Mandatory Competency - Flash Cards - Ethics
Who is the president of the RICS?
Tina Paillet
Who is the president elect of the RICS?
Justin Sullivan
Who is the CEO of the RICS?
Justin Young
What is the RICS motto?
Est Modus in Rebus - There is measure in all things.
What is the RICS mission statement?
Develops & enforces international standard to protect consumers and businesses across the built and natural environment. Royal Charter granted by the Privy Council allows the RICS to have independent legal personality to define objectives, constitution and powers to govern its own affairs.
What is the structure of the RICS?
Governing Council, RICS governing body, delegates responsibilities to the RICS board. Oversees the RICS Board and Standards & regulations Board.
What is the RICS Board’s functions?
Delegated responsibility for delivery of the business plan and oversight of operations (excluding standards and regulation).
What is the Standards & Regulations board functions?
Exclusive responsibility for exercising RICS’ regulatory functions, including strategy, governance, structure, policy and operational oversight in the public interest.
What are the RICS ethical principles?
Honesty, integrity, competence, service, respect and responsibility. The rules of conduct are based on these.
What are the RICS rules of conduct?
1) Honesty, act with integrity and comply with professional obligations, 2) maintain professional competence, ensuring services are provided by competent individuals, 3) good quality service, 4) treat others with respect, 5) act in the public interest
What are the different types of RICS documents?
Professional Standards & Practice Information.
What is an RICS professional standard?
These are the documents which set requirements for competent and ethical practice e.g. our existing professional statements and guidance. Documents include Rules of Conduct & regulatory rules i.e. Conflicts of Interest 1st Edition March 2017
What is an RICS practice information?
These documents provide advice or practice support to RICS members and firms.
Documents that provide users with recommendations or approaches for accepted good practice as followed by competent and conscientious practitioners. E.g. Black Book, Acceleration 2nd Edition, February 2024.
What are the RICS CPD requirements?
20 hours CPD each calendar year, 10 hours must be formal - recorded by 31 Jan. Professional & ethical standards refreshed every 3 years.
What are penalties of not complying with CPD requirements?
1st - Caution on record for 10 years, 2nd - further caution and fixed penalty, 3rd - referral to disciplinary panel.
What are RICS professional groups?
Provide technical advice across the organisation within their speciality, 4 main areas; standards, professional standards, market insight, what we regulate.
Name the bodies within the RICS?
Matric (early careers), LoinHeart (charity for RICS professionals)
What are the aims of PII?
Protect firm from financial loss, protect member or firm against consequents of liability to pay damages, ensure the firms clients do not suffer financial loss.
What must a PII policy include?
each and every claim basis, RICS minimum policy wording, minimum level of indemnity based on firms turnover.
What are the minimum PII levels of cover?
Based on firms annual turnover the previous year;
£100k or less - £250k min
£100k - £200k - £500 min
£200k+ - £1m min
What are the maximum levels of uninsured excess?
Indemnity £10m or less - excess 2.5% of sum insured or £10,000
Indemnity 10m or more - excess no set limit.
What are recent changes to the RICS PII requirements?
UK and Ireland sperate, added fire safety claims for professional services for building of 5 stories and above; negligence, error, on or after 1st July 2024, cover in aggregate. External wall assessments and fire risk appraisals of external walls have also been added.
PII insurer requirement of the RICS?
Policy must be underwritten by an insurer detailed by RICS.
What must the PII cover for employees?
Must cover past and present employees?
What is run off cover?
Run off cover is for when a company ceases trading, required for a minimum of 6 years with a min of £1m.
What are the RICS Bye-laws?
Set of rules all members must follow which were produced following the implementation of the royal charter.
What is an examples of one of the RICS bye-laws?
Bye-law 2 - Membership & registration; classes, eligibility, and procedures. Or Bye-law 4 - Contributions to funds - Subscription fees and requirements.
What are the principles of better regulation?
PACTT - Proportionality, accountability, consistency, transparent, targeting.
Name some international ethical principles?
Accountability, confidentiality, conflict of interest, diversity, integrity.
What must RICS regulated firm have?
Compliant handling procedure, independent redress provider, PII, annual return submitted to RICS, 50 percent or more partners need to be RICS, contact officer.
What is an independent redress provider and who is your companies?
ADR provider that must be listed in the complaint handling procedure, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
What must you do in order to setup a practice?
Inform RICS, appoint contact officer, register with RICS regulation, arrange PII, setup client money account, setup complaint handling procedure and log, staff training and CPD, compliant practice material.
What is the Anti Money Laundering Act 2018?
Set of laws and regulations aimed at preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
What is the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974?
Primary piece of legislation in the UK for which puts duties in employers to eliminate, reduce and control health and safety risks, put plans in place etc.
What must you do if you close a practice?
Inform RICS, return client money, inform PII insurer, maintain run off cover min 6 years, return client information.
What must you consider when dealing with gifts, hospitality and promotional activity?
It is generally acceptable and considered a part of doing business, however it is linked to the Bribery Act 2010
What is the Bribery Act 2010?
UK Legislation that makes bribery and corruption illegal. Act prohibits, offering or giving a bribe to gain an advantage, requesting, receiving or accepting a bribe to receive an advantage, bribing a public official, not reporting or implementing a system to record bribes.
What is the definition of acceptable hospitality within the Bribery Act 2010?
Reasonable and proportionate, includes modest occasional meals, sport and cultural events, must not be lavish or frequent.
What is the definition of acceptable gifts within the Bribery Act 2010?
Nominal in value, offered openly, must not be regular, cash or to influence decisions.
What are the penalties as a result of the Bribery Act 2010?
Unlimited fines, prosecution, imprisonment up to 10 years.
What actions must you take when dealing with gifts and hospitality?
Be open and transparent, keep records i.e. gift register in excess of £100, considerate i.e. value, timing proportionate, giver, receiver.
What is the UK Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017?
set out the obligations on businesses and individuals to prevent their services being used for money laundering, terrorist financing or proliferation financing purposes.
What does money laundering mean?
Exchanging money or assets that were obtained criminally for other money/assets that are ‘clean’. Also means money to fund terrorism.
What is your responsibility to prevent money laundering?
Undertake customer due diligence, keep records, maintain internal procedures, report suspicious activity internally and externally, train employees.
What are the money laundering regulations 2017 requirements on cash payments over £10k?
You will need to sign a register with HMRC.
Are you able to accept cash payments?
No prohibited by RICS.