Architectural Fees

Tippy1

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on typical fees for architectural services if any architects come across this post or any house owners who have experience... I'm having a single-story extension built, about 3 x 4m, very basic. I engaged an architect who so far has charged me £1200 (£1400 inc. planning fees) and this has not covered construction drawings yet. He has basically given me reams of drawings that I didn't want or need (inc. about 5 ways my kitchen units could be set out despite me saying several times I didn't want him to deal with the kitchen) and I still have no practical construction drawings that a builder could work to. I'm basically feeling pretty ripped off but wanted to see what sort of fees others have paid? I Probably don't have much recourse with him as there is no contract detailing what he would provide and, as it stands, I have walked away from him and will look for another architect rather than pay him to do any more work. I now have planning permission which is the one useful thing he did do, it's just construction drawings I'm missing.
Any experiences You're willing to share are much appreciated!

330d

I am in the middle of an house extension which is a single storey approx 8x5m. I paid £500 for the planning drawings and £800 for the building reg construction drawings. The construction drawings included structural calculations for 3 new steel beams. 

Newuser1987

330d said:

I am in the middle of an house extension which is a single storey approx 8x5m. I paid £500 for the planning drawings and £800 for the building reg construction drawings. The construction drawings included structural calculations for 3 new steel beams. 

Its sounds like you didnt use a registered architect as these fees are quite low but your location may have an effect.
@Tippy1 - there are a number of factors that go into quoting for a project. I am a registered architect working on domestic projects so I can provide some insight. I assume your planning drawings included a measured survey? You would be quite surprised how much time actually goes into draiwng the existing drawings. So depending on this and a few other things I dont think the fee sounds unreasonable. 

Normally its best to think of the fees you pay as a percentage of the build cost to see if it is unreasonable. Generally expect to pay 10% for all fees outside of the builders costs. Given your project is slightly small that percentage will likely be closer to 15%. Of that budget I would assign the below:
50% - Architect
25% - Engineer
20% - Building Control
£231 - Planning fee (approx 5%)

You should also allow for Party Wall costs if necessary.

Hope this helps.

330d

Newuser1987 said:

330d said:

I am in the middle of an house extension which is a single storey approx 8x5m. I paid £500 for the planning drawings and £800 for the building reg construction drawings. The construction drawings included structural calculations for 3 new steel beams. 

Its sounds like you didnt use a registered architect as these fees are quite low but your location may have an effect.
@Tippy1 - there are a number of factors that go into quoting for a project. I am a registered architect working on domestic projects so I can provide some insight. I assume your planning drawings included a measured survey? You would be quite surprised how much time actually goes into draiwng the existing drawings. So depending on this and a few other things I dont think the fee sounds unreasonable. 

Normally its best to think of the fees you pay as a percentage of the build cost to see if it is unreasonable. Generally expect to pay 10% for all fees outside of the builders costs. Given your project is slightly small that percentage will likely be closer to 15%. Of that budget I would assign the below:
50% - Architect
25% - Engineer
20% - Building Control
£231 - Planning fee (approx 5%)

You should also allow for Party Wall costs if necessary.

Hope this helps.

The architect was registered. 

It was staggering at the price difference that I was getting quoted. Some architects wanted £2500 just for the planning drawings!!

Slinky

We abandoned using our architect when we got to £1200 for the 'as-is' drawings and used an architectural technician to do everything from starting again up to getting building regs, for £1300. This is for a 4.5x 4.8 metre extension and some internal changes.  He is a friend but I don't think he'd have charged way more to somebody he didn't know.

Rdwill

I designed mine myself in Excel
and then got an architectural technician to draw it up
Each square is 10 cm by 10cm

-taff

We've engaged an architect for our extension[s] and expect to pay them in the region of 2k for the survey, the drawings, the planning permission application and then the structural drawings.