SoE - Examples (Level 3) Flashcards

1
Q

Tell me about an instance of when you have been offered a gift or hospitality by a client

A

Received a bottle of wine for Christmas, I could accept as from client by chose to share with members of the team working on that client, as per Workmans policy.

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2
Q

Tell me about what you would do if you felt that an instruction was outside your scope of experience or knowledge.

A

Notify my partner in charge and be transparent with my client noting that I cannot provide advice and recommend a 3rd party expert.

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3
Q

Tell me about an instance of when you have handled client’s money.

A

When collecting rent monies which are due to my client, these moneys are transferred to a discreet client account, labelled client with a unique client identifier.

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4
Q

How would you keep client’s money securely and safely held?

A

Ensure appropriate accounting controls are in place and ensure the client has knowledge of the account details and has instant access to funds. Ensure that the account is labelled clearly and obtain written confirmation from the bank that monies are NOT to be transferred or combined.

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5
Q

Tell me about how you would handle a client complaint.

A

Raise with PIC and attempt to resolve in the first instance, failing that, refer to the complainant to Workmans CHP and advise that they address to our complaints handling officer in writing.
Acknowledge in 7 days and formal response in 28 days, detailing a property redress scheme, CEDR.

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6
Q

Tell me about a conflict of interest check you have carried out.

A

New instruction, check tramps to see whether the property appears. The property did not and therefore safe to assume no prior involvement and the instruction proceeded as planned.

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7
Q

If you identified a potential or actual conflict of interest, how could you handle this?

A

Refer to workman’s advisory board for them to review and decide whether this is rejected or can be managed via information barriers, if so, then ensure sufficient controls in place, such as IT restrictions or working in separate offices. PIC to log on COI database.

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8
Q

Tell me about when you have provided a high standard of service.

A

By ensuring I meet my client’s KpIs with respect to rent collection

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9
Q

Tell me about how you have promoted trust in the profession.

A

By ensuring I always am clear and concise with my communication to landlords and tenants alike.

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10
Q

Explain how you have taken responsibility in your current role

A

By ensuring that I notify my client as soon as possible if there may be a delay to agreed timescales, for example, to producing a lease plan for a letting.

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11
Q

Tell me about how you treat clients with respect.

A

Through regular and polite speaking and ensuring I response within 24 hours.

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12
Q

Tell me about how you treat other surveyors with respect

A

Always available to assist internally and always act in a polite and transparent manner.

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13
Q

Explain the key steps you would take if you decided to set up in practice as a sole trader after qualifying.

A

Inform RICS, get appropriate PII cover (RICS approved), Ensure CHP in place and get approved by RICS and pass this to PII insurer. Ensure I have a locum in place, register for regulation by RICS

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14
Q

If a prospective purchaser offered you a financial incentive to accept their offer,
explain how you dealt with this.

A

Raise immediately with PIC and Advisory Board and who would then flag with the appropriate authority and RICS

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15
Q

What would you do if you were asked by a client to reduce a fee proposal to win new work?

A

I would state that the fee is based on the resource required for the scope of work, and that we could reduce the fee if the scope of work is reduced

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16
Q

What would you do if you became suspicious that a client was involved in money laundering?

A

Submit a Suspicious Activity Report to the NCA

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17
Q

You mention approving improvements to HVAC – how did you act within your scope of competence?

A

I was aware that review of technical M&E was outside my scope of competence and therefore recommended and instructed a consultant to review.

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18
Q

14 Austin Friars (Payment Terms from Quarterly to Monthly)

  • How would changing payment terms from quarterly to monthly help the Tenant?
A

Cash Flow Management

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19
Q

14 Austin Friars (Payment Terms from Quarterly to Monthly)

  • What does ‘Greater than average risk’ mean?
A

This means that we should monitor the tenant closely

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20
Q

14 Austin Friars (Payment Terms from Quarterly to Monthly)

-What comfort would that give in considering the proposal to move to Monthly?

A

Recommended by the financial review, to ease cash flow pressures on the tenant and to have no loss of funds.

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21
Q

Can you give me an example where VAT is payable on rent, why, and how this is
treated for accounting purposes?

A

Where the property is elected for VAT.
L charges VAT, L can recover property related expenses VAT from HMRC

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22
Q

Can you give me an example where rent has failed to be paid, what action was
taken between day 7 and 21 to meet your Clients KPI’s?

