict of Interest.
- That there is a Conflict of Interest or a significant risk of a Conflict of Interest
- the facts known by the RICS member or the regulated firm that are material to the Conflict of Interest
- what that Conflict of Interest is or may be
- that a Conflict of Interest may affect the ability of the RICS member or firm to advise or act fully in the interests of a client.
Name a recent RICS article you have read? What did you learn?
RICS article on MEES applying to all commercial leases and at rating of C being required 2025. Only applies to England and Wales. Expect further case law on whether landlord or tenant is responsible if tenant has not maintained the property to achieve a good EPC rating.
What is PI insurance? Why is it required?
PI insurance covers the cost of compensating clients for loss or damage resulting from negligent services or advice provided by a business or an individual.
It protects RICS members against claims and can compensate clients in case of negligence.
What is the client money protection scheme?
This scheme provides protection, as a last resort, in the unlikely event that the Firm is unable to repay a client’s money, up to the limits and exceptions set out in the scheme rules.
What are the requirements of the client money protection scheme?
- Ensure the RICS annual fee is paid for the scheme
- Ensure it is held in a designated account and the client is aware of the details
- Ensure that the client can access the account
- Ensure that cash books and client ledgers are being undertaken
- Ensure the account is not overdrawn
Do you deal with client money? Why do you not?
No, my company policy is not to deal with client money, I am not covered under PII.
Give an example of a time you refused tasks beyond your capabilities?
- Complex dwgs
- VAT
- Specifying fire stopping installations
Would you attend a football match if the client invited you?
Politely decline
Consult ethical decision tree and if it will not influence my decision making then accept and pay for own costs.
What are the requirements stated in the RICS PII requirements document?
Minimum level of indemnity based on firm’s turnover, and maximum uninsured excess based on indemnity level, PII policies work on a claims made basis and each and every claim basis and minimum six years run off cover.
What is formal and what is informal cpd?
Formal - structured learning with clear outcomes. Informal - self directed learning
What is the definition of ethics?
Moral principles that govern the conducting of an activity
How is RICS governed? How are breaches dealt with?
It is a self-governed membership based upon the RICS Rules of Conduct.
Breaches could lead to self correction, fixed penalty, consent order, disciplinary panel and deregistration.
What is the Annual Return?
Documents to be submitted yearly to RICS, include nature of firm’s work, services provided, office locations, principal employee details, contact officers, insolvency details, insurance records, CHP, hold client money.
What RICS guidance should a firm refer to when registering with RICS? What does this document include?
Rules for the Registration of Firms.
Communication, firm required to register, registration procedure, responsible principal required, obligations of registration including compliance with rules, notify of insolvency / material change etc, deregistration, review and appeal, fees.
When are firms required to register with RICS? When are firms eligible to register with RICS?
firms required to register if providing surveying services to public and 50% of firm’s principals are RICS.
Eligible if providing surveying services to public and 25% of firm’s principals are members.
What RICS documents advise on money laundering? What are the key requirements on money laundering?
RICS Countering Bribery and Corruption, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Update Practice Statement
1. Know the client procedures and verify client 2. maintain thorough checks for existing clients 3. review staff responsibilities and training 4. review procedures and record keeping.
What legislation prevents bribery?
Bribery Act 2010
What legislation prevents money laundering and terrorist financing?
the money laundering and terrorist financing amendment regulations 2022
What is the rics conflict of interest advise document and date / edition?
RICS Conflict of Interest Professional Statement 2017 1st Ed. Effective January 2018.
What steps should be taken if there’s a conflict of interest?
- Notify the parties
- Gain informed consent or withdraw if necessary
- Ensure an information barrier if necessary
Define what a bribe is?
To persuade someone to act in your favour by a gift or money.
What should you do if someone tries to bribe you?
Decline and report to line manager / local authorities.
Who is president and CEO of RICS?
President - Ann Gray. CEO - Richard Collins
What is the structure of RICS?
Privy council, governing council, standards and regulations board, management board, audit risk assurance and finance committee, nominations and remuneration committee.
What is Professional Indemnity Insurance?
Protects you against claims of loss or damage made by clients as a result of the impact of negligent services you provided.
What are the procedures for setting up a RICS practice?
Contact the RICS for guidance and obtain a company start up pack.
Inform the RICS and register for regulation.
Appoint a contact officer for all RICS communication.
Prepare a complaints handling procedure.
Obtain Professional indemnity insurance cover.
Abide by the Rules of Conduct for Firms.
Use the designation ‘Regulated by RICS’ on all practice material.
What insurances are required for a RICS practice?
Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Employer’s Liability.
Public Liability.
Building insurance of an office premises.
How do you complete the RICS annual return? What happens if you fail to do this?
Carried out on-line.
Failure to do so leads to a fixed penalty.
What does the RICS annual return require firms to submit?
Type of business and staffing.
Nature of clients.
Training provision.
Complaints handling procedures details and records.
PI insurance details.
Whether the firm holds clients’ money.