Ethics Flashcards
What are the new RICS documentation categories?
RICS are in the process of reviewing so that all documents fit into two categories:
Professional Standards
- Document that set out guidance for competent and ethical practice eg existing Professional statements and guidance
Practice information
Document that provides advice or practice support to RICS members and firms
Why is the change occurring for RoC?
Following the Bichard Review:
* They want to ensure RICS standards are up to date and easy to use.
Define Professional Standard
A set of guidelines that outline the expected behaviors and competencies of RICS members
Define Practice Information
- These provide advice or practice support to RICS members and firms.
- They are not mandatory. It does not make explicit recommendations.
- It includes processes, toolkits, checklists, insights etc.
When is the change rolling out (PS/PG)?
- These are being rolled out on all new RICS guidance being published, or in some cases existing guidance is being reissued using the new definitions.
- An exercise is currently underway to review all standards and guidance documents and place each title into one of these categories.
RICS are currently reviewing and re-categorising documentation.
Founded
1868
Royal Charter
RICS has a Royal Charter, initially granted by Privy Council in 1881
What sets out the governance of the institution?
RICS Regulations and Bye Laws set out the governance of the Institution
What are the FOUR levels of membership?
There are 4 levels of membership
1. FRICS
2. MRICS
3. AssocRICS
4. Trainee/Student
What to do to become a fellow?
- Evidence of achievement of FOUR fellowship characteristics, which include:
* five or more years at MRICS,
* a leadership role,
* professional/technical achievement,
* academic achievement or
* raising the profile of RICS - A portfolio of professional achievement to support the application is required to include your CPD
Current governance structure
- Governed under the terms of its Royal Charter by internal councils and boards
- Governing council has 20 members
- The Standards and Regulation Board and the Management Board report to the governing council
- There are 17 specialist professional groups covering property, land and construction
What does the governing council do?
Runs the RICS providing management and strategic direction
Who is the current Chief Executive officer?
Justin Young
Who is the current president and what do they do?
Justin Sullivan FRICS
* He chairs Governing council
What is the role of the RICS?
- Promote and enforce the highest professional qualification and standards
- Accountable to both members and public
- Involves policy influence and political engagement
What are the THREE main roles of the RICS?
- Highest standards of education and training
- To protect consumers through strict regulation
- To be the leading source of information and independent advice on land, property, construction and associated issues (RICS 2015).
What was the Levitt Review?
- Undertaken in 2021.
- Public exposure of the lack of clarity, structure and purpose of RICS governance arrangements.
- Levitt called for a full independent review of ‘purpose, governance and strategy’ of RICS.
This led to a review by Lord Michael Bichard.
What was Bichard Review?
- Followed the Alison Levitt Review in 2021.
Aim: to clarify the PURPOSE of RICS, including its responsibility to act for the public advantage. Make recommendations on its governing structure, provide proposals for incoming leadership/governing body on the future culture and strategy of the institution.
The aim of the Bichard Review had 5 key themes:
1. Governance,
2. Strategy,
3. People,
4. Culture & values,
5. Member service.
- New Governing Council elections took place April 2023.
- RICS recruited Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and Sustainability Panel Chairs.
What were the 7 key areas of the 36 recommendations?
- PUBLIC INTEREST
A renewed and increased focus on the public interest remit of RICS, including amending the Royal Charter and creating a public interest panel to advise governing council
. MAINTAINING SELF REGULATION
Maintaining self-regulation, through greater independence for regulatory functions - DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Increased focus on diversity and inclusion across the profession and within RICS governance - EMPOWERING MEMBERS
Empowering and enabling members through greater support for regional boards, alongside increased member engagement, with renewed focus on younger members - INDEPENDENT REVIEW
Undertaking an independent review of RICS governance and effectiveness at delivering against its Charter for the public advantage once every five years - NEW STRUCTURE
A new simplified, clear, accountable governance structure - LEADERSHIP
Showing greater leadership on issues that matter most to society, such as sustainability and climate change
What are the FIVE Future Foundations in November 2023 following the Bichard Review
- VISION
- MISSION
- STRATEGIC GOALS
- VALUES
- A WORLD CLASS ORGANISATION
What are the 5 benefits of being an RICS member?
