The RICS regulatory body has strengthened its rules after an estate agent was struck off for fraud offences.

Emma Walker (pictured, inset) and her company EW Estates, based in Ashington, near Newcastle, were disciplined after 11 offences of fraud and incompetency were proven.

Walker and the firm, which carried out surveys, were suspended for 15 months by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) disciplinary panel, before it decided expulsion and removal of registration was the correct punishment.

Lied about qualifications

Among the charges that were proven was that Walker had lied about her qualifications and exaggerated her experience when she applied for membership.

Walker was also found to have not ensured surveys were carried out by competent and qualified individuals, and to have issued a number of cheques that bounced. She later appealed, but the appeal was dismissed in July last year.

This case highlighted that RICS is not immune from those who act fraudulently.”

Now, Nigel Clarke, Chair of the organisation’s Standards and Regulation Board (SRB), says: “This case highlighted that RICS is not immune from those who act fraudulently.

“It brought into focus the numerous checks and balances which were in place, but did not identify the false assertions made by this former member on this occasion,” he says.

“Following this decision, the SRB committed to a detailed review of the case and the relevant regulatory functions.”

Bolstered

The review focused on the RICS’ regulatory activities, whether they are effective and fit for purpose, and any further improvements that may be needed to strengthen trust in the profession, he says.

New measures “to enhance the rigour of RICS’ assurance processes” include an education and communication campaign to explain the role of the SRB. The quality of the data it holds on individual members is also to be bolstered.

Read more about the RICS changes here.