Architect or Builder issue? with planning enforcement issue? Any help welcome.

Panic74

The 'architect' is actually an architectural technician and is self employed and has her own insurance.

Gavin83

I'm curious about something here. I've got a few questions:

1) I suspect that I, as a complete amateur could complete architectural drawings for a friend if they wanted me to and I was happy to. If there was an issue with those drawings could I be held liable, or would the fact it was unpaid, as a favour and done by an amateur void any liability?

2) If the answer to the above is there's no liability could a professional ever complete work as a favour, outside of their business and deny liability or does their professional status mean they're always acting in a professional capacity? Does this change if the individual doesn't work for themselves and therefore there's a clear distinction between their 'professional work' and other work they do for free outside of this?

I'm wondering if it's possible for the architect to say they weren't acting in a professional capacity, just helping out a friend and use this to avoid any liability.

casper_gutman

Although people use the word pretty freely in conversation, the title "architect" actually is legally protected, and can only be used by people who are professionally qualified and registered as architects.

Other related titles like "architectural designer", "architectural consultant" don't have the same status.

See here: https://arb.org.uk/public-information/before-hiring-an-architect/who-can-use-the-title-architect/

casper_gutman

Gavin83 said:

I'm wondering if it's possible for the architect to say they weren't acting in a professional capacity, just helping out a friend and use this to avoid any liability.

I doubt the architect could use this as a get-out. Medically qualified persons are expected to act appropriately if they happen across an injured person in the street, even if they're off duty. I've also been told that e.g. a civil engineer could be held to have a professional duty to intervene if they were walking down the street and saw someone carrying out construction work in a seriously unsafe fashion.