A body called the International Ethics Standards Coalition, including the RICS from Britain, says it will create new ethical guidelines for agents and other property professionals across the world within the next two years.
Former National Association of Estate Agents chief executive Peter Bolton-King says individual codes of conduct of national bodies - such as Britain's RICS, for example - "can lead to confusion....[and] can also impact the legitimacy of professionals in an increasingly global and interconnected marketplace."
He says that common, internationally-applied standards "will enhance transparency, consistency and trust in the services being offered by professionals wherever they operate."
Few details have emerged as to what this will really mean on the ground for agents, surveyors and other property professionals, but discussions by the coalition at its first meeting - in New York last week - included common standards of property measurement.
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Comments
As Richard says, nice idea in theory, almost impossible to implement in practice. There are more pressing matters to be addressed before guidelines such as these are introduced.
@Guest (Richard Copus)
You are so right.
(Peter Bolton-King Does anything he says mean anything after the shambles the NAEA was in when left, at very short notice.)
Sorry Richard, but this is a quick win. an International Standard for Property Measurement is helpful and wanted, it is an open door. Starting with something everyone wants means communications are opened across the world which can than lead on to other harmonisations once the benefits become clear. Politicians don't start with world peace and work backwards....
Pie in the sky! A great idea, but "internationally applied" It is difficult enough harmonising standards in Europe with its individual cultures. "Consistency and trust" in countries with little or no procedures to enforce compliance and hugely differing legal systems will be well nigh impossible. Common guidelines for business with North America maybe. There are far more important matters to be getting on with at the moment.