A

Yes, where the tenant had failed to make payment at Southdown’s business park and the tenant was crar’d as they are a persistent late payer.

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23
Q

Data Management

  • Talk me through how you sourced and compiled key tenancy data into a report format?
A

The first step Is to ensure the Information Is accurate by reviewing the source material which then gets processed and uploaded Into TRAMPS. This then enables me to download and run reports from our management systems to present property Information/tenancy schedule reports

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24
Q

Data Management

  • Talk me through a data rectification you’ve completed as part of a periodic review you conducted
A

Upon reviewing the data, I noted that a break date was Incorrectly showing and therefore, I ensure I undertook a lease amendment form to rectify this to ensure It was showing on the management system

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25
Q

Data Management
- Give me a specific example of a DI you’ve completed, data included and purpose.

A

Upon completion of a new lease, I had to Input the data of the new lease Into a Lease Input form which feeds Into our management system - I use the source material and this gets checked and reviewed by a senior member of the team before being processed on management systems.

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26
Q

Data Management

-How have you benchmarked from analysed historic data?

A

when setting service charge budgets, historical evidence forms the basis of budget setting from the upcoming year.

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27
Q

Data Management

-How have you advised on security of data?

A

I have advised on the security of data when uploading information to a secure solicitor data site for the purposes of sales/lettings.

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28
Q

Data Management

-How have you complied with client’s data security requirements?

A

I ensure that confidential information is encyrpted and password protected and only distributed to intended receipients upon client instruction.

29
Q

Data Management – Queen Square House

  • What ‘data management’ advice did you give in relation to the proposed sale?
A

I advised my client that all management/property Information should be uploaded directly to the secure data site, as opposed to be shared via email.

30
Q

Data Management – Queen Square House
- What was the rationale behind that advice?

A

The rationale was to Increase the data security of the documentation and to ensure only those who have access could access the data.

31
Q

Example 2 – One Valpy, Reading
- What ‘data management’ advice did you give?

A

That all Information pertinent to the property was uploaded asap to our management sites by myself through DI forms.
-Recommended solicitors verified the information.

32
Q

Example 3 – South Downs Business Park
- What ‘data management’ advice did you give?

A

Through correct and up to date data Information, I was able to recommend the Instruction of a building surveyor to undertake a SoD. I also advised my client that we will hold the final edition of the Sod and Solicitors service letter on our electronic filing system.

33
Q

How do you take good inspection notes when on site?

A

by working through an Inspection checklist, highlighting all areas I need to Inspect. Also taking the previous Inspection report and taking many photographs.

34
Q

Tell me about how you would ensure safe working at height / on a site with working machinery.

A

Wearing the appropriate PPE, rubber soled shoes etc. And ensure there Is protection equipment In place is maintained and serviced.

35
Q

What building characteristics do you look for when inspecting a property?

A

Age/Method of construction and defects, the Internal and external fabric, the external envelope. The structure. The local area.

36
Q

What are the usual sizes of floor and ceiling void in a new office building?

A

2.6M

37
Q

What does Grade A specification mean for an office?

A

Located In most desirable areas, 2.6m clear floor ceiling height, new or highly maintained, steel or concrete frame construction, LED Lighting, ceiling voids and raised floors, exceptional disability accessibility, excellent BREEAM rating.

38
Q

What features would you expect to find in a Grade A specification office?

A

Equality Act compliant lifts. Cycle Storage .On site parking. Front of House team

39
Q

How do office Grade and Category differ?

A

Grade Is aimed at the building wide, categories are for the lettable space and the fit out spec.

40
Q

How do Cat A plus, Cat A and Cat B differ?

A

Cat A is a finish above shell/core giving raised floors, suspended ceilings and basic M&E provision. CAT B is tailormade to suit an occupier ie a fit out, branded decor. Cat A + is CAT B but does not provide the tailored finish to suit an occupier.

41
Q

What is the British Council for Offices?

A

Britain’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector. provides best practice for the office sector.

42
Q

When was the British Council for Offices office guidance last updated

A

2019

43
Q

What is the normal floor loading for an office building?

A

3Kn/M2. BCO recommend 2.5

44
Q

What is the optimum depth of an office to allow for natural light?

A

6-12 meters

45
Q

What types of air conditioning would you find in a modern office building?

