Category: Claims handling · Reviewed by Simon Temme, Account Executive · Last reviewed 2026-06-11
An architects professional indemnity claim is a claim against an architect or architectural practice for alleged negligence in design, contract administration, certification or other professional services — typically high-severity and substantially affected by the Building Safety Act 2022.
Architects PI sits at the intersection of professional indemnity, construction liability and (since 2022) building safety regulation. The architect’s duty arises through the engagement (commonly under RIBA standard appointments), through statutory duties (notably under the Building Safety Act 2022) and through tortious principles when defects emerge after handover.
The principal claim drivers are design defects, contract-administration failures, certification errors and (increasingly) cladding-related claims under the extended limitation periods of the Building Safety Act 2022.
The framework includes:
The Building Safety Act 2022 is the most consequential change to architects’ PI in decades. Its retrospective extension of limitation under section 1 of the Defective Premises Act 1972 to 30 years revived claims previously barred by limitation. This has produced a substantial uptick in PI notifications relating to historic projects.
The typical claim categories:
The defence approach typically involves:
Cladding claims often involve multiple defendants — the architect, the structural engineer, the fire engineer, the contractor, the cladding subcontractor, the building manufacturer. The defence team coordinates apportionment and contribution analysis across the construction team.
For pre-2022 claims that would otherwise be limitation-barred, the limitation extension under section 135 of the Building Safety Act 2022 has reopened a significant volume of claims, putting pressure on the run-off cover of architects who have ceased trading. The PI run-off cover (typically 6 years for architects under RIBA-style terms) may not extend to cover the new claims, leaving gaps that the developer’s Building Safety Fund obligations or the leaseholder’s costs are designed to bridge.
“Design defect claim” — traditional category, typically arising 3-10 years after handover.
“Contract administration claim” — claims relating to the architect’s role as contract administrator under JCT or NEC contracts.
“Building Safety Act claim” — claims under the extended limitation regime, typically involving cladding or structural defects.
“Heritage / conservation claim” — specialist category arising from work on listed buildings.
“Concurrent design liability” — where the architect shares liability with structural engineers, M&E engineers or others.
An architectural practice designed a 2017 residential development that has been identified as having combustible cladding and inadequate fire-stopping. Under the Building Safety Act 2022, the limitation period for the underlying defects under the Defective Premises Act 1972 is extended to 30 years from completion. The building owner has issued a £14m claim for remediation costs plus consequential losses.
Notification: April 2026. The 2025-26 PI policy responds on claims-made basis. Coverage attaches; £15m aggregate cover.
Merits: the design did not at the time of construction breach Building Regulations as then applied; however, the design relied on contractor-installed fire-stopping that has subsequently been shown to be inadequate. Liability is heavily contested on duty and on causation. Concurrent defendants include the structural engineer and the contractor; contribution analysis is critical.
Defence strategy: expert evidence on the standards prevailing in 2017; expert evidence on the cladding system and fire-engineering; counsel’s opinion on the SAAMCO / Manchester Building Society scope-of-duty analysis post-Grenfell.
Settlement: complex mediation 18 months after notification with all defendants. Total settlement £8.4m, of which the architect’s share (subject to contribution arrangements between defendants and their insurers) is £2.1m. The Building Safety Fund covers a portion; the developer’s continuing obligations under the Building Safety Act provide additional recovery.
By Matt Bartlett, Director, on 2026-06-11. Next review: 2026-12-11.
This entry is part of the Apex Insurance Wiki. Last reviewed by Matt Bartlett on 2026-06-11. Apex Insurance Brokers Limited, FCA FRN 724952, Companies House 07014570. Not regulated advice — consult your broker on your specific position.
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