RICS takes disciplinary action to protect the public interest and safeguard the reputation of the profession.

If an investigation has revealed a serious matter supported by evidence, we will consider taking disciplinary action against the Regulated Member. A Regulated Member is an RICS professional or regulated firm.

Our options range from cautions to expulsions or the deregistration of Regulated Members. We do this to protect the public and safeguard the reputation of the profession.

The RICS Charter and Byelaws allow the Regulatory Board to make rules about the use of our disciplinary powers. These rules are called the Disciplinary, Registration and Appeal Panel Rules. These set out our processes, the decisions we can take and regulatory actions available to us.

For less serious cases where the Regulated Member admits allegations, we can use a Regulatory Compliance Order to ensure future compliance with our standards. Where the Regulated Member does not admit the allegations, the case can be referred to a Single Member of the Conduct and Appeal Committee to decide on whether to impose a disciplinary outcome. The Conduct and Appeal Committee is independent from RICS and the regulatory department.

For the most serious cases it may be necessary for us to refer a case to a Disciplinary Panel, drawn from the independent Conduct and Appeal Committee.