Ethics, Rules of Conduct and Professionalism Flashcards
What are the 5 principles of RICS Regulation for members?
PACTT: Proportionality Accountability Consistency Targeting Transparency
What are the 4 offences of the Bribery Act 2010?
Bribing or offering a bribe
Receiving a bribe
Bribing foreign public officials
Failing to prevent a bribe
Who is the current RICS president?
Clement Lau FRICS - Most recently Director and Head of Development and Valuations for Commercial Property at Hongkong Land Ltd.
What constitutes a bribe?
Broadly, the Act defines bribery as giving or receiving a financial or other advantage in connection with the “improper performance” of a position of trust, or a function that is expected to be performed impartially or in good faith.
Explain how you behaved ethically in one of your examples in your summary of experience
A client requested a fee quote for a valuation of a private hospital in London. Neither I nor any available surveyors had the competence to undertake such valuation, so I advised the client and politely declined.
Levitt Review?
Treasury Management Audit offered a ‘no assurance verdict’ on RICS internal finance control procedures - Meaning it is possible for fraud to have occurred.
Levitt Review was commissioned and recommneded:
- More oversight of the Governing Council.
- Governing Council oversee executive management bonuses.
- Greater transparency.
- Found no evidence that fraud had occurred.
Four Non-exec directors were informed they’d been terminated by the president - Review found that the execs should not have been fired and needed a public apology.
A client complaint about you lands on your desk. What do you do?
I would advise my manager and the ensure that the complaint is processed in accordance with my companies complaints handling procedure. Inform PII provider. Log the complaint in the complaints log. Advisory to respond in 28 days.
If you receive a complaint as a sole practitioner, what do you do?
You may review the complaint yourself, in the knowledge, if it cannot be resolved, it must be referred to an independent redress scheme.
What is run off cover?
PII requires run-off cover for a period of 6 years, in case a claim is made after a firm closes
What measures are put in place in the event of the death of a sole practitioner?
Firms which have a sole principle must make appropriate arrangements for their professional work to continue in the event of their incapacity, death, absence from inability to work.
What is the purpose of the new rules of conduct?
To simplify current regulations, merging rules for firms, members and 5 global ethical standards.
If I was a client of yours and you had shown me around a property and afterwards I suggested I take you over to Mcdonalds to buy a coffee, would you accept?
Yes, because it’s only a coffee. Hence acceptable due to proportionality.
If I had a portfolio of £2million of property and for the lenders value I needed you to change the value, would you do that for me?
I would ask when the portfolio was valued at £2million to determine whether the market value is likely to have increased. But otherwise I would not be willing to change the value without sufficient market evidence
Name two types of conflict
Party conflict, own interest conflict and confidentiality conflict.
You see that a colleague is having some unwanted attention from a male colleague and it has happened a few times, what action would you take?
I would speak to the female colleague to understand the situation, discuss plan of action and offer to speak to the male colleague privately, telling them that it’s harassment and not acceptable behaviour. I would escalate it to HR and/or management if it continued.
You go on holiday and a valuation comes in which you leave for a junior colleague to deal with, when you get back you discover the valuation is slightly incorrect (5% undervalued), what would you do?
Would you also speak to the colleague?
I would take responsibility, speak to the client and issue an amended report. However, Eddisons policy requires a director sign off on all reports which should help prevent such a scenario.
Yes, I would respectfully explain my reasoning for the changes, discussing their thought process before amending the report.
PII: what is claims made basis?
PII policies work on a ‘claims made’ basis. This means that the policy covers claims that are first made against the insured during the period of insurance regardless of when the negligent act occurred. If the retroactive date of the policy is stated as ‘none’ then the policy is fully retroactive and all former work carried out by the firm will be covered.
You set up your own business but you decide to go off skiing for two weeks. You break your leg and must have complete bed rest with no work. What you would do?
A locum agreement
What measures should be taken to avoid PII claims?
Sufficient due diligence on property and customer, Liability Caps to minimise the claim, optimal communication prior to instruction to ensure understanding by all parties.
A friend asks you for help on a private house extension (private matter), they ask for technical/professional advice for free outside of business hours. What would you do?
I would let them know that I would be happy to discuss the matter in a professional setting, I would give them my company details and ask them to contact during business hours. As my work is currently in valuation, there may be a conflict of interest in giving formal valuation advice to a friend. In this case, I may recommend some reputable firms.
What is money laundering?
A process in which illegally obtained money is ‘cleaned’ to appear as legitimately owned.
What flags would make you suspicious of money laundering?
Requests to make payment in cash, multiple bank transactions below £10,000 which avoid investigation.
What are the procedures for avoiding money laundering?
Check ID in two forms, verify who they are, due diligence. Be aware of Politically Exposed Persons.
What are the fines for money laundering?
Up to 14 years of jail time, unlimited fine.
What are the fines for breaching GDPR?
Up to 20 million euros or 4% of worldwide turnover.
When starting a RICS firm, what do you need to provide to RICS?
CHP, PII, Client Account Management, cirumstance in the event of death, type of business and staff details.
Structure of RICS?
The Privy Council awarded the RICS Royal Charter
Governing Council runs RICS
Regulatory Board, Audit Committee and the Management Board report to the Governing Council
17 specialist professional groups covering land property and construction.
May change following the Bichard Review.
Why have Bye-Laws?
RICS are self regulated. Bye-Laws provide foundation to management of RICS.
Three level of disciplinary actions?
Head of regs
appeal panel
Discipline panel
What is the fine for committing a Bribe?
10 years, unlimited fine.
What is the role of RICS?
Maintains highest standard of education and TRAINING
Protect consumers through REGULATION
Leading source of INFORMATION and advice on land, property, construction and associated environmental issues.
Training, Regulation, Information (TRI)
What are the benefits of being an RICS member?
Status Renegotiation Market advantage Knowledge Network
Who is the RICS CEO?
Richard Collins
When was RICS established
1868
How to close a RICS firm?
Inform your clients
Inform RICS
Inform Insurers
Return client money
Ensure run off cover is in place for 6 years
Retain copy of records and client files for at least 6 years.
Principles of Bribery Act 2010?
Proportionality Top level commitment Risk assessment Communication Due diligence Monitor and review