Ethics - Level 3 (Ready) Flashcards
What is the role of the RICS?
- Maintain highest standards of education and training
- Protect consumers through strict regulation and legislation
- To be the industry leading source of information and independent advice on land, property, construction and environmental issues
What are the RICS Rules of Conduct for Members?
- Ethical
- Competence
- Service
- CPD
- Solvency
- Information to RICS
- Co-operation with RICS
What are the RICS Rules of Conduct for Firms?
- Professionalism
- Indemnity
- Competence
- Service
- CPD
- Clients money handling?
- Complaints handling procedure
Part 3 (ASADIC)
- Advertising
- Solvency
- Arrangements to cover incapacity or death of sole practitioner
- Designations
- Information to RICS
- Co-operation with RICS
Why do you have a duty to the public?
- Royal Charter
Can you tell me about your firms anti-bribery policy?
- Zero tolerance on bribery
- No cash is to be accepted
- Gifts with a value of more than £50 should be declined
- Hospitality with a cost per head of more than £100 must be approved by FD
- Require approval to spend more than £50 per gift per person and meals of £100 per head
- All gifts must be logged in gift register
What is the key legislation about bribery?
- Bribery Act 2010
- Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
What is your firms anti-money laundering policy?
- Have an appointed Money Laundering Reporting Officer who reports any suspicious activity to the National Crime Agency using Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)
- Carry out risk assessments
- Provide staff training
- Carry out CDD (or EDD)
- Comply with requirements relating to foreign public officials
- We ensure appropriate record keeping
- Ensure that anti-money laundering checks are carried out to confirm the identity of proposed purchasers
What hospitality event were you invited to?
Lords Cricket
Who holds your company’s gift register?
Finance Director
What would you have done if the Reading sites location was revealed?
- Inform my Director immediately
- Inform the matter immediately to my Firms Compliance officer
- Inform the recipient that any information received in error should be disposed of securely
When were the Rules of Conduct last updated?
- March 2020
- Being updated now to be consolidated
What changes are proposed to the Rules of Conduct?
- New simplified structure
- Set of five rules to cover members and firms
- Integrity
- Professional competence
- Service
- Respect
- Responsibility
Would you accept a bottle of wine from an as yet uninstructed agent?
No, this could be seen as a bribe
What are the offences under the Bribery Act 2010?
- Giving a bribe
- Receiving a bribe
- Failing to prevent a bribe
- Bribing a foreign public official
Why would not applying reasonable rent-free periods and voids be an ethical issue? What could the impact be?
- If I did not assume a correct rent free period, I may have provided by Director with an incorrect value
What needs to be declared on your hospitality register?
- All gifts and hospitality
What are the RICS Global Professional and Ethical Standards (2015)?
STIRR
- Service
- Trust
- Integrity
- Respect
- Responsibility
What is the Professional and Ethical Standards Decision Tree?
- Framework of questions members should ask themselves when asked to act in a potentially unethical manner or situation
- Encourages members to consider legality of their actions and consistency with RICS Global Professional and Ethical Standards
- Ultimate test is whether you would be happy for your actions to be made public
What steps are outlined in the decision tree?
- Do you have sufficient facts?
- Is it legal?
- Is it in line with RICS Global Professional and Ethical Standards?
- Have you consulted appropriate people to make a decision?
- Do you have clear reasoning to make your decision?
- Would you be content for your actions to be made public?
- ACT AND THEN REFLECT ON THE OUTCOME
What are the three levels of disciplinary action?
- Action by Head of Regulation
- Disciplinary Panel
- Appeal Panel
What is meant by the term self regulation?
The RICS self regulates, which means that it operates within its own regulatory framework as opposed to government legislation
What penalties can a disciplinary panel issue?
- Compliance order
- Unlimited fine
- Conditions upon future registration
- Expulsion
- Publication of results
What is a regulatory compliance order?
- Used for low level breaches
- Written document stating what member must do for specified period
When would a fixed penalty be issued?
- Only relating to when information is supplied to the RICS
What is a CPD sanction?
- Sanction placing obligation on member to follow CPD requirements
When would action be taken by Displinary Panel?
- More serious breaches
- Decided by Head of Regulation
- 50% of panel are lay members (unbiased decision)
What is an appeal panel?
- Will consider review of decision made in disciplinary procedure
- Renews decision made having regard to evidence previously submitted and an new representations
- Can allow the appeal and vary penalty
- 50% lay members (unbiased decision)
What are the offence under the Bribery Act 2010?
- Giving a bribe
- Receiving a bribe
- Bribing a foreign public official
- Failure to prevent a bribe
What are the key principles of the Bribery Act 2010?
- Proportionality
- Top level commitment
- Risk assessment
- Due diligence
- Communication
- Monitoring and review
Who is responsible in the event an employee commits a bribe?
- Their company, unless they can show they had adequate policies and procedures in place to prevent bribery
Who is Bribery policed by?
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
What are the different types of due diligence checks?
