Guide to Using an Architect

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We understand that undertaking any building work can be a complex and stressful experience. It's also very personal as it involves your home and expensive, being one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. This brief guide aims to demystify the process and answer the common questions:

• What is an architect?
• Do I need an architect?
• How do I find an architect? 
• How much do architects charge?

The term 'architect' is protected by law (The Architects Act 1997), which means that it's illegal to call yourself an architect in the UK if you are not fully qualified and registered with the Architects Registration Board. As such, unqualified people working in the industry often call themselves "architectural designers" instead. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) advise people to:

"Watch out for companies styling themselves as ‘architectural’ designers or similar wording as this is likely to indicate that they are not qualified architects [and] may be operating unregulated, providing you with no guarantees of their ability to deliver the service you require." 

Unless your project is very small and straightforward, there will likely be considerable benefits to having an architect involved. Many people associate architects with the planning stage of a project, but that is only a small part of the architect's role. Indeed, the architect is often the only person besides yourself involved for the full duration of the project.

Architects use something called the RIBA Plan of Work, which can be summarised as follows:

• Stages 1-3 cover the initial design work up until Planning.
• Stage 4 is 'Technical Design', which includes submitting detail drawings and specifications for Building Regulations, as well as a Tender Pack to facilitate the builder selection process.
• Stages 5-6 cover the construction process and handover. The architect can perform the key role of Contract Administrator, monitoring progress and invoicing and handling requests for more information, time or money to help make sure your project stays on time and on budget. This includes facilitating the remediation of latent defects up to a year after completion.

The best way to ensure you are employing a fully competent and regulated architect is to look for an RIBA Chartered Practice. These are the only architectural practices endorsed by the Royal Institute of British Architects. To quote from the RIBA, all Chartered Practices:

• employ a required number of individual RIBA Chartered Architects
• have appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance
• have an effective Quality Management system
• have comprehensive Health and Safety and Environmental policies in place
• are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with a Code of Practice in a manner appropriate to their status. 

Always check that your architect is on the Architect's Register.

Architects don't generally publish a price list of fees as no two jobs are the same. There will be many factors impacting the size, complexity and length of your project. Your architect will likely want to discuss the project with you and see the site to understand all these factors before quoting a fee. They will normally work this out by estimating how many hours are needed on each stage of the RIBA Plan of Work, giving you an accurate proposal from the start and avoiding further costs down the line.

In conclusion, if you are planning building work then it pays to use an architect. It may be tempting to use a cheaper, unqualified alternative at the start, but that may well prove a false economy as the project progresses. There is no substitute for the expertise an architect can bring or the peace of mind you will receive from knowing your architect is properly regulated and insured. And having an architect involved for the duration of your project - from concept to completion - will help make sure you ultimately get the home you wanted, on time and on budget.

Robert Poll, Director

Kingston Architects is an RIBA Chartered Practice - call 07773 461236 to see how we can help you.