Global Rules of Conduct Flashcards
What is Rule 1 of the Global Rules of Conduct?
- Be honest
- Act with integrity
- Comply with professional obligations, inc. to RICS
What is Rule 2 of the Global Rules of Conduct?
- Maintain professional competence
- Ensure services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise
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What is Rule 3 of the Global Rules of Conduct?
Provide good-quality and diligent service
What is Rule 4 of the Global Rules of Conduct?
- Treat others with respect
- Encourage diversity and inclusion
What is Rule 5 of the Global Rules of Conduct? (AACT)
- Act in public interest
- Act to prevent harm
- Maintain public Confidence in profession
- Take responsibility for actions
What are the 3 professional obligations for members
- Comply with CPD requirements
- Cooperate with RICS
- Provide all info requested by Standards and Regulation Board
What is the professional obligation for firms relating to sole principals?
Make arrangements for work to continue in the event of incapacity, death, etc (another Chartered Surveyor to act as locum)
What is the obligation for firms under Appendix A relating to information requested by the Standards and Regulation Board?
- Provide all information reasonably requested by the Standards and Regulation Board (or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf)
What are the Rules for the Registration of Firms?
- Eligibility criteria %
- Use of RICS logo, “Regulated by RICS”
- Designate a “Responsible Principal” to provide oversight, accountability and engagement with RICS standards and regulation
Give me some example behaviors for Rule 1 (honest/integrity, professional obligations)
- Don’t mislead (by actions or omissions)
- Don’t be influenced improperly by gifts or self interest
- Identify actual & potential conflicts of interest (only provide advice in accordance with Conflicts of Interest PS)
- Give honest / objective advice, based on reliable evidence
- Be open and transparent about fees/services
- Act to prevent others being misled about your professional opinion
- Don’t take unfair advantage
- Protect confidential info
- Keep client money safe, have accounting controls
- Don’t misuse client money, comply with controls to keep it safe
- Don’t facilitate financial crime, inc. money laundering, tax evasion, bribery, corruption
Give me some example behaviors for Rule 2 (professional competence)
- Only undertake work that you have knowledge, skills and resources to
- do competently
- Check subcontractors have knowledge, skills and resources to do their tasks
- Reflect on work you have undertaken, and its impacts
- Identify CPD / development needs, plan and do CPD
- Stay up to date & comply with relevant legislation, codes of practice & other technical standards
Give me some example behaviors for Rule 3 (good quality, diligent service)
- Understand clients’ needs/objectives before accepting work
- Agree with clients the scope
- Inform clients that you’re RICS regulated
- Undertake work timely; with due care, skill and diligence
- Communicate clearly
- Keep records
- When advising clients on projects, encourage sustainable solution
- Check data used accurate
- Ensure any referral or intro you make for a client is in the best interests of the client
Give me some example behaviors for Rule 4 (respect, diversity + inclusion)
- Respect rights of others, treat with courtesy
- Treat everyone fairly, don’t discriminate on improper grounds, (“protected characteristics”: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation)
- Don’t bully, victimise or harass
- Check supply chains don’t involve modern slavery, or abuses
- Report abusive or suspected abusive labour practices to authorities
- Work cooperatively
- Develop inclusive culture in workplaces, support equal access/opportunity for all, identify/ address unconscious bias
Give me some example behaviors for Rule 5 (act in public interest, take responsibility, prevent harm, maintain public confidence)
- Question practices and decisions you suspect aren’t right
- Support directors, partners, employees, colleagues or clients who acted in good faith to report concerns
- Ensure public statements made by the firm, or members who are (or could be identified) members of the profession, do not undermine public confidence in the profession
- Respond to complaints promptly, openly & professionally
- Don’t dissuade complainants from approaching ADR provider
- Cooperate with investigations into complaints, provide info where requested (if lawful)
- Consider the effect any health conditions a member may have on their competence or ability to undertake work. Inform management/clients where they need reasonable adjustments
- Manage professional finances responsibly
- Take appropriate action when rules have been breached, report suspected significant breaches by yourself or others to RICS
What is a conflict of interest?
Anything that impedes or may be percieved to impede on an individuals or firms ability to act impartially & at the best interest of the client.
Name some of the approved ombudsmen bodies for complaints handling?
Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
Property Redress Scheme
Financial Ombudsmen Service
Local Government Ombudsmen
Adjudicators Office
What is informed consent?
How would you go by getting informed consent?
