Architect Professional Negligence Claims

Architect negligence explained

If you’ve had your property dreams dashed by an architect’s negligence, you could make a professional negligence claim to recover the cost of rectifying their mistakes, any consequential losses or expenses on your part, and compensation for your trouble.

Architects are commissioned to provide a variety of services, from designing new builds or renovations to overseeing and supervising their construction. But in the world of property design or construction, negligence on the part of an architect can be very costly, and even dangerous. Mistakes in this field are often incredibly expensive and time-consuming to rectify and can leave clients out of pocket.

When you’re involved in some kind of construction project, you expect is to be able to put your faith in your architect. These professionals have trained for many years to ensure they deliver client’s projects successfully – and the vast majority of them perform their duties to a high standard.

Unfortunately, there are occasions where architects make mistakes as a result of negligence. Poor designs, failure to manage the project appropriately, health and safety breaches and mismanagement of project costs can all lead to catastrophic consequences for the client, who could be left out of pocket, or even without a home.

In these instances, there could be grounds for the client to sue their architect for professional negligence.

The role of an architect

Architects are heavily involved with most building projects, collaborating with the client in the early design stages and seeing the project through to its completion. The early stages of an architect’s work include developing a design with the client’s input, establishing a budget for the job and assessing the requirements of the proposed building.

Architects also work closely with engineers and contractors throughout the build, adhering to health and safety standards and helping to ensure that the project is delivered on time and on budget.

Naturally, there is a lot of pressure on architects to succeed in their role – entire building projects are at stake and the consequences for clients can be enormous if the architect gets it wrong.

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architect plans

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Our Financial, Property and Professional Claims team is headed by senior solicitor Claire Critchley who has over 10 years’ experience dealing with complex legal claims against a variety of professionals. Three people looking at architect plans

This includes claims against surveyors, architects, estate agents and solicitors, in addition to dealing with financial disputes involving mis-sold mortgages and interest rate swaps.

Claire also has significant experience in representing large companies and financial institutions in a range of different legal service areas including breach of contract, debt recovery and insolvency litigation.

For an informal, confidential chat about claiming with one of our expert professional negligence solicitors, call us now (calls free from landlines and mobiles). Or just complete the 'Request a Callback’ or ‘Start My Claim Online’ options and we'll call you straight back.

Throughout your claim, Your Legal Friend will help you every step of the way

Specialist team of professional negligence solicitors
A wealth of knowledge and expertise
Advice, support and guidance throughout your claim
Over 30 years’ experience in personal injury compensation

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This is not about a claims culture. We just want to defend the rights of the people who are suffering because of this.

Claire Critchley

Head of Professional Negligence

What our customers say

“I found the staff to be friendly, helpful, courteous and they kept me well informed on a regular basis”

Mrs. Vora,
Loughborough

“They acted in a sympathetic and professional manner and resolved my case very efficiently”

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Leeds

For a confidential chat, call one of our experts today 0151 550 5228

10 simple steps to claim

Step
1

Understanding what went wrong

Step
2

Reviewing relevant documents

Step
3

Obtaining an initial response to your grievance

Step
4

Sending the Letter of Claim

Step
5

The professional’s detailed response

Step
86

Issuing court proceedingsTaking a detailed statement

Step
7

Obtaining experts’ reports

Step
68

Taking a detailed statementIssuing court proceedings

Step
9

Attending your court trial

Step
10

Awarding your compensation claim

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Your questions... answered

What is Architect negligence? The consequences of architect negligence Making a claim against your architect What you need to prove How long does an ‘architect negligence’ claim take? Are there time limitations to bringing a claim?

What is Architect negligence?

When an architect fails to perform their responsibilities to the standard that the client can reasonably expect, we call this ‘architect negligence’.

In some cases where mistakes are made, you may be able to resolve this amicably between you, so you can keep your project moving while maintaining your working relationship. But where you experience a serious loss, or where your plans are effectively ruined due to sub-standard work on their part (and your architect refuses to acknowledge this or to put it right), then making a professional negligence claim against your architect may be your only option.

Some examples of architect negligence include:

Poor design or erroneous plans
Using unsuitable or wrongly specific materials
Failure to obtain the relevant planning permission for the project
Failure to recognise regulations relevant to the project
Insufficient supervision of contractors on site
Providing incorrect advice to the client
Breaching health and safety regulations
Failure to keep a project within its specific budget

This isn’t an exhaustive list, and there are many other examples of architect negligence that could also see the client eligible to make a claim. If you’re unsure if you have a case, request a free call back and we’ll discuss your circumstances to see whether this is an option for you.

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The consequences of architect negligence

For the client, the consequences of an architect’s negligence can be significant. A client may be left with huge costs (or debt) if an architect’s plans are erroneous, or if they provide incorrect advice. A client wishing to build a home could see that home demolished if the architect doesn’t obtain the relevant planning permission.

Making a claim against your architect

If you’ve suffered a financial loss as a result of negligence on the part of your architect, you may be able to make a compensation claim that will see your losses recovered. Our expert professional negligence solicitors will help you determine whether the errors made by your architect can be classed as negligent, as well as considering how best to pursue your claim and recover the compensation you deserve.

