Rules of Conduct Flashcards
- What steps would you need to take when setting up a Practice?
a. Inform RICS
b. Appoint a Contact Officer
c. Register with RICS for Regulation
d. Professional Indemnity Insurance
e. Client Account for Handling Client Money
f. Complaints handling procedure
g. Staff training and CPD
- What steps do you need to take to close a firm?
a. Inform RICS
b. Inform clients and hand over arrangements made to the new firm.
c. Return any client monies to their own accounts
d. Inform insurers and procure professional indemnity run off cover for a minimum of 6 years and £250,000 cover. Claims can arise for up to 15 years.
- What are your obligations to maintain your RICS accreditation once qualified?
a. Record 20 hours of CPD each calendar year 10 of which must be formal
b. Relevant and current understanding of rules of conduct during a rolling 3 years period. Online certificate lasts 3 years
c. Record CPD hours by 31st January each year
d. Pay fees
Would you accept a Gift or offer of Hospitality from someone in a work capacity?
a. Gifts, hospitality and promotional activity is generally acceptable and considered a part of doing business.
b. It must be reasonable, proportionate and offered openly and transparently
c. Includes modest and occasional meals, sport and cultural events.
d. The firm must keep records of such hospitality.
e. Bribery Act 2010 defines acceptable gifts and hospitality.
- What steps must you take for the handling of client’s money?
a. Client must always have access to funds
b. Client money must be kept separate and clearly identifiable
c. Include ‘Client’ in the account name
d. Interest on the account must be agreed with the client
e. Maintain client ledger or running balance of any transactions
f. Agree the terms and advise client on bank details
g. Client account must not be overdrawn
- What are the RICS 5 principles of better regulation?
a. Remember PACTT
b. Proportionality
c. Accountability
d. Consistency
e. Targeting
f. Transparency
- Why does the RICS have Rules of Conduct?
a. To provide a framework that we can all work to and so the client knows they are getting a consistent level of service.
b. As well as being an important tool for the institution, the Rules of Conduct are also a useful professional guide for individual Institution members.
- When were the updated Rules of Conduct implemented?
a. 2nd February 2022
- Why were the Rules of Conduct revised?
a. To make them simpler for professionals and the public by building the rules on ethical principles and combining the requirements for members and firms.
b. They are based on feedback from members, professionals and stakeholders about what is important to them.
- What documents did the new Rules of Conduct replace?
a. Rules of Conduct for members, Rules of Conduct for firms and Global Ethical Principles
- What are the main changes to the new Rules of Conduct?
a. Change of wording of individual behaviours
b. Addition of encouragement of diversity and inclusion to Rule 4
- How many Rules of Conduct for Members and Firms are there?
5
- What are the behaviours in relation to the rules of conduct and why are they in place?
a. These are not rules but act as guidelines for best practice for firms and members
- What are the 5 Rules of Conduct?
a. Members and firms must be honest, act with integrity and comply with their professional obligations, including obligations to RICS.
b. Members and firms must maintain their professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise
c. Members and firms must provide good-quality and diligent service
d. Members and firms must treat others with respect and encourage diversity and inclusion
e. 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
- Which two of the five Global Professional & Ethical Standards resonate with you the most?
a. Good quality service – I take great pride in my work and believe a high standard of work reflects well on the firm and myself. Our clients pay large sums of money for our service and I believe they deserve a quality product.
b. Respect – I believe in treating everyone fairly and with respect. As surveyors we enter peoples homes which is their private space and I always ensure I’m conscious of that and try to cater for various peoples needs i.e taking shoes off at the door or carefully entering religious spaces etc.
- Where can you find the professional obligations for members and firms?
a. Appendix A of the Rules of Conduct
- What are the 3 professional obligations for members when they join the RICS?
a. Comply with the CPD requirements for RICS members
b. Cooperate with the RICS
c. Promptly provide all information reasonably requested by the Standards and Regulations Board, or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf