The RICS regulator has tightened its rules after a real estate agent was sacked for fraud.
Emma Walker (pictured, inset) and her company EW Estates, based in Ashington, near Newcastle, were disciplined on 11 counts of proven fraud and incompetence. 
Mr Walker and the company that carried out the investigation were suspended for 15 months before the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) disciplinary committee decided that expulsion and deregistration were the appropriate punishment. received.
lied about qualifications
Among the charges proven was that Walker lied about his qualifications and exaggerated his experience when applying for membership.
Mr. Walker was also found to have failed to ensure that investigations were conducted by competent and qualified individuals and issued numerous checks that were dishonored. An appeal was subsequently filed, but the appeal was dismissed in July last year.
This case highlighted that RICS is not immune from wrongdoers. ”
Nigel Clarke, chair of the charity's Standards and Regulation Board (SRB), said:
“This highlighted a number of checks and balances that were in place, but did not identify the false claims made by this former member,” he said.
“Following this decision, the SRB has committed to undertaking a detailed review of this incident and its related regulatory functions.”
strengthened
He said the review focused on whether RICS regulatory activity was effective and fit for purpose, and what further improvements were needed to strengthen confidence in the profession. That's what it means.
New measures to “strengthen the rigor of the RICS assurance process” include an education and communication campaign to explain the role of the SRB. The quality of data held about individual members will also be enhanced.
Find out more about the RICS changes here.
