What is the purpose of the RICS?
- Regulate and promote the surveying profession
- Maintain the highest educational and professional standards
- Protect clients and consumers via a strict code of ethics
- Provide impartial advice and guidance
What is the purpose of the Royal Charter?
- Changes a body from a collection of individuals into a single legal entity
- Written description of the RICS’ powers (e.g. self-regulation) and obligations (e.g. advancement of knowledge, appointment of a Governing Council etc.)
- Requires the RICS to develop the profession for the public advantage
- Allows members to use the term ‘chartered’ in their job title
What are bye-laws?
A list of laws applied internally using powers granted by the Royal Charter (aka the RICS’ constitution)
Explain the relationship between the Privy Council and the RICS.
- Privy Council - a body set up in the early days of the monarchy to advise the king/queen on matters of state and not put before parliament
- Any changes to the bye-laws have to be approved by the UK Government, through the Privy Council, even if the changes have already been approved by a majority vote of RICS members
What is the RICS Governing Council?
- Manages the Royal Charter Obligations, setting direction and strategy
- Establishes the Regulatory Board, Management Board and other committees (e.g. Audit Committee)
How is the RICS Governing Council elected?
- Elections are held every two years and are open to all FRICS, MRICS and AssocRICS members
- Comprises of members from world regions, specific countries, regions of England, the professional groups, Matrics and members as a whole
- All Members can vote in the whole membership category
- For geographical seats, only Members based in that geographical area may vote
How many RICS regional boards are there in the UK?
Nine regional boards:
- East Midlands
- East of England
- London
- North East
- North West
- South East
- South West
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire and the Humber
How does the RICS communicate with its members?
- Post
- Fax
- Telephone
- In person
What are the functions of professional groups?
- Drafting, reviewing and maintaining professional guidance internationally
- Setting up the standard of professional competence required for successful qualification into RICS membership and the different designations (e.g. chartered building surveyor, chartered facilities management surveyor etc.)
- Contribute to policy formation
- Commission and undertake specialist research
- Contribute to CPD events
What professional groups are there within the RICS?
Three sectors contain different RICS professional groups:
- Land (e.g. environment, minerals and waste, planning and development etc.)
- Property (e.g. valuation, facilities management, residential property etc.)
- Construction (e.g. building surveying, building control, project management, quantity surveying etc.)
How many professional groups can a member of the RICS belong to?
- A member is automatically attached to the professional group through which they qualified (e.g. building surveying) as part of the annual subscription, i.e. their primary professional group
- To use an alternative designation of a specific professional group, the member must have achieved the relevant RICS qualification through that group
What is RICS Matrics?
- Established to support, develop and provide networking for its members, who are either entering or not long qualified in the surveying profession
- Organises networking opportunities, charity events and CPD, as well as providing a voice for individuals new to the profession
What is Lion Heart?
- Charity funded through past and present RICS members
- Provides support to members (past and present) and their families, including financial support, health and wellbeing packages and work-related support
What is the BCIS and what is its relationship to the RICS?
- Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) is published by the RICS
- It provides independent cost and price information for key areas in the construction industry
Who is the current RICS President?
Timothy Neal FRICS - RICS President
RICS Senior Vice President 2020-21
Anna Gray FRICS - Senior Vice President
Who is the current RICS Chief Executive Officer?
Dr Sean Tompkins
What different types of professional guidance is published by the RICS?
- Practice Statements
- Codes of Practice
- Guidance Notes
- Information Papers
What are the differences between Practice Statements, Codes of Practice, Guidance Notes and Information Papers?
- Practice Statements - provides members with mandatory requirements in order to comply with the RICS bye-laws and regulations in the interest of maintaining the highest professional standards
- Codes of Practice - documents approved by the RICS and endorsed by another professional body/stakeholder that provides recommended best practice to practitioners
- Guidance Notes - provides users with recommendations for accepted good practice as followed by competent and conscientious practitioners
- Information Papers - practice based information that provides users with the latest information and/or research
Do you have to comply with Practice Statements, Codes of Practice, Guidance Notes and Information Papers?
- Practice Statements - mandatory
- Codes of Practice - mandatory or recommended good practice (will be confirmed in the document itself)
- Guidance Notes - recommended good practice
- Information Papers - information and/or explanatory commentary
Give some examples of Practice Statements, Codes of Practice, Guidance Notes and Information Papers related to your pathway.
- Practice Statements - Property Measurement
- Codes of Practice - Code of Measuring Practice
- Guidance Notes - Dilapidations
- Information Papers - Flat Roof Coverings
As a surveyor, why should you follow the guidance produced by the RICS?
If an allegation of professional negligence is made against a surveyor, the court is likely to take into account compliance with relevant professional standards published by the RICS in deciding whether or not the surveyor acted with reasonable competence
Who regulates members of the RICS and ensures they comply with the rules?
- The RICS is a self-regulatory body, meaning members are not regulated by government but are internally monitored and inspected
- The Regulatory Board helps regulate the profession, deciding on policy and overseeing the implementation of regulatory matters
- The Conduct and Appeals Committee also help in regulating the profession
What are the RICS’ principles for better regulation?
As determined by the Better Regulation Commission, a division of the UK Cabinet Office:
- Proportionality
- Accountability
- Consistency
- Targeting
- Transparency
