RICS Rules of Conduct

Guidance Note for APC Candidates,

Supervisors, Counsellors and
Assessors
(Version 2 - June 2007; Updated June 2010)

APC Candidates what you need to know

RICS updated and launched its Rules of Conduct on the 4 June 2007 and has recently
issued updates to the Rules of Conduct on 1 January 2010
The short principles-based Rules of Conduct for members and firms set out high-level
requirements and are supported by helpsheets and policy statements.
This guidance note informs candidates, supervisors, counsellors and assessors on how
to study the new Rules of Conduct. The rules need to be studied and applied to
everyday experiences to assist in a candidates success at the APC Final Assessment.
All previous versions of the Rules of Conduct and earlier versions of this guidance note
are now void and must not be used.
Visit the RICS Regulation web site: www.rics.org/regulation

1. The new Rules of Conduct

Background
RICS sets rules and then monitors them in order to protect consumers and to assist
members in meeting the requirements expected of professional chartered surveyors.
The rules cover ethical, professional and conduct of business standards. RICS now has
the power to regulate firms. Firms which can be regulated by RICS are those which have
50% or more Chartered Surveyor principals (e.g. partners, directors etc.) and/or
any firm which chooses to opt into regulation
.
The Rules of Conduct have been split into two parts:
Rules for firms covering conduct of business
Rules for members covering individual professional conduct
The principles-based approach provides members and firms with a framework within
which to decide how they can best meet the requirements of the rules. This approach is
designed to ensure that members and firms are guided to give equal importance to the
tone or emphasis of the rules; to act in a professional capacity; and to deliver a robust,
ethical and proper service to employers, colleagues, clients and other acquaintances in
both public and private life.
Rules for members
The Rules of Conduct for members set professional parameters for individual members
and govern matters such as ethics, personal solvency and lifelong learning. They apply
to all members worldwide, including student, technical trainee and trainee members. You
must abide by these at all times, whatever your area of activity and wherever you
operate in the world.

Rules for firms

The Rules of Conduct for firms set out the requirements for the conduct of business for
professional practices. They govern matters such as professional indemnity insurance,
holding clients money and complaint handling. The Rules of Conduct for firms apply
only to firms regulated by RICS. Currently these are firms offering a surveying service to
the public in the UK. Such firms with 50% or more Chartered Surveyor principals must
register for regulation. Other firms with at least one Chartered Surveyor principal may
opt in to RICS regulation.
Download the latest version of the rules of conduct for firms and members by visiting the
RICS Regulation web site:
Rules for firms
www.rics.org/rulesofconduct > in the centre page text click Rules of Conduct for Firms
Rules for members
www.rics.org/rulesofconduct > in the centre page text click Rules of Conduct for
Members
It is strongly suggested you familiarise yourself and understand these two
documents.

2. Other Regulatory documents

On the RICS Regulation web site www.rics.org/regulation you will also find the following
documents. Those marked with an asterisk are strongly recommended as reading for
APC candidates:
Browse to: www.rics.org/rulesofconduct > click Policies on the right hand menu
Policy documents*:

Use of firms designation Regulated by RICS*

Professional Indemnity Insurance*

Supporting information:

RICS listed Insurers UK Firms

RICS Professional Indemnity Insurance Outlets

Browse to: www.rics.org/rulesofconduct > click Help sheets on the right hand menu

Help sheets:

Complaints handling procedure*

How complaints to RICS Firms are dealt with*

o

Supporting information:

Further information about Complaints Handling Procedures*

Example of a complaints log*

Clients' Money: General advice*

Clients' Money: Advice to auctioneers*

Advice for Sole Practitioners (Extended leave of absence i.e. Locums) *

Training for Firms*

o

Supporting information:

More information about Training for Firms*

CPD (Lifelong learning for Members) *

Maintaining Professional and Ethical Standards 12 Standards*

Browse to: www.rics.org/rulesofconduct > click Other Rules on the right hand menu
Other Rules:

Constitution of Conduct and Appeal Committee Rules

Monitoring and Investigation Rules

Rules for the Registration of Firms*

Disciplinary Registration and Appeal Panel Rules

Rules setting out the procedure for re-admission to membership following

disciplinary expulsion

Information for Members and Firms under investigation

Sanctions Policy

Sanctions Policy supplements

Designated Professional Body Rules, Guidance and other information

(APC candidates should read this to familiarise themselves but they will not be
tested on this at Final Assessment)

Royal Charter and Bye-Laws*

(APC candidates should read these to familiarise themselves and understand
where the Rules of Conduct originate from, but they will not be tested at Final
Assessment)

Other useful information

Setting up in practice*

outcomes from disciplinary hearings

Log in as a member and Browse to: www.rics.org/financialcrime

Useful information

Familiarise yourself and understand issues surrounding Money laundering*

3. RICS APC/ATC Requirements and Competencies guide

The currently published APC/ATC guide mentions the Rules of Conduct and lists the 12
Professional and Ethical Standards in the mandatory competency section.

4. Gaining experience for the new Rules of Conduct

Candidates, supervisors and counsellors should be aware that the RICS APC
Assessment process has not changed and still requires candidates to demonstrate
competence in RICS Conduct Rules, Ethics and Professional Practice to Level 3.
Candidates will be questioned across the whole range of Rules of Conduct and specific
application relevant to their declared competencies and experiences may be required.
For example, when looking at the information on professional ethics, you should be
thinking about how they apply to your working life and how they would enable you to
make the necessary judgements to fulfil your professional obligations. For rules on
matters such as professional indemnity insurance and complaints handling procedure
you should be thinking about why these rules are important and how they contribute
to successful professional practice.
Therefore candidates should, from the outset, be considering relevant experience and
involvement in everyday working to demonstrate their development in this competency.

 For the avoidance of doubt APC candidates should be demonstrating Level 3 in the
competency Conduct rules, ethics and professional practice for both members and
firms.
Experience for this competency should be recorded in the normal way as stated in the
RICS APC Candidate Guide 2006 and Template 4 (Professional Development) and 6
(Experience Record) in the Final Assessment Templates

5. How will the Rules of Conduct be assessed?

The Rules of Conduct are a vital part of the APC competency conduct rules, ethics and
professional practice. For APC candidates the competency is assessed by questioning
during the final assessment interview, generally by the Chairman of the assessment
panel.
Associate candidates will complete the RICS online ethics module & test, and will also
supply written evidence for assessment.
Final assessment panels are looking for evidence of competency achievement.
Make their APC assessment easy and give plenty of examples of competency
experience and learning in the Final Assessment Templates. You are likely to be asked
questions on how ethical principles or conduct of business requirements inform the way
you approach your professional life, rather than simply be asked to recite the rule, or
extracts from the help sheets.

6. Further Sources of Guidance and Assistance

RICS Regulation
t +44 (0) 20 7695 1670
e regulation@rics.org
If you need help and advice in confidence please call the RICS members' confidential
helpline on:
t +44 (0) 20 7334 3867
www.rics.org/regulation