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Overview

Architects play a crucial role in the success of any building project. From design to compliance, their work shapes the safety, cost, and overall outcome. When mistakes are made, the consequences can be serious, leading to structural defects, delays, financial losses, or reputational damage.

If you believe your architect has been negligent, you may be entitled to claim compensation. We specialise in professional negligence claims against architects and have a proven track record of securing positive results for clients across the commercial and residential property sectors.

Our Tier 1 ranked professional negligence team (Legal 500) represents developers, investors, businesses, and homeowners nationwide.

What counts as architect negligence?

We understand the complexities of bringing a claim against a negligent architect who may be instructed by both companies and individuals to carry out a variety of different tasks, from designing plans for a building and supervising the building work, to obtaining planning permission for a project.

Architects owe their clients a duty to deliver services with reasonable skill and care. Negligence may occur where an architect:

  • produces inadequate building plans or project preparation documents
  • Fails to comply with planning permission or building regulations.
  • Fails to keep a project within a specified budget
  • Oversees poor-quality construction without intervention.
  • Fails to highlight key risks, such as structural safety issues.
  • Gives misleading advice on contracts or project management.

If these errors result in financial loss or project disruption, you may be able to bring a claim for negligent architect services.

Bringing a claim against an architect can be complex, costly, and time consuming. Our professional negligence lawyers are experienced in successfully pursuing claims against architects. If you feel that your architect has been negligent, contact us today so we can advise you on whether you have a claim and we can help you to recover any losses you may have suffered.

Key contact

Abigail Flanagan

Partner

Abigail Flanagan joined the dispute resolution team in 2005 and became a Partner in May 2022. Abbie specialises in procurement, professional negligence claims (mainly against solicitors, accountancy practitioners and other finance professionals), general commercial litigation matters (including warranty, contractual and director/shareholder disputes) and insolvency matters.

The types of architect negligence claims that you may want advice upon

  • Design errors: Claims arising from flawed or incomplete architectural designs, including errors that result in structural instability, the need for remedial works, and significant additional construction costs.
  • Planning and compliance failures: Claims involving failures to obtain required planning permissions or to design in accordance with building regulations, where those failures lead to project delays, wasted expenditure, enforcement action, or the need for redesign.
  • Project oversight and inspection failures: Claims where architects have failed to properly monitor construction works, identify defective workmanship, or take appropriate action to address issues during the build process, resulting in financial loss to property owners or developers.

Why choose us?

Choosing the right legal team makes all the difference. Clients instruct us because:

  • We are a Tier 1 ranked firm for professional negligence (Legal 500).
  • Our lawyers are specialists in professional negligence claims, not generalists.
  • We have experience acting against sole practitioners and large architectural firms.
  • We combine technical expertise with a pragmatic, client-first approach.
  • We offer flexible funding options, including conditional fee (“no win, no fee”) agreements in appropriate cases.

Your questions answered

Incorrect advice on costs, contracts, or planning can form the basis of a professional negligence claim.

Useful evidence includes contracts, designs, emails, planning documents, and expert reports.

There are time limits that apply to bringing a claim in professional negligence. Generally, if you wish to pursue a professional negligence claim it must be brought within six years from the date of the breach of contract (in a claim for breach of contract), or within six years from the date when the damage is suffered (in a negligence claim). However, these time limits can vary depending on various factors such as but not limited to, when a claimant ought to have become aware of the negligence.

The rules relating to limitation can be complex and full of pitfalls. Bringing your claim within the relevant “limitation” period is the essential first step to bringing a successful claim. It is therefore important to seek legal advice as early as possible to ensure that you are able to bring a claim.

Compensation varies but may cover remedial works, wasted expenditure, delay costs, and other financial losses.

Yes. If defective designs or specifications caused you financial loss, you may be entitled to compensation.

Related services

Alternative dispute resolution Commercial Dispute Resolution Dispute Resolution Professional Negligence

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