Ethics Flashcards
What are the RICS 5 principles of better regulation?
- proportionality
- Accountability
- Consistency
- Targeting
- Transparency
What are ethics?
Moral Values
What is rule 1 of the New rules of conduct?
Members and firms are to be honest and act with integrity, and comply with their professional obligations, including obligations to the RICS.
What is rule 2 of the New rules of conduct?
Members and firms are to maintain thei professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the knowledge and experience.
What is rule 3 of the New rules of conduct?
Members and firms must provide a good quality and diligent service
What is rule 4 of the New rules of conduct?
Members and firms must treat others with respect and encourage diversity and inclusion
What is rule 5 of the New rules of conduct?
Members and firms must act in the public interest and take responsibility for their actions. They must act to prevent harm and maintain public confidence in the profession.
When did the rules of conduct change?
2nd February 2022
Why did the rules change?
They had been in place since 2007, Members voted to create one single document, now a greater focus on evolving technology and tackling climate change.
What are the professional obligations of members?
Comply with CPD requirements (20 hours, 10 to be formal)
Must cooperate with RICS
Must provide all information reasonably requested by the standards and regulation board.
What are the professional obligations of firms?
- Must publish a complaints handling procedure, which includes and alternative dispute resolution provider approved by RICS and maintain a complaints log.
- All previous and current professional work is covered by professional indemnity policy
- Firms witha sole principal must make arrangements for their professional work to continue in the event of their incapacity, death, absence from or inability to work.
- Must cooperate with RICS
- Must provide any inforamtion reasonably requested by the standard adn regulations board
- Must display they are regulated by the RICS
- Must report any matter as required by the rules for the registration of firms
What are the steps of the ethics decision tree?
Do you have sufficient facts
-Is it legal
-Does it comply with the rules of conduct?
Have you condulted the appropriate people?
Do you have clear reasoning?
Would you be content for your actions to be made public?
Why does the RICS have rules of conduct?
To provide a framework that we can all work to and so the client knows he is getting a set level of service
-As well as being an important tool for the institution, the rules of conduct are also a useful professional guide for individual institution members.
In the case of a breach of a rule of conduct what is the procedure?
Not every shortcoming will neccesarily give rise to proceedings
- A formal investigation by the Head of regulation
- RICS can request information and investigate compliance
- members must cooperate fully with any enquireies
How can a disciplinary proceeding be triggered?
- Someone complaining to the RICS
- An allegation by a client or third party
- Information received or established by the RICS
What are the three actions that can be imposed after the investigation stage?
-fixed penalty
-consent order
-Disciplinary panel
What are fixed penalties?
A fine set by the RICS
What are consent orders?
A written agreement between the RICS and a memeber containing corrective actions and restrictions from taking certain actions.
When is a disciplinary panel applicable?
More serious breaches of conduct, usually held in public, a balance of probabilities is used.
What breaches would explusion be suitbale for?
persistent failure to comply with RICS rules of conduct, Fraud, Dishonesty, conviction of a serious criminal offence, gross incompetence, deliberate discrimination, missappropriation of a clients money.
What procedures should you follow if you are starting up a new practice?
-Contact the RICS and register for regulation
-Appoint a Contact office for all RICS communication
-Prepare a complaints handling procedure
-Obtain professional indemnity insurance
-Use ‘regulated by RICS’ on all material
Can you advertise your new company in the press?
Yes in a responsible manner
What insurances would you need to set your own firm up?
- Professional indemnity
- Employers liability
- Public liability
- Buildings insurance of the office premises
What information do registered firms have to send to the RICS anually?
Annual return including:
- type of business and staff levels
- nature of clients
- training provisions
- Complaints handling procedure
- PI insurance details
- whether the firm holds clients money
What processes are required when handling clients money?
- Secure accounting systems
- Client money to be kept seperate
- client must always have access to funds
- Must maintain a client ledger and be able to provide a running balance
- only competent and knowledgeable staff are to process clients money
What is meant by the term negligence?
Failure to provide duty of care
What was the MERITT V BABB case?
2001
-surveyor sued for negligence by former client
-Highlights the importance of having run off cover
-surveying firm was no longer in existence so the individual survyeyor was pursued for damages succesfully
What limitation periods are associated with underhand and deed forms of contract?
6 years when executed under hand
12 years when executed as a deed
What must a complaints handling procedure include?
RICS provide a model form
- must include a redress mechanism
- details of the policy should be issued with the terms of business
- must be clear, quick and transparent
- Complaint must be investigated within 28 years
- Whole process must be recorded
- PI insurers must be informed of any complaints
- Must have 2 stages
What is an independent redress scheme?
consumer scheme designed to handle small issues that would be expensive to take to court
-RICS firms must specify which redress scheme they want to use e.g. ombudsmon or arbritation