Chartered Architect Fees Excessive?

[kimchi]

Can anyone please advise whether our architect costs are excessive or not?
Although we asked on several occassions, we were never given any price before works were started to produce drawings for a two room single storey extension approximately 34 square metre, plus there was a change of use from agricultural land to form a new driveway.
The architect in question is a member of RIAS
We then received an invoice for 2K, apparently the cost of a lump sum fee for stages C-D to cover the following:
Linear Survey and preparation survey record drawings.
Preparing and submitting planning application documents.
Developing sketch proposals.
Liasing with solicitor and preparing tittle deeds

Now we are advised it will be the same again for producing drawings for building warrant. Plus an additional cost for a structural engineer.

We have not yet paid this invoice.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Whist his fees do not sound all that expensive (for a registered Architect), he should have quoted you before he started but likewise you should have insisted on this before you let him start. Write to him and tell him you'll pay half otherwise you'll complain to the RIAS and Trading Standards. Make sure he gives you a copy of everything he's already done for you including digital (CAD) copies if he uses CAD and walk away as your relationship with him will have been eroded. Employ a one man band technician out of the Yellow Pages or similar, thats all that's required for this kind of project.

 

[str]

doesn't sound expensive at all however you should have had a full fee quote, breaking down the various parts of the job and what level of fee is on each part

 

[kimchi]

Thanks for replies, as planning permission has been granted, if we "walk away" now do we have to start again with a technician or can we get a technician for the building warrant stage and use the drawings or are they copyrighted?

All we have asked from the architect is drawings to give to our builder not to project manage it.

Not having done this before we didn't know we could use a technician until we found this website.

Thanks again.

 

[str]

if you can get the electronic CAD drawings of your planned extension, then you shouldn't have any issue in someone else taking to further for you. You will need to supply these to the engineer to mark up the various bits of info on this part of the job

 

[^woody^]

If you search this forum, sometime within the last six months (I think) there was an identical post, but concerning an RIBA Architect.

In that, I posted about the terms of engagement and what the Architect should have done -which I presume will be similar to a RIAS, and IIRC, your options.

If he did not advise a fee, no fee was agreed, then make him an offer and get someone else if you are not happy with him.

 

[benyboy]

If you decide to use a plans drawer, it is a good idea to ensure that he has appropriate insurance cover for his work. Chartered architects are required to have this as standard by the RIBA.

 

[jeds]

Dragging up a couple of old posts there benyboy. What's that all about then?