Advice needed - not strictly accountancy

System
System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 9 in AAT member discussion
There always seems to be someone out there with good business and legal advice so someone might be able to help. It's a long story but the highlights are:

After researching the cost of an extension in August 2004 with builders and neighbours who had just completed an extension we appointed an architect who agreed, in writing, with the estimated cost of £30,000 and verbally promised we would 'be in by the summer'(2005).

After a lot of chasing in July of last year he told us he was going for planning permission (which was granted) and that we would 'should be ready to start as soon as it was granted' and he still believed his estimate to be correct and 'you will definately by in by christmas' (2005). I then arranged a mortgage and being on the cautious side borrowed £50,000 (to cover VAT, architect fees etc).

Yesterday (16 months after start!) I finally got the quotes and the cheapest is £52,875 and then we have the architects fees of £7,402 on top - £20,000 more than we were advised and £10,000 more than we can afford. His assistant admitted that quotes were coming in at £10,000 more than expected 'over the last few months'.

The question is (after all that) do we have a case of some sort against him. I appreciate that prices rise but I believe the major rise is due to the length of time he has taken. We also have £50,000 worth of debt (which we have been paying for since September) that we have nothing to show for it and wouldn't have if we hadn't accepted his advice.


Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice needed - not strictly accountancy

    I have to say that your architect worries me, we have just had an extension done last summer which cost £52,000 (building fees) and the architect fees were £1,000. We had to pay planning permission and building control fees on top (about another 1,000 in all) but that was the total cost. We started with the architect in March and the whole building was signed off by building control in December. In that time we got the whole mortgage changed as well.

    Is there any regulatory body that architects belong to (I would be surprised if there isn't) that you can contact. First try writing to him and asking for a breakdown of costs incurred and for an explanation as to why the architects fees have gone so wildly out of control.

    Annette
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice needed - not strictly accountancy

    Hi Gill.

    It really will depend on what was in the contract.

    You say that he said his 'estimated' costs would be £30,000 - was there anything in writing stating any maximium limits? - there is always the chance unknown costs will crop up.

    Were there any time deadlines in the contract, or penalty clauses?

    It might be worth seeing a solicitor, especially if you get the first half an hour free.

    Scott.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice needed - not strictly accountancy

    Thanks for your replies.

    The Architects fees would be so high because he was supposed to project manage the whole build as well. Up to planning (we have supposedly got building regs but not convinced he's done that) we have paid him just short of £2,000.

    We hadn't got to the point of deadlines and penalty clauses as these apply to the builder. However the architect was supposed to draw up plans for an extension which was within our price range - which it was when we started!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice needed - not strictly accountancy

    If he's got building regs you would have had a letter about it with cards for the builder to contact buildings control at various times to come and inspect drains etc. It's possible he might have kept them but maybe the idea would be to ask him to stop now and not project manage for you, most builders do that anyway. Pay him for what he's done already and get rid of him, he's hardly given you a fantastic service!!

    Annette
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Advice needed - not strictly accountancy

    If it was me I would just pay for services up to date and get someone else in. I don't think that you can claim against him for your £50k debt - I would also speak to a solicitor on the matter. Their first half an hour is usually free (as said in previous post). You need to speak to someone who fully understands the contract laws.

    Helen

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