Hot Topic Highlight - RICS Practice Alert December 2024

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What is this blog about?

In this week’s blog, we look at the RICS Practice Alert released in December 2024. You can read the full Practice Alert on the RICS website.

This relates to the use of RICS designations, logos and trademarks, providing accurate information to RICS and the supervision of candidates and trainees.

This is essential for all candidates, trainees and students (Attached Class of membership) pursuing RICS membership (AssocRICS and MRICS), as well as any Chartered Surveyors or AssocRICS surveyors supervising candidates, trainees and students.

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Who does the Attached Class cover?

All candidates, trainees and students, who are referred to by RICS as;

‘i) 'Trainee Surveyor' or 'Candidate for Membership' if enrolled for Chartered Surveyor assessment (APC);

ii) 'Trainee Associate' if enrolled for Associate assessment; or

iii) 'Student'’.

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What does the Practice Alert relate to?

• Use of the RICS designations, logos and trademarks
• Providing accurate information to RICS
• Rule 2 of the Rules of Conduct relating to supervision of candidates and trainees.
• Namely, all candidates and trainees undertaking RICS Home Surveys in the UK must be physically supervised during inspections by a qualified RICS member

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What does the Practice Alert say about the use of the RICS designations, logos and trademarks?

In short, only those who have attained AssocRICS (non-chartered), MRICS or FRICS (both chartered) status (and retain current membership of RICS) can use the relevant designation.

Only surveyors with these designations can use the RICS logo in line with the RICS requirements. For example on social media, stationary, emails, websites and business cards.

Those in the Attached Class (candidates, trainees and students) cannot, therefore, use any of the above RICS designations or the RICS trademarks or logos. To do so would be misrepresentation and a clear breach of the RICS Rules of Conduct.

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What does the Practice Alert say about providing information to RICS?

All information provided to RICS by someone in the Attached Class must be accurate and true. RICS should be verifying these details and any false information provided could result in disciplinary investigation or action and/or the application being rejected outright.

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What does the Practice Alert say about supervision of those in the Attached Class?

Under Rule 2 of the Rules of Conduct, candidates, trainees and students must be properly supervised by a qualified member when providing surveying services to the public.

In the UK, if you are inspecting a property for a RICS Home Survey as a candidate, trainee or student, then you MUST be directly supervised by a qualified RICS member with appropriate skills, knowledge and experience.

You may assist with the inspection and with drafting the client report, but you cannot sign off the report or undertake the inspection without supervision.

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What should I do if my employer asks me to inspect a property without supervision??

Speak up – RICS Regulation require you to report the matter by emailing?[email protected].

You could also raise the issue with a trusted individual or member of the HR team within your firm, as well as speaking to LionHeart (the RICS Charity) for further support.

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Stay tuned for our next blog post to help build a better you.

N.b. Nothing in this article constitutes legal, professional or financial advice.