In the past few weeks, several households in Falkirk and Stirling have contacted us, sharing their experiences as victims of the lack of regulation in the construction industry.
These homeowners began their projects by engaging with seemingly credible individuals who led them to believe they were working with an architect. However, these individuals lacked the necessary qualifications and registrations to use the title architect or architects.
Many people, even many within the construction industry, are unaware that misrepresenting yourself or a company as an architect is a criminal offense.
In the UK, the title "Architect" is protected by law under Section 20 of the Architects Act 1997. Only those with the appropriate education, training, and experience can join the Register and become architects. Registered architects must hold appropriate insurance and adhere to the standards set out in the Architects Code.
As Architects we are subject to Regulation from the Architects Registration Board and the Architects Code. This can be viewed on the Architects Registration Board website.
To verify if someone is a registered architect, you can check the ARB Architects Register or ask to see their certificate of registration. Most architects appreciate this due diligence, as we all have stories of clients who have suffered at the hands of unregulated and underqualified individuals posing as architects.
