Definition: An individual who has the necessary qualifications and skills required to design and oversee your building project.
Brief: When you employ a registered architect, you can be confident that you are employing someone who is appropriately educated, registered and regulated to provide the skills you need for your specific building project.
Service Standards
The ARB is an organisation set up by Parliament in 1997 to regulate the architects’ profession in the UK. ARB therefore prescribe the qualification and threshold standards that must be gained and met to become a registered architect. When ARB was established by Parliament, it was on the basis that it would have a strong consumer protection role. ARB takes it duty to consumers very seriously, and this is reflected in the Service Standards of the Code.
Title of Architect is protected by law in the UK, and only those who have the recognised qualifications granted by the Architects Registration Board in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects are allowed to call themselves architects. In the UK it takes a minimum of seven years to train to be an architect. Those wishing to become architects must first study at a recognized university-level school of architecture. Though there are some variations from university to university, the basic principle is that in order to qualify as an architect one must pass through three stages.
Qualification & Skills Required
On completing a three year B.A, B.Arch or B.Sc degree in architecture the candidate receives exemption from RIBA Part I.
There then follows a period of a minimum of one year which the candidate spends in an architect's office gaining work experience.
The candidate must then complete a post-graduate university course, usually two years, to receive either a Post Graduate Diploma (Dip. Arch) or Masters (M.Arch).
On completing that course, the candidate receives exemption Part II of the RIBA process.
The candidate must then spend a further period of at least one year gaining experience before being allowed to take the RIBA Part III examination in Professional Practice and Management.
Architects Code
Architects are bound by a code of conduct, referred to as the Architects Standards of Conduct and Practice.
This Code lays down the standards that architects must follow in their professional life. The standards are divided into two sections which include Conduct & Competence, and Client Service & Complaints.
This Link gives guidance on the level of service you should receive from an architect.
Contractual Terms
Architects should always record the terms of a contract in writing, and include information which details the work involved, the fee (or how it will be calculated) and who is responsible for what. They should also tell you that they are subject to the ARB’s disciplinary process, in the event that you complain about their conduct or competence.
At the end of a contract, an architect should return any papers, plans and other property to which you as a client are entitled.
Architects should ensure that their practice has appropriate monitoring and review systems, and enough suitably qualified staff to deliver an efficient and effective service.
As far as possible, architects should carry out their professional work promptly, in line with agreed timescales and costs.
Your architect should keep you informed of progress, and of any issues that might affect the quality or cost of a project.
Your architect should observe the confidentiality of your affairs, and should not release information without your consent. An exception example would be, a court order for disclosure.
Complaints
The vast majority of architect/client transactions are conducted and concluded entirely to the client’s satisfaction. On rare occasions, however, a client may not be happy about the progress or some other aspect of a project. While the ARB will always consider a referred complaint, you should, as a first step, raise your concerns direct with your architect or your architect’s firm. Under the Architects’ Code, architects are expected to have their own procedures for dealing with complaints or disputes relating to their work.
The Code also suggests that, as far as possible, complaints should be dealt with in accordance with the following timescales:
10 working days to send an acknowledgement, 30 working days to respond fully to your complaint.
If the complaint cannot be resolved to your satisfaction, your architect should tell you that you can refer the matter to the ARB.
However, please note that only complaints that are about alleged breaches of the Architects' Code will be investigated.
Your architect should handle any complaint politely and sympathetically at every stage.
ARB has produced a leaflet, Making a Complaint, which sets out the complaints process in greater detail.
Copies are available on request, or can be downloaded from the ARB website..
UK ARCHITECTS