Informed consent can only be sought where the RICS member or firm is satisfied that proceeding despite the conflict of interest is:
a) in the interests of all those who are or may be affected and
b) is not prohibited by law
and that the conflict will not prevent the member or regulated firm from providing competent and diligent advice to those that may be affected.
What is Lionheart?
A charity for RICS professionals from APC to retirement
Provide financial support, health and wellbeing, counselling and work related support. Legal Advise
How many hours CPD do you need to record each year once qualified?
20 hours per year
When was RICS founded?
1868
What is a fixed RICS penalty
Fine given for non compliance with the rules
Main principles of the bribery act?
And consquences?
Don’t offer or accept a bribe
Knowing about it
Receiving a bribe
Bribing a foreign government official
Up to 10 years in prision
What is a contract officer?
When registering the firm with RICS you need a designated contact within the RICS
What do registered firms need to provide to RICS annually?
Annual financial return
type of services offered
nature of clients
training provisions
details of PI insurance
If you hold clients money, how much and the procedures to hold it.
Whats required to start own practice?
nominated contact officer
locum agreement
register with company’s house
business bank account
What should PII policy cover?
Everything that you offer as a service
how would you close a business?
contact rics
do final accounts ans submit to rics
get run off cover min 15 years
return any clients money
retain copies of files for min 6 years
What is the RICS Mission Statement?
To qualify and equip our professionals to the highest level
To promote and enforce standards
To lead solutions to the major challenges facing the built environment through
professional expertise.
What are the RICS’ 5 principles of better regulation?
Proportionality
Accountability
Consistency
Targetting
Transparency
What is the difference between RICS ethics and rules?
Ethics are a set of moral values while rules of conduct are a framework that we work to.
How many professional and ethical standards are there?
5
What is Negligence?
A duty of care is owed to all clients and 3rd parties using reasonable skill and care.
If it is breached and there is a loss, then a claim for damages arises.
Describe the case of Merrit V Babb (2001)
Surveyor sued for negligence by former client when firms Pll cover was cancelled when firm became solvent which highlighted the importance of run off cover.
What must a complaints handling procedure include?
a redress mechanism
clear, quick, transparent and impartial and free of charge
Names and contact details of the nominated investigating person must be stated
The complaint must be investigated within 28 days
All complaints, their progress and outcomes must be recorded
Advise PI insurers of a complaint
Must have two stages as a minimum:
Consideration of the complaint by a senior member of the firm or the complaints handling officer
If not resolved, referred to an independent third party with the authority to award redress
What do you do if you received a letter of complaint?
I acknowledge reception and I forward it to our designated complaint handler, as per our complaint handling procedure, providing additional information as required. If I am a sole practisioner, I inform the RICS if it warranted my complaint handling procedure and I notify my PI insurer.
What is run off cover?
Run-off cover is insurance for claims made against a firm after it has stopped doing business. It makes sure that: clients can be compensated for claims made after a firm has closed. retired partners of the firm have financial security and won’t be personally liable for any claims.
What status is a professional statement?
Mandatory
What status is a RICS code of Practice?
Mandatory or good practice (confirmed within the document itself)
What status is a guidance note?
Recommended Best Practice
What status is a RICS information Paper?
Information and/or recommended best practice
What status is the Conflicts of Interest document?
Professional Statement (mandatory)
What is a bribe?
The offer, promise, giving, demanding or acceptance of an advantage as an inducement for an action that is illegal, unethical or a breach of trust.
What is the purpose of the Bribery Act 2010?
To update and enhance UK Law on bribery including foreign bribery. The Act also provides strict penalties for active and passive bribery by individuals and companies.
What is your firm’s policy on gifts?
It is acceptable to receive small tokens of appreciation, only, and infrequently.
If you are offered a gift or hospitality, you must report this to your Director as soon as it is given to you, for approval.
You must provide details of the nature of the gift and the identify of the sender.
The company gift register will be updated by the MD, which will identify whether it has been accepted/declined.
Accepting/declining the gift will have regards to any current or close professional activity with parties involved.
Central register of gifts is reviewed regularly by the Board of Directors.
What legislation are you aware of relating to bribery or money laundering?
Bribery Act 2010
Sanctions and Anti-money Laundering Act 2018
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019
How do you take reasonable steps to keep information separate?
Create a non-physical barrier, a Chinese wall, and ensure that the two surveyors who have the conflict of interest do not discuss client matters/ keep confidential information on desks/ sit at desks next to one another/ save data in different files (permissions) etc.
What are the 3 different types of conflict?
