Rater/Provider Code of Ethics
Statement of Purpose
The accredited home energy rating providers (Providers)
and Accredited Rater Training Providers (Providers) of the Residential
Energy Services Network (RESNET) are committed to providing quality and
professional service to their customers and the public. This Code of
Ethics sets forth principles and rules of conduct enforced by RESNET
through specific procedures contained in its Accreditation Standards.
This Code of Ethics is a national minimum standard applicable to all
accredited RESNET Rater Training Providers, RESNET Rating Providers,
their Raters and their representatives. The RESNET Code of Ethics
represents minimum ethics requirements. As such, it may be augmented by
additional ethics code requirements as required by an individual Rating
Provider or Training Provider, or by any other authority under whose
jurisdiction rating or training services are being provided.
Principle 1: Professional Conduct
- Raters/Providers shall at all times remain in good
standing with the accreditation and certification requirements
applicable to their business and professional activities in accordance
with Chapter One of the Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating
Standards.
- Raters/Providers shall at all times comply with the
technical standards and procedural requirements applicable to their
business and professional activities in accordance with the Mortgage
Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards.
- Raters/Providers shall commit to objectivity and
neutrality in conducting a rating and in making any recommendations.
- Raters/Providers shall commit to participate in a
Quality Assurance program as required by RESNET.
- Raters/Providers shall not engage in any conduct that
is detrimental to the reputation or the best interests of RESNET.
- Raters and rating or training organizations shall
refrain from speaking of other Raters or rating or training
organizations in a manner that will diminish the profession or service
in the eyes of the public.
- Raters or a rating organization shall not disclose
information concerning the rating for a specific home to parties other
than the client or the client’s agent without the written permission of
the client or the client's agent except to report to the Rating Provider
for the purposes of registration, certification or quality assurance.
- Raters/Providers shall commit to ongoing professional
development and education as established by the Mortgage Industry
National Home Energy Rating Standards to advance their knowledge,
education, training, and experience, so that customers and the public
can be assured of receiving competent and reliable services from home
energy raters.
Principle 2: Representations of Services and Fees
- Raters/Providers shall make no representations
regarding their services or qualifications that are false or misleading
in any material respect.
- Raters/Providers shall fully disclose all applicable
charges, as well as the general scope and deliverables of services,
prior to conducting a home energy rating or providing other services.
Principle 3: Conflicts of Interest
- Raters/Providers shall comply with the financial
interest disclosure requirements contained in the Mortgage Industry
National Home Energy Rating Standards.
- Raters/Providers shall not accept compensation,
financial or otherwise, from more than one interested party for the same
service without the consent of all interested parties.
- Raters/Providers shall inform their clients that they
have the right to obtain competitive bids for any work recommended by
the rating they provide.
- Raters/Providers shall not allow an interest in any
business to affect the results of the rating.
Ethics Complaints
Alleged violations of the Code of Ethics by a rater should be
reported to the rater’s rating provider according to the provider’s
complaint process. If the complaint is not satisfied with the result of
that process, complaints may be filed against the accredited provider
for failing to enforce the ethics code with their certified raters
with RESNET’s Executive Director.
Raters/Providers or other parties may report violations of this Code
or other concerns regarding the professional conduct of a rating
organization or training organization with respect to the Mortgage
Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards, to the RESNET Executive
Director for review and possible remedial action. |
