Ethics ALL TOPICS Flashcards
What are the professional obligations of MEMBERS to RICS?
- Members MUST comply with the CPD requirements set by RICS.
- Members MUST co-operate with RICS
- Members MUST promptly provide any information required by the Standards and Regulation Board, or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf
What are the CPD requirements set by RICS?
- All members must undertake a minimum of 20 hours CPD each calendar year
- Of the 20 hours at least 10 hours must be formal CPD
- All members must maintain a relevant and current understanding of our professional and ethical standards during a rolling three-year period
- Members must record their CPD activity online by 31 January
What is an example of an exception to the CPD requirements?
- Maternity/ Paternity Leave
- Unemployed
What are the professional obligations of FIRMS to the RICS?
- Publish a complaints-handling procedure, which includes an alternative dispute resolution provider approved by RICS, and maintain a complaints log.
- Ensure that all previous and current professional work is covered by adequate and appropriate professional indemnity cover that meets the standards approved by RICS.
- Firms with a sole principle MUST make appropriate arrangements for their professional work to continue in the event of their incapacity, death, absence from or inability to work.
- Firms MUST cooperate with RICS.
- Firms MUST promptly provide all information reasonably requested by the Standards and Regulation Board, or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf.
- Firms MUST display on their business literature, in accordance with RICS’ published policy on designations, a designation to denote that they are regulated by RICS.
- Firms MUST report to RICS any matter that they are required to report under the Rules for the Registration of Firms.
What is Professional Indemnity Insurance?
PII is designed to protect professionals, their businesses and clients from claims arising to errors, omissions, negligence or malpractice in the services they provide.
What are the minimum requirements for PII?
£100k or less: £250k
£100k - £200k: £500k
£200k+: £1m
What is the Max Uninsured Excess for PII?
Liability up to £500k: 2.5% or £10k (highest)
Liability over £500k: 2.5% of sum
What does PII stand for?
Professional indemnity insurance
When is a firm required to register to be regulated under RICS?
- If the firm provides surveying services
- At least 50% of the Firm’s Principals are RICS Members
What are the SIX ethical principles on which the Rules of Conduct are based?
HICSRR
Honesty
Integrity
Competence
Service
Respect
Responsibility
When did the new rules of conduct come in to effect?
2nd February 2022
Why did the Rules of Conduct change?
- A simpler structure
- Clear examples
- Focus on respect, diversity and inclusion
- Understanding evolving technology
- Tackling global issues (including creating sustainable development and tackling climate change)
What is Rule 1 of the RICS Rules of Conduct?
Members and firms must be honest, act with integrity and comply with their professional obligations, including obligations to RICS.
What is Rule 2 of the RICS Rules of Conduct?
Members and firms must maintain their professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise.
What is Rule 3 of the RICS Rules of Conduct?
Members and firms must provide good-quality and diligent service.
What is Rule 4 of the RICS Rules of Conduct?
Members and firms must treat others with respect and encourage diversity and inclusion.
What is Rule 5 of the RICS Rules of Conduct?
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.
Give an example of when you acted within Rules 1 of the RICS Rules of Conduct.
Open and transparent with fees - always clearly state my fee in letters of instruction.
Give an example of when you acted under Rule 2 of the RICS Rules of Conduct.
I exceeded my CPD requirements ensuring I kept up to date with changing legislation in particular the new changes to Bio-Diversity Net Gain.
Give an example of how you show Rule 3 of the RICS Rules of Conduct.
I always ask a clients needs and objectives prior to undertaking any instruction.
Give an example of how you show Rule 4 of the RICS Rules of Conduct.
I treat everyone the same including colleagues and clients and I do not discriminate.
Give an example of how you show Rule 5 of the RICS Rules of Conduct.
I am never dishonest.
What are the 3 levels of disciplinary action under RICS?
- Action by Head of Regulation
- Regulatory Tribunal
- Appeal Panel
The Head of Regulation can initiate what 4 procedures?
- Serve a Fixed Penalty Notice
- Make a Regulatory Compliance Order
- CPD sanctions
- Refer the matter to the Disciplinary Panel for consideration
What is a Fixed Penalty?
Procedure used for breaches of the Rules relating only to the supply of information to the RICS by firms and members.
What is a Regulatory Compliance Order?
Written document which states the terms upon which the member or firm must take or desist from taking actions in a specified time period.
Procedure used for low level breaches of the Rules, such as for some minor breaches which could be easily corrected.
What are CPD sanctions?
These place an obligation on a member to follow the CPD requirements.
What penalties can the Disciplinary Panel issue?
- Compliance Order
- Unlimited fine (must be proportionate)
- Impose conditions upon future continued RICS registration
- Expulsion
- Require publication of results of the hearing
What 3 steps should you follow before accepting instruction?
- Competence
- Conflicts of Interest
- Confirm TofE in writing and get written approval from client
When may it be appropriate to decline an instruction?
- Not competent
- Do not have sufficient facts
- Client will not sign TofE of undertake AML checks
- CoI
- PII cap cannot be agreed
- Advice is for a friend
- Sanctioned client
What is conflict avoidance?
