Kitchen Extension Need Step by Step Instructions!

aggypanthus

That link was no good!

mae

I also couldn't access the link you posted Pauper60.

mae

Ok I have met up with the qualified architectural technician (he is also a qualified building and asbestos surveyor and has been in the indudtry 30+ years as he was a qualified and time served joiner originally).

He states that the his fees are £395 + VAT
Building Regulations will be approx £595 + VAT
We won't need planning permission as we are going 4 meters max.
Health & Safety Pack (his fee if we ask him to complete this) £95 + VAT
There would also be a fee (to be confirmed a little later in the process) for a structural engineer.
He was very professional, had all his process written down in a clear format and showed me examples of his work.

I have asked him to go ahead and start the process. So he is coming out next week to measure up and take photos etc.

teneighty

£395 plus VAT is very cheap for detailed drawings up to Building Regulations standard. (I assume the £595 is the Council application fee)

Hopefully you have got yourself a bargain.

The one slight nagging doubt in the back of my mind is that he has got a lot of "qualifieds" and all quite diverse but no actual details.

I assume he is qualified and member of the relevant professional institutions so he will have letters after his name. Chartered Architectural Technologist - MCIAT; Chartered Building Surveyor - MRICS. I'm not sure about the asbestos surveyor, I think that is just a diploma that takes a couple of weeks. A qualified and time served joiner would probably be earning more than any of the professionals but some do migrate toward professional work and are very good at it.

I would want to know that he is regulated by one of the professional institutions and has professional indemnity insurance but for that fee I very much doubt it. There are plenty of smaller design practices that are not regulated and do not have insurance but do a very good job, you just run the risk if they make a mistake you have no come back other than the usual court remedies and good will.

System

£395 including a measured survey of the property no less!
Amazed that anyone could survive with that kind of fee structure, never mind pay their insurance premiums!
Given his background and qualifications I do wonder why he is not charging a higher rate.
Did he give you a detailled written quotation which also explains what the charge is for work outside of the current scope?