- Status - your professional credentials provide unrivalled client confidence
- Recognition – Promotion of your professional excellence to governments and markets
- Market advantage – RICS status and standards gives you a competitive advantage.
- Knowledge – International practice standards, professional guidance, CPD and knowledge sharing
- Network – Access to professional worldwide
What major challenges do the RICS face?
- Women in property – RICS launched first Women in Surveying Insight Report in July 2023. Looked at challenges such as discrimination, bias and inequity. In UK and Ireland, women represent 17% of RICS members.
- Sustainability – built environment accounts for around 40% of global carbon emissions. RICS Sustainability Report 2022. RICS Value the Planet Campaign (aims to help implement UN Sustainable Development Goals)
- Fire Safety – fire safety in buildings and external wall systems. UK Fire Safety conference in November 2023 on building safety and EWS1. Fire Safety Act 2021, Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety Regulations 2022. RICS published professional statement on ‘Valuation approach for properties in multi-storey, multi-occupancy residential buildings with cladding’ in 2022.
FOUR Requirements for registration
- Firms providing surveying services to the public must register for regulation to ensure that there is a recognised quality benchmark for all firms.
If there are no RICS members, a firm cannot register - Regulation provides a ‘gold standard’ of quality control for clients
- Firms must annually make a return to the RICS confirming their compliance with their obligations
- A practice can be a corporate body (a company), a partnership, an LLP (Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is a legal business structure that combines the flexibility of a partnership with the limited liability of a company) or a sole practitioner practice
RICS ‘Rules for the regulation of firms’ 2022
- If 50% RICS members then it has to be regulated,
- If at least 25% then it can apply to be regulated
- Need a ‘Responsible Principal’ to ensure compliance
The use of the logo
New rules came into effect in April 2020, including:
* A registration to the use of the designation ‘Chartered Surveyors’ by firms to the trading name only.
* Only RICS members and registered firms can use the logo.
Information required by the RICS for Registration
- Type of business
- Name of the responsible principal
- Statutory regulated activities – such as for financial services
- Nature of clients
- Complaints handling procedure details and records
- Professional indemnity insurance details
- Whether the firm holds client’s money
When were the Rules of Conduct published?
Published October 2021, effective 2nd February 2022.
What do the Rules of Conduct do?
- Promoting and enforcing the highest ethical standards in valuation, the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure.
- Global basis.
- They apply to both members and firms.
- They replace the previous Rules of Conduct for Members and Firms and the 5 Global Professional and Ethical Standards.
Why do we have Rules of Conduct?
Sets out the standards of professional conduct and practice expected of RICS members and firms
Rule 1
Members and firms must be honest, act with integrity and comply with their personal obligations to RICS
Rule 2
Members and firms must maintain their professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise
Rule 3
Members and firms must provide good quality and diligent service
Rule 4
Members and firms must treat others with respect and encourage diversity and inclusion
Rule 5
Members and firms must act in the public interest, take responsibility for their actions and act to prevent harm and maintain public confidence
Three Professional Obligations for members?
RICS members must:
1. Comply with the CPD requirements set by RICS
2. Cooperate with RICS
3. Provide all information reasonably requested by the Standards and Regulation Board
SEVEN Professional obligations for firms (Appendix to Rules of Conduct)
- Publish a CHP and maintain a complaints log
- Appropriate PII cover
- If having a sole principle, make appropriate arrangements for their professional work to continue in the event of their incapacity, death or absence from work
- Cooperate with RICS
- Provide all information requested by the Standards and Regulation Board,
- Display on their business literature, in accordance with RICS’ published policy on designation, a designation to denote that they are regulated by the RICS
- Report to RICS any matter that they are required to report under the Rules for the Registration of Firms.
Why have the Rules of Conduct been updated?