When you do not accept an instruction due to a CoI
What is Conflict management
When you accept an instruction with a CoI and steps are agreed and put in place to manage the conflict.
What are the 3 types of conflict of interest?
- Party conflict - work on the same or related instruction for two different parties
- Own Interest Conflict - personal interest
- Confidential Information Conflict - work between tow parties which is confidential
What is informed consent?
Consent given in writing by the party.
(Can only be given if party has all information)
How would you deal with a Conflict of Interest?
STEP ONE - Conflict Avoidance: Do you want to accept the instruction
STEP TWO - Written Advice: Set out in writing the nature of the conflict, the circumstances surrounding it and any other relevant factors and request written confirmation from parties.
STEP THREE - Conflict Management: Set up an information barrier in accordance with the provisions agreed.
How should you operate an information barrier?
- Must be robust enough for no chance of information being passed between the parties
- ‘Reasonable steps’ to operate an effective barrier
- The surveyors must be different and physically separated
- All information securely stored
- Keep a clear audit trail
How long should files be held for?
Minimum of 6 years before disposal and destroyed securely
How would you comply with Client Money Handling 2019?
- Client accounts must be kept separately and clearly identifiable
- Must have the word ‘client’
- On demand to client
- Interest agreed with client
- Check monthly
- Accurate records kept
- Annual audit
- Only withdrawn if properly required
- Signatories agreed
- Discrete account for single named client account only
- Procedures displayed on website
What does CMPS stand for?
Clients’ Money Protection Scheme?
What is a CPMS?
RICS run scheme for claims from clients where the firm is unable to repay a clients money.
What steps would you undertake in line with RICS compliance when starting a new practice?
- Inform RICs
- Appoint a Principle
- Register for regulation
- Arrange PII and send RICs details
- Set up CMH scheme
- Register for Valuer Registration Scheme
- Obtain RICs approval for complaints handling procedures
- Set up complaints log
- Appoint a complaints handling officer
- Obtain a logo kit
- Plan for succession/ future if sole practitioner
- Ensure CPD logged online
- Staff training
- Complete annual return
What steps would you undertake in line with Statutory Compliance when starting a new practice?
- Disclose business name
- Comply with Equality Act 2010
- Comply with Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and Financial Services 2012
- Comply with Bribery Act 2010
- Appoint AML Reporting Officer
- Comply with Health & Safety Act 1974
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2021
- Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005
GDPR 2016 and Data Protection Act 2018 - Estate Agents Act 1979 compliance, Consumer protection Regulations 2008.
- Compliance employment law
- Employer and public liability
What are the 4 offences of a bribe?
- Bribing
- Receiving a bribe
- Bribing a foreign public official
- Failing to prevent a bribe
who is bribery policed by?
Serious Fraud Office
What are the penalties of bribery?
- Max 10 years in prison
- Unlimited fine
What are the penalties for assisting with money laundering?
- Max 14 years in prison
- Unlimited fine
What are the penalties for informing someone they are under suspicion for money laundering?
- Max 5 years prison
- Unlimited fine
What is negligence?
When a duty of care is breaches and there is a loss, a claim for damages arises.
How can you avoid negligence claims?
- Understand the clients objectives and confirm in precise instructions in writing
- Ensure competence
- Undertake the work in accordance to relevant guidance
- Make detailed notes
- Keep up to date with market knowledge
- Cap PII in TofE
What should you avoid when negotiating a Fee?
- price fixing
- aggressive fee cutting
- collusion with competitors
- Undercutting another firm
What are your companies fees based on?
They are based on an hourly rate, recent experience of time taken to do similar jobs, market forces.
What is a conflict of interest?
Arises when a firm’s independence and impartiality is threatened due to conflict between two Clients.
Give me an example of a Conflict?
Entering in to a promotion agreement on competing sites in the same LPA
What is your companies conflict process?
Before a job is entered in to I have to send a company wide email including:
- Address
- Client
- LPA
- Work to be undertaken
Should you accept gift/hospitality from a third party supplier or contactor?
No
What do you do if you receive a reasonable/proportionate gift?
Log within the gift register
What is your companies policy on bribes?
Our company strictly prohibits bribery in any form. We adhere to the Bribery Act (2010) and have clear policies and procedures in place to prevent bribery, including training for employees and regular compliance audits
How does the Bribery Act (2010) impact businesses and individuals?
It applies to both individuals and businesses, imposing criminal liability for bribery-related offenses. It requires businesses to implement adequate procedures to prevent bribery and holds individuals accountable for their involvement in bribery schemes.
Can you provide examples of situations that could constitute bribery under the Bribery Act (2010)?
Example: providing lavish gifts or hospitality to influence a decision-maker
Any form of inducement or reward aimed at improperly influencing someone’s actions could be considered bribery.
What are the requirements for members (bribery)?
1) Declare items in risk register
2) Attend training provided by firm
3) Be familiar with employer’s policy
What is money laundering?
Process of disguising proceeds of crime to make them appear legitimate within the financial system.
What are the levels of due diligence for money laundering?
1) Customer Due Diligence:
2) Enhanced Due Diligence:
3) Simple Due Diligence
What is the procedure for suspicion of money laundering?
any suspicions reported through compliance officer to the National Crime Agency