RICS surveyor in hot water after operating without registration for years

A RICS regulated surveyor has admitted completing approximately 100 home surveys every year during a 13 year period without being a member of the organisation’s Valuer Registration Scheme, as is required by its Rules of Conduct.

Paul Shepherd, who has operated as a one-man band through his Sheffield-based firm Paul M Shepherd Chartered Surveyor since 2011 and of which he was the sole principal, has been found by a RICs Disciplinary Tribunal to have “failed to comply with his professional obligation to apply to register his firm for regulation when he was required to do so”.

Shepherd operated as a private practice based at a residential address but under the regulatory radar until January this year providing surveying services to the public, the Tribunal was told.

This is contrary to Rule 3 of the Rules of Conduct for Firms 2007 and Rule 1 of the Global Rules of Conduct with effect from 2 February 2022.

RICS’ Valuer Registration Scheme is a risk monitoring and quality assurance programme which checks compliance with the organisation’s ‘Red Book’ which is recognised around the world as one of the most rigorous sets of standards for property valuations, detailing mandatory practices for members undertaking valuation services.

Protection

The RICS guidance highlights how Valuer Registration “ensures that our members always meet the highest valuation standards. Becoming a Registered Valuer therefore offers protection and confidence both to you and your clients.”

It also enables members to use the familiar RICS Registered Valuer logo (pictured) used by thousands of estate agencies within their branch windows, paperwork and websites.

Shepherd admitted the breach of the regulations and has been given a Regulatory Compliance Order which means he must accept a reprimand and pay £350 towards the cost of RICS’ investigation.

Read more about RICS disciplinary hearings.