A
  • VAV: Uses AHU and fans (high cost but low energy consumption.
    -VRV/VRF: Uses refrigerant gasses instead of AHU. 40-50% more efficient than VAV.
    -Fan coil 4 pipe, low costs high operating) 4 pipe allows for both heating and cooling simultaneously
46
Q

What is an Environmental Impact Assessment?

A

The aim of Environmental Impact Assessment is to protect the environment by ensuring that a local planning authority when deciding whether to grant planning permission for a project, which is likely to have significant effects on the environment,

47
Q

What is Radon Gas?

A

Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas. It is formed by the radioactive decay of the small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils.
-Hazardous Material

48
Q

What is subsidence

A

The gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land

49
Q

What is heave

A

A sideways displacement of an area of land

50
Q

How do you determine an appropriate level of PPE for your inspection?

A

By undertaking a pre assessment before attending site.

51
Q

What is settlement

A

The vertical movement of the ground, generally caused be changes in stresses within the earth

52
Q

What RICS guidance and/or legislation relates to the use of drones?

A
  • RICS Insight Paper 2019, Drones: Application and Compliance for Surveyors.
    -Air Navigation Order 2016
53
Q

What are the key differences / observations on site between RAAC and standard concrete slabs

A

RAAC is lightweight and porous in comparison.
RAAC has a smooth surface and is free from visible aggregate or coarse materials.

54
Q

Give me an example of where you have recognised a limitation of your knowledge and sought external specialist advice.

A

When I have noted spalling concrete on a multi storey car park. This was outside the scope of my expertise and therefore I made note In my Inspection report, took photos and advised my client and recommended the Involvement of a building surveyor.

55
Q

Explain to me your inspection methodology when inspecting a property.

A

I first undertake a pre Inspection risk assessment to ascertain my route to site and back, then I undertake an Inspection of the external and local areas, then I Inspect the externals of the property, then I will Inspect the Interior.

56
Q

What would you do if you identified a potential defect on site?

A

make note and take photographs and advise my client. potentially recommend 3rd party Involvement

57
Q

Explain a factor identified during an inspection which impacted upon value.

A

Lack of cycling racks and shower facillites. Can negatively impact value

58
Q

Example 1 – Croydon Commerce Park
-Describe the unit

A

Commerce Park is a 11 unit industrial estate, let on an FRI basis and contribute to an estate service charge. 1980’s, steel portal frame, concrete floor, LED lighting , capped off services

59
Q

Example 1 - Croydon Commerce Park
– What was your advice to the Client?

A

Given a good L&T relationship with this tenant, I notified my client of the breach of covenant and recommended that I will write to the tenant outlining the breach and request they make good.

60
Q

Example 1 - Croydon Commerce Park
- What was the reasoning behind that advice?

A

Minor breach and no further action was required

61
Q

Example 1 - Croydon Commerce Park
- Notwithstanding the obligations under the Tenancy, what was your advice about the impact of the disrepair to your Client?

A

My advice, In the first Instance was to outline the breach to the tenant and ensure they clean the signage which resulted In the works being completed 3 weeks later.

62
Q

Example 2 – Unit 1 South Downs Business Park
-what was the construction?

A

unit is of steel portal frame construction with profiled steel clad roofs to an eaves height of about 6.4 m (21 ft). Solid concrete floors with 10% office space.

63
Q

Example 2 - Unit 1 SDBP
– Talk me through the advice you gave in your report to the Client on the breach?

A

I advised them via email with photographs of the attached breach and noted that these were unlicensed. I recommended that we document these alterations retrospectively given there was no upcoming RR. I recommended building surveyors to review the work and retrospective plans received from the tenant.

64
Q

Example 2 - Unit 1 SDBP
- What was the reasoning behind that advice?

A

To protect my Client’s position at lease expiry with regards to dilapidations

65
Q
  • Can you give me an example where you’ve made a Client aware of their statutory responsibilities and advised actions to ensure compliance?
A

Upon taking on the management of a new property, I noted there was no Electrical Installation Condition Report(EICR) for a vacant unit and therefore i recommended we instruct a competent electrician to undertake this to ensure compliance.

66
Q

How do you collate, analyse and adjust comparable evidence?

A

through weighting the evidence based on similarity to the subject property

67
Q

What is the hierarchy of evidence?

A

open market lettings, lease renewals, rent review, Independent expert, arbitrator

68
Q

How would you advise a tenant differently between a contracted in and contracted out renewal?

A