- Provide one clear framework
- Provide clear examples alongside each rule.
- Focus on respect, diversity and inclusion.
- Understand evolving technology.
- Tackling global challenges such as sustainable development.
- To respond to new risks and challenges.
What is the ethics decision tree?
Provides a framework of questions which members should ask themselves when facing a situation in which they are asked to act in a potentially unethical manner or situation
Why is it important to regulate the surveying profession?
- To protect the public
- Uphold confidence in the profession
- Uphold professional standards
Who undertakes disciplinary procedure?
Undertaken by the Standards and Regulation Board
How can a disciplinary procedure be triggered?
- Someone complaining to the RICS,
- An allegation
- because of information established by the RICS
* Not every shortcoming on behalf of a member or a firm will necessarily give rise to disciplinary proceedings.
* However, failure to follow any RICS guidance will be considered by the RICS when examining the behaviour of a member or firm.
What is the guidance on disciplinary procedure?
RICS Regulatory Tribunal Rules 2022
What is the guidance for the regulatory approach?
RICS Regulatory Decision Making 2022 provides an outline of the regulatory approach by RICS of regulated members, non-members and firms
What are the THREE levels of disciplinary action?
- Action by Head of Regulation
- Disciplinary Panel (drawn from independent Regulatory Tribunal)
- Appeal panel
Initial investigation phase of disciplinary proceeding
- The first step is a formal investigation by the Head of Regulation of the RICS
They will initiate one of the following FOUR - Serve a Fixed Penalty Notice
- Make a Regulatory Compliance Order
- Refer the matter to a single member of the Regulatory Tribunal for consideration
- Refer directly to a Disciplinary Panel
What is a fixed penalty?
- Used for breaches of the Rules relating only to the supply of information to the RICS by firms and members.
- These may consist of a fine and or a caution
What is a Regulatory Compliance Order?
It is a written document which states the terms upon which the member or firm must take in a specified period of time and an agreement to pay a fine
What is a Regulatory Compliance Order used for?
For low level breaches of the Rules, such as some minor breaches which could easily be corrected
What might a Regulatory Compliance Order cover?
- Non-compliance with RICS Rules, including
- Failure to undertake appropriate CPD.
Action by a Disciplinary Panel
Use for serious breaches of conduct
What are the penalties available to a Regulatory Tribunal Disciplinary Panel?
- Issue a Regularity Compliance Order (as above)
- Reprimand
- Fine
- Impose an unlimited amount of fine
- Impose conditions upon future continued RICS registration
- Expulsion
- Require publication of the results of the hearing
Appeal Panel
- Appeal Panels can consider a member or firms appeal against review of a decision relating to the above level of disciplinary procedure
- They will review the decision made, having regard to the evidence previously presented and any new representation.
- The appeal panel can allow the appeal and vary the penalty previously imposed
- Membership of this Panel includes lay members.
What is the associated guidance with use of social media?
Use of social media: guidance for RICS members
What does the guidance on social media state?
RICS is likely to investigate concerns about social media posts where they involve:
1. Discrimination
2. Dishonesty
3. Abusive or threatening behaviour
4. Bullying/harassment
5. A pattern of frequent or a large number of concerning communications
6. Ignoring previous advice or warnings about concerns
When is the RICS unlikely to investigate social media posts?
RICS notes that it is unlikely to investigate social media posts which:
* Are critical of an organisation, its policies and performance, rather than individuals
* Use professional and respectful language
What is the latest on Professional Standards?
- The RICS is in the process of re-categorising all current PS and GN to become Professional Standards
What is a Professional Standard?
- ‘Set requirements or expectations about how they provide services or outcome of their actions’
- Mandatory requirements, use the word ‘must’ and these must be complied with
- Recommended practice uses the word ‘should’
What is an RICS Practice Information?
Information to support the
- practice,
- knowledge and
- performance of RICS members and regulated firms
What are examples of practice information?
These can include but are not limited to:
- good practice,
- information,
- insights of processes