Explain how you act with integrity
- Be trustworthy
- Be open and transparent
- Respect confidential information
- Don’t take advantage
- Don’t offer or accept gifts which might suggest and improper obligation
Why must you act within your professional capabilities
To ensure I don’t incorrectly advise my clients which could lead to complaint or a negligence claim
Explain how you take responsibility
- Be accountable
- Act with skill, care, and diligence
- Ensure a complaints handling procedure is in place should someone complain
- Be prepared to respectfully challenge things that are not right
Explain how you treat others with respect
- Be polite and courteous
- Never discriminate against anyone for any reason
Explain how you provide a high-level of service
- Ensure those to whom I have a professional responsibility receive the best possible advice and support
- Act within the scope of my competence
- Be transparent about fees and other costs
- Communicate in a way that enables informed decisions to be taken
Explain how you promote trust in the profession
- Understand the impact of my actions
- Fulfil my professional obligations
- Act in a trustworthy manner at all times
How do you maintain a high ethical standard in the profession
- Keep my actions under review
- Maintain CPD
- Follow RICS advice on ethical behaviour
- Help my organisation develop ethical ways of working
- Addressing unethical behaviour by others
How can employers create an ethical environment
- Establish confidential procedures for whistleblowing, outside the normal chain of command
- Include ethical evaluations in appraisals
- Encourage staff to progress their APC
- Promote CPD in the relevant area
What is the difference between ethics and integrity
Integrity is about being honest and having strong morals. Ethics are moral principals that govern someone’s behaviour.
What tools produced by the RICS help members make ethical decisions
RICS Ethics Decision tree.
What are the RICS ethical standards
RICS ethical standards for surveyors include acting with honesty, competence, and integrity. They emphasize confidentiality, objectivity, and professional behaviour. Members must respect the law, promote sustainability, and uphold the reputation of the profession.