- Customer due diligence
- Enhanced due diligence
When would you be required to carry out enhanced due diligence?
- When dealing with a politically exposed person, their family member or business associate
What guidance has the RICS released in relation to bribery?
RICS Professional Statement - Countering Bribery, corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing 2019
What are the CPD requirements?
- 20 hours a year
- 10 hours must be informal
- Members must maintain an understanding of RICS Professional and Ethical standards within a 3 year rolling period
- CPD must be recorded using RICS online management system
What guidance have the RICS issued on Complaints Handling?
- RICS Guidance Note on Complaints Handling 2016
- A firms written complaints handling procedure must be approved by the RICS
- Firms must include RICS approved ADR mechanism in their CHP
At what point should your PII insurer be made aware of a complaint?
- As soon as possible, as this could lead to a claim for negligence
What is the standard minimum procedure for handling a complaint?
- Acknowledged within 7 days
- Investigated within 28 days
- Complainant must be given details of CHO
- Ask for complaint to be made in writing
- Procedure must be quick, clear, transparent and impartial
Stage 2
- If complainant not happy, second stage involves using independent redress scheme (chosen by firm)
- Name of relevant IDS must be provided to complainant
- Examples are CEDR, RICS Dispute Resolution Service
What is an independent redress scheme?
- Used if unable to resolve complaint internally
- Examples are CEDR and RICS Dispute Resolution Service
What is a suitable margin of error?
- The permissible amount allowed by courts, for example in valuation
- Can be varied, but case law suggests between 5-10% or 15% in exceptional circumstances
What does the Limitation Act 1980 say about negligence?
- Limitation period of 6 years for tort
- Limitation period of 6 years for contract
- Alternative limitation period of 3 years from date of knowledge with 15 year longstop
How can you avoid negligence?
- Clearly understand clients objectives
- Ensure competency
- Undertake work in accordance with RICS Standards and Guidance notes
- Make detailed notes / take photographs
- Cap professional liability excess in your ToE’s
What is professional indemnity insurance?
- Insurance that covers clients, surveyors and third parties in claims of negligence
What are the requirements for PII?
- Related to turnover in preceding year
- Up to £100k - £250k
£100k - £200k - £500k
Over £200k - £1m
How would you arrange PII for a new business?
- Based on a prediction of revenue and adjust in due course accordingly
What is the maximum level of uninsured excess?
Liability up to £500k - Greater of 2.5% of sum insured or £10k
Liability over £500k - 2.5% of sum insured
On what basis should a PII policy be?
- Retroactive
- Covering claims that are first made during period of insurance, regardless of when negligent act occured?
What steps would you take if you were handling client money?
- Set up client account and label it “client”
- Ensure money is available on demand
- Agree how interest will be paid
- Conduct regular reconciliation
- Agree signatories
What steps would you take if starting a new practice?
- Inform RICS by completing Firm Detail Form
- Appoint Responsible Principle
- Register with RICS for regulation
- Arrange Professional Indemnity Insurance
- Set up Client account for handling clients money
- Obtain RICS approval for Complaints Handling Procedure
- Set up Complaints Log
- Appoint Complaints Handling Officer
- Obtain logo kit
- Ensure CPD logged online
- Set out staff training plan
- Ensure completion of online RICS Annual Return at end of each year
How would you close a practice?
- Inform the RICS
- Inform your clients and arrange for them to be handed over to new firm
- Return any client money
- Inform your insurer and arrange for suitable run off cover for minimum of 6 years
- Hold clients information for minimum of 6 years
What are the main areas or practice set out in the RICS Professional Statement: Client Money Handling?
- Holding client money
- Providing information to clients
- Receipts of client money
- Payments from clients account
- Accounting records
- Compliance
What are the different types of conflict of interest?
- Party conflict
- Own interest conflict
- Confidential information conflict
What are the requirements for the registration of a firm?
- If more than 50% of principals are RICS members, it HAS to be regulated
- If more than 25% of members are RICS members, it can apply to be regulated
What are the benefits of regulation for firms?
- Confidence - for clients as regulated firms are monitored by RICS regulation
- Professionalism - firms have to provide clear, impartial and expert advice
- Security - recognised Complaints Handling Procedure, access to free independent redress and PII cover
What information is required by RICS for registration?
- Type of business and staffing details
- Statutory regulated activities
- Nature of clients
- Complaints handling procedure
- Professional Indemnity Insurance details
- Whether firm holds clients money
Why do you want to be a part of the RICS?
- I want to join an organisation that sets the highest standards for property work
- Want to be part of a global network
- Want to have professional recognition
Can you give me some examples of professional groups?
- Planning and development
- Commercial Property
- Valuation
What is the current structure of the RICS?
- Privy Council granted Royal Charter
- Governing Council
Below this are:
- Regulatory Board
- Management Board
- Audit Committee
What is the UK Structure?
- 4 National Associations
- 10 Regional Boards
- Local Associations
- CEO Dr Sean Thompkins
Who is President of the RICS?
Kathleen Fontana (as of November 2020)