Professional ethics

In addition to the Rules of Conduct, RICS members are expected to apply a set of 5 global professional and ethical standards in order to meet the high standards of behaviour required of them.

1. Act with integrity;
2. Always provide a high standard of service;
3. Act in a way that promotes trust in the profession;
4. Treat others with respect; and
5. Take responsibility.
   

To start you thinking about how these may be applied in practice you might like to try the selection of self-assessment questions below – the answers are given at the end. Further test questions are available in the RICS Online Learning Academy (requires registration).

1. Your client has not yet had the time to ensure that his properties comply with new legislation. He instructs you to act in conflict with legal requirements by using delaying tactics to defer implementation. Your refusal to do so may harm your lucrative business relationship, leading to financial loss. However, to comply with the client's wishes may endanger the lives of his tenants. What should you do?

1. The client is always right - I would act upon his instruction to maintain our professional relationship.
2. Ignore the client's wishes - he should have known better than to ask me.
3. Explain to the client that acting on his instruction would lead to illegal activity. If he still wishes to proceed then advise him that the contract with you will be terminated.

2. You misquoted for a job and find that you significantly underestimated the work involved. Half way through the job you have concerns that you may not satisfactorily be able to carry out the job for this fee. What should you do?

1. Complete the undertaken job despite incurring a loss and recognising that you must be more careful in future.
2. Back out of the job.
3. Try to renegotiate with your client.

3. A client for whom you have worked on many jobs approaches you to undertake a project that will involve you in work in which you have no experience. You don't want to let the client down as they have been an excellent source of fees. What should you do?

1. Take on the work and read up on the subject.
2. Advise your client that this is not your area of expertise and recommend another surveyor who you know will do a good job.
3. Refuse the commission with no explanation as you do not want your client to feel you are not able to do this job.

4. You are selling land for a client/tendering a contract for a client and obtain an offer/tender bid from a company in which you are a major shareholder. What should you do?

1. Sell the land/accept the tender if this is the best bid.
2. Advise your client that you are unable to continue with the work.
3. Advise all parties of your shareholding interest and your involvement with the client and seek written acceptance to continuing.

5. You are selling land/tendering a contract for a client and one of the developers promises you that if they buy the site/gain the contract they will instruct you to undertake work for them. What should you do?

1. Encourage your client to sell/let the contract to this developer.
2. Continue the sale/tender making no reference to this approach from the developer.
3. Advise your client accordingly and seek their approval to you continuing with the sale/tender.

6. You are aware that properties that you manage/are contract managing the build for do not/will not comply with recently introduced fire safety legislation. New tenants are about to move in. Your client has asked you not to advise them of the discrepancy. What should you do?

1. Let your client know that you are not prepared to endanger lives and explain that he must ensure the properties comply with the legislation.
2. Accept the client's instruction as you are there to act on his behalf.
3. Try to deter the tenants from moving in and encourage them to look for alternative accommodation.

Answers: 1c, 2a, 3b, 4c, 5c, 6a