Rules Of Conduct Feb 2022

Question 1

How does the RICS ensure standards of professional conduct and practice are upheld?

Answer 1

• Rules of Conduct
• Rules of Conduct apply to all members and firms as defined in bye-law 5.1.

Question 2

What are the 5 rules of conduct?

Answer 2

HCQRP
Members and firms…
1. Be honest, act with integrity and comply with professional obligations, including RICS.
2. Maintain professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise.
3. Provide quality and diligent service.
4. Treat others with respect and promote diversity and inclusion.
5. Act in the public interest, take responsibility for their actions, act to prevent harm and maintain public confidence in profession.

Question 3

Can you provide example behaviours for rule 1?

Answer 3

Members & firms must:
- must be open and honest about fees and services.
- Must not mislead others by their actions or omissions, or be complicit in their actions or omissions of others.
- Do not allow themselves to be influenced improperly by others or by their own self-interest.
- Provide advice and opinions honestly and objectively based on relevant and reliable evidence.
- do not take unfair advantage of others.

Question 4

Can you provide example behaviours of rule 2?

Answer 4

• Members must Maintain & develop their knowledge and skills throughout their career. Firms encourage and support directors, partners and employees to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills, and check that they are complying with CPD requirements set by RICS.
• Check that subcontractors have the necessary knowledge, skills and resource to do their tasks competently.
• Supervise employees undertaking work and ensure that they have the necessary knowledge, skills and resources to do their tasks competently.
• Only undertake work that they have the knowledge, skills and resources to carry out competently.
• Reflect on the work they have undertaken and it’s impacts, and consider how they might apply what they have learned to their future work.

Question 5

Can you provide example behaviours of rule 3?

Answer 5

• Ensure their is a proper QA procedure in place.
• Understand the employers objectives and requirements.
• Agree with clients the scope of the services to be provided and it’s limitations, and timescales for the work.
  -Communicate with clients and others clearly and in a way they can understand.
• undertake work in a timely manner; with due care, skill and diligence.

Question 6

Can you provide example behaviours of rule 4?

Answer 6

• Members must not bully, victimise or harass anyone.
• Members & firms must respect the rights of others and treat others with courtesy.
• Members & firms must work cooperatively with others.
• Firms check that supply chains do not involve modern slavery or other abuses of the workforce.
• Members and firms report abusive labour practices to proper and recognised authorities if
  they become aware of, or suspect, them.

Question 7

Can you provide example behaviours of rule 5?

Answer 7

1. Manage their professional finances responsibly.
2. Do not dissuade complaints t’s from approaching an ADR provider, RICS or other regulatory body.
3. support directors, partners, employees, colleagues or clients who have acted in good faith to report concerns.
4. respond to complaints made against them promptly, openly and professionally.
5. cooperate with investigations into complaints or concerns, and provide information where it is reasonably requested and they can do so lawfully.

Question 8

What is included in appendix A professional obligations?

Answer 8

Members must:
- comply with CPD requirements.
- cooperate with RICS.

• promptly provide all information reasonably requested by standards and regulation board, or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf.

Firms must:
- publish complaints handling procedure, which includes an alternative dispute resolution provider approved by RICS, and maintain a complaints log.

• ensure that all previous and current work is covered by adequate and appropriate PI cover that meets RICS standards.
• make appropriate arrangements for their professional work to continue in the event if their incapacity, death, a sense from or inability to work.
• cooperate with RICS.
• Provide all information reasonably requested by the standards and regulation board, or those exercising delegated authority on its behalf.
• Display on their business literature, in accordance with RICS’ published policy on designations, a designation to denote that they are regulated by RICS.
• report to RICS any matter that they are required to report under the rules for the registration of firms.