Party conflict - duty to act in the interests of a party which conflicts with a duty owed to another party in relation to the same or a related professional assignment
Own interest conflict - duty to act in the interests of a client which conflicts with the interests of the RICS member or firm
Confidential information conflict - duty to provide material information to one client whilst having a duty to another client to keep that same information confidential
What are the different levels of PII?
This relates to turnover of the company.
£100,000 or less = £250,000 PII required
£100,000 to £200,000 = £500,000 PII required
£200,000 and above = £1,000,000 PII required
If you receive a complaint, when should you notify your Insurance provider and when will RICS get involved?
Insurance provider - as soon as the formal complaint or query is received.
RICS - only if the issue cannot be rectified with the firm or independent 3rd party ADR (KKL - this is the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, CEDR)
When does a company need to register with HMRC?
When a company exceeds the VAT threshold of £85,000
Is there a run-off cover value per claim that RICS require?
£1 million
What is the role of a Contact Officer?
The individual designated by the Firm to be the main liaison point between the Firm and RICS and the person authorised by the Firm to submit the Firm’s Annual Return.
What is the limit on client money that you are allowed to hold on behalf of a client?
£10,000
What are the laws and regulations that govern the RICS?
Bye-Laws and Royal Charter.
What is the role of RICS?
Maintain highest standard of education and training.
Provide consumer protection
Provide impartial advice
Maintain and regulate the profession.
What are they key functions of RICS?
Promotes and enforces the highest professional qualifications and standards in: Land, Real Estate, Construction and Infrastructure.
Why do you want to become a member of RICS?
To obtain a recognised professional status which promotes best practices in the profession and to be part of an international professional community.
What is a Royal Charter?
Formal grant issued by the Monarch. It requires RICS to ‘promote the usefulness of the profession for the public advantage in the UK and other parts of the world’.
What sort of information is contained in the RICS Standard Form of Consultants Appointment?
The parties entering into the agreement
Terms of appointment and scope of services
Exclusions - services not included
Client’s objectives
Payment Terms
Insurance
Termination of agreement
Dispute Resolution.
What are the Continuing Professional Development requirements for a Member of RICS?
20 hours ever 12 month period (Jan-Dec); a minimum of half of which (10 hours) must be formal CPD.
What is the difference between formal and informal CPD?
Formal CPD has a learning outcome, informal CPD does not.
What must you do if a conflict of interest occurs?
Reference RICS Conflicts of Interest 2017 Professional Statement
Conflict Avoidance - inform the client, and offer to withdraw yourself from the instruction
Conflict Management - Disclose the nature fo the conflict, recommend they obtain professional advice, establish proposals for dealing with conflict, and obtain informed consent from the client to proceed.
Set up an information barrier, and ensure that the firm’s compliance officer oversees all actions.
Why do we have to carry PI insurance?
To protect a client’s, staff’s and firm’s financial risk associated with claims of negligence. Also PII is required by RICS Rules of Conduct.
Must have 6 years run-off cover if you move to a different firm (as defined within RICS Statement ‘Professional Indemnity Insurance Requirements 2019’.
Explain the term ‘claims made basis’?
The policy covers claims that are first made against the insured during the period of insurance regardless of when the negligent act occurred e.g. PII and Employer’s Liability Insurance (refer to RICS Statement ‘Professional Indemnity Insurance Requirements 2019’)
What were the implications of the Merrett and Babb case (2001)?
A surveyor was individually liable for a negligent valuation report when he did not have the protection of PII due to the firms’ insolvency. The purchaser was entitled to recover damages from the defendant personally. The defendant should have had 6 years run-off PII cover after practicing.
Who does interest earned on a client account belong to?
The Client, unless the client has agreed in writing to the consultant retaining the interest accrued.
What is the RICS Professional Statement relating to Money Laundering?
Countering Bribery and Corruption, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, 2019 (came into effect January 2020), 1st Edition.
What is the RICS approved Complaints Handling Procedure?
- Obtain the complaint in writing
- Respond to the complaint in writing within 7 days
- Resolve the complaint within 28 days
- Provide details of access to independent redress if the firm cannot resolve the complaint
What is an information barrier?
An invisible information barrier between two parties working on the same professional assignment to appropriately manage a conflict of interest.
What is the purpose of the Technology and Construction Court?
The TCC primarily deals with litigation of disputes arising in the field of technology and construction, including professional negligence claims.
Give an example of an International Standard?
International Ethics Standards (IES):
- Accountability
- Conflict of Interest
- Financial Responsibility
- Lawfulness
- Reflection