So that we can represent you effectively, we’ll need to know the following things:

Who was your architect?
What was your architect instructed to do?
Why do you think the architect was negligent?
What is the value of the loss you’ve suffered as a result?

Once you’ve supplied us with these details, we can start investigating the case and advising you on your next steps. Most architects have professional indemnity insurance which will ensure you recover the full amount from them when you win your case.

If we discover that the architect’s actions don’t qualify as negligence, we can still help you to report them to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board.

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What you need to prove

If you want to pursue a professional negligence case against your architect, you’ll need to prove the following:

The architect owed a duty of care to you and your project
The architect failed to provide the services expected of them under this duty
You suffered financial losses as a direct result of the architect’s failures

You might have received incorrect advice from an architect, or their plans may have been inadequate. They might have failed to oversee a project correctly or keep your project within the specific budget. Perhaps they mismanaged materials or were the cause of health and safety breaches on a construction site. Whatever the architect’s failings, our team can help you pursue a professional negligence claim that will see them brought to account while you’re appropriately compensated.

How long does an ‘architect negligence’ claim take?

Because the circumstances surrounding every claim and their effects are different, it’s very difficult to give a definitive answer on how long it takes to settle a claim. Often it depends on how quickly our clients provide us with essential information, how quickly we can get your file of papers from the architect in question, and any expert reports required, and whether the insurance companies are willing to provide realistic offers to settle the claims.

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Are there time limitations to bringing a claim?

Professional negligence claims must be brought within six years of the day on which the negligent act occurred. If you haven’t brought a claim by this deadline, you will be unable to do so. Sometimes, claimants aren’t actually aware of the negligence when it first occurs, and so the first rule would be unfair to these people. In this instance, the claimant would have three years from the date of discovering the negligence to bring their claim to court. There is also a ‘long stop’ date of fifteen years from the act of negligence. If this date passes, you will not be able to bring the claim, regardless of when you found out about the negligence.

When an architect fails to perform their responsibilities to the standard that the client can reasonably expect, we call this ‘architect negligence’.

In some cases where mistakes are made, you may be able to resolve this amicably between you, so you can keep your project moving while maintaining your working relationship. But where you experience a serious loss, or where your plans are effectively ruined due to sub-standard work on their part (and your architect refuses to acknowledge this or to put it right), then making a professional negligence claim against your architect may be your only option.

Some examples of architect negligence include:

Poor design or erroneous plans
Using unsuitable or wrongly specific materials
Failure to obtain the relevant planning permission for the project
Failure to recognise regulations relevant to the project
Insufficient supervision of contractors on site
Providing incorrect advice to the client
Breaching health and safety regulations
Failure to keep a project within its specific budget

This isn’t an exhaustive list, and there are many other examples of architect negligence that could also see the client eligible to make a claim. If you’re unsure if you have a case, request a free call back and we’ll discuss your circumstances to see whether this is an option for you.

Read less

For the client, the consequences of an architect’s negligence can be significant. A client may be left with huge costs (or debt) if an architect’s plans are erroneous, or if they provide incorrect advice. A client wishing to build a home could see that home demolished if the architect doesn’t obtain the relevant planning permission.

If you’ve suffered a financial loss as a result of negligence on the part of your architect, you may be able to make a compensation claim that will see your losses recovered. Our expert professional negligence solicitors will help you determine whether the errors made by your architect can be classed as negligent, as well as considering how best to pursue your claim and recover the compensation you deserve.

So that we can represent you effectively, we’ll need to know the following things:

Who was your architect?
What was your architect instructed to do?
Why do you think the architect was negligent?
What is the value of the loss you’ve suffered as a result?

Once you’ve supplied us with these details, we can start investigating the case and advising you on your next steps. Most architects have professional indemnity insurance which will ensure you recover the full amount from them when you win your case.

If we discover that the architect’s actions don’t qualify as negligence, we can still help you to report them to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board.

Read less

If you want to pursue a professional negligence case against your architect, you’ll need to prove the following:

The architect owed a duty of care to you and your project
The architect failed to provide the services expected of them under this duty
You suffered financial losses as a direct result of the architect’s failures

You might have received incorrect advice from an architect, or their plans may have been inadequate. They might have failed to oversee a project correctly or keep your project within the specific budget. Perhaps they mismanaged materials or were the cause of health and safety breaches on a construction site. Whatever the architect’s failings, our team can help you pursue a professional negligence claim that will see them brought to account while you’re appropriately compensated.

Because the circumstances surrounding every claim and their effects are different, it’s very difficult to give a definitive answer on how long it takes to settle a claim. Often it depends on how quickly our clients provide us with essential information, how quickly we can get your file of papers from the architect in question, and any expert reports required, and whether the insurance companies are willing to provide realistic offers to settle the claims.

Read less

Professional negligence claims must be brought within six years of the day on which the negligent act occurred. If you haven’t brought a claim by this deadline, you will be unable to do so. Sometimes, claimants aren’t actually aware of the negligence when it first occurs, and so the first rule would be unfair to these people. In this instance, the claimant would have three years from the date of discovering the negligence to bring their claim to court. There is also a ‘long stop’ date of fifteen years from the act of negligence. If this date passes, you will not be able to bring the claim, regardless of when you found out about the negligence.