Ministar11

Thanks @joe90 We've started to question their invoices and they are now threatening us and trying to scare us by saying they will not issue the Practical Completion Certificate under the JCT contract but BC is completely separate and we will get the Completion Statement from BC. We also plan to pay for a Professional Completion Certificate from a third party company. The more I look into this the more I realise that the certificate issued by the architects under the JCT is worthless/ meaningless but wanted to get advice because of their scaremongering.

The architects have made mistakes throughout the build including incorrect drawings, inexperience of the practical requirements of building a property and escalating costs. For example, of their behaviour they charged us for handover to another architect when our architect when on paternity leave. The relationship has deteriorated and we are want to sack them and proceed without them instead relying on the buildings and structural engineer but I am concerned if this might impact on us getting a mortgage. We will need to get the building to the stage where we can get a mortgage and release money in the property to complete the build. Although the architects issue a "Practical Completion Certificate" under the JCT contract my investigations seem to suggest mortgage providers will require a Professional Consultants Certificate also known as an architect's certificate that comes with a 6/10 year warranty and we can get this from a independent company and it is not the contract under the JCT contract that they require. Obviously we'll need to also get BC certificate etc. Does anyone know / have experience of sacking architects and the impact this might have i.e. not having a "Practical Completion Certificate" under the JCT contract?

Hello, We in the middle of what has been a difficult build. Plot with amazing views - AONB in Gloucestershire - but tricky as on a single lane, across two levels and no parking on site. We purchased the property in March 2021. Three rounds of planning - all very successful with an excellent planning consultant. It’s a complete renovation of a small thatched cottage and construction of two modern extensions with swimming pool, garden landscaping including parking area. Although the architect's original design and concept was good we should have been alerted by various red flags and warnings. Although a relatively successful/ large local practice it seems they lack commercial experience, it appears they have limited knowledge of the build process beyond the initial designs and very few contacts with builders/ professionals. I found the builders who are excellent. Build started in August 2023 and was due to finish October 2024. After many set backs - impact of wettest winter on record, parking initially granted on neighbour's lane then withdrawn, many mistakes by the architects including incorrect drawings/ positioning of piles - the contract has been extended to end October 2025. The costs have escalated and the relationship with the architects has deteriorated. Neighbours have become increasing frustrating and any goodwill has gone. We are now at the stage of needing to think about releasing capital from the building in order to finish the build and needing to reduce fees. I found this forum and am looking for practical advice re mortgages and stopping working with architects and instead relying on the builders and structural engineer. See below view from house and arial photo from 1980s of the plot.