Standard Terms and Conditions

RJG Architecture Ltd is a Limited Company registered in England and Wales under number 11718031 whose registered office is 54-56 Ormskirk Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 2TF.

1. The instructions you give us create a contract between you and RJG Architecture Ltd for the provision of our services to you. Our contract with you is personal.  It may be enforced by, and confers benefit on you and RJG Architecture Ltd but not on any third party.  References in these Terms and Conditions of Business to “RJG”, “we”, “our” and “us” shall be read as RJG Architecture Ltd.
2. We will exercise reasonable skill and care in performing the services in accordance with the normal standards of the Architects’ profession.
3. As a practise we act as the client’s representative and act fairly when dealing between the client and any other third party.
4. We will make no material alteration to the services or the approved design without the consent of the client. Any material changes over the work quoted will be charged at the standard hourly rate provided within the quotation.
5. Subject to matters beyond our control, we shall endeavour to perform the services in accordance with an agreed programme and any changes to the services or the programme agreed with us from time to time. RJG cannot guarantee that any programme will be fully adhered to where external forces, consultants, Local Authority, Regulatory Body, external specialists, etc. are required to feed into this programme.
6. RJG cannot guarantee that any target or budget cost provided, or any timetable will be met, particularly where approvals from other parties, such as planning permission, building regulation approval, listed building and conservation consent are required, nor the performance, work, or the products of others.
7. Our fees do not include any disbursements or payments to third parties such as payments due to Local Authorities or other statutory bodies such as Planning and Building Control fees, or other charges which will be charged in addition to the service. It is the client’s responsibility to pay these fees upon submission of the application by RJG.
8. Should it be necessary to utilise the services of a surveyor, planning supervisor, structural engineer, quantity surveyor, or other specialist consultant, such appointment shall be confirmed directly by the Client and fees associated with this will be in addition to our fees. Should such services be required these shall be agreed between us and the Client prior to any consultant being appointed. RJG can recommend certain third-party subcontractors, however the responsibility remains with the Client to appoint and make payment for any services carried out by these third parties.
9. If RJG are not made aware the project inception that the dwelling lies in Greenbelt, Listed or is part of a conservation area, and additional work is required due to this, then RJG reserve the right to charge additional fees to produce suitable supporting documentation to progress the application.
10. Should the client instruct us to carry out additional works over and above those quoted herein, additional fees will be payable at the hourly rates specified.
11. RJG own the copyright in the drawings and documents (including material in electronic format) produced in performing the services, this shall remain vested in RJG.
12. We cannot guarantee that Planning, Listed Building, Conservatory Area Consent / approval will be achieved on any project.
13. There are occasions where a Client’s specific requirements are at a variance with planning or design policy in a particular area, and subsequent amendments will be necessary following submission of the scheme to the Local Authority, or indeed another application may need to be submitted.
14. We will use our best endeavours to avoid this at design stage and would try to advise when difficulties can be anticipated. We do however reserve the right to charge for our time amending or redrawing the proposal should it ultimately prove to be a necessity.
15. We would draw your attention to the fact that Local Authorities now request an increasing amount of supporting documents to be submitted with Planning Applications, the exact extent of this information is subject to both National and Local requirements; but is also subject to the demands of Planning Authorities and Officers. RJG therefore cannot guarantee that all supporting documents or information requirements will be known at the time the application is submitted.
16. RJG cannot guarantee that Planning Approval will be achieved on any project, it should be noted that additional costs may be incurred to achieve this. This practise has experience of designing and obtaining planning for buildings in many sectors and across many Local Authorities, alongside working with and anticipating the likely difficulties a project may attract.  However, the Building Regulations and Other Statutory regulations are open to interpretation by each officer.  Policy and regulation changes can affect the final outcome of the project post submission.
17. Where it becomes necessary to Appeal a Planning or Listed Building Consent Decision, we will advise you of the implications and would need to charge for the time to prepare any appeal and the supporting documents and statements necessary to submit the Appeal.
18. In certain instances, we may include recommending the appointment of a Planning Consultant to deal with specific Planning Policy issues, there are projects where policy issues would warrant this additional service.
19. It should be noted that were dealing with the refurbishment, extension, and alteration of existing buildings, that there can be many factors which can develop during the course of the project which could require additional detailing or changes to the specification and detailing initially envisaged. We reserve the right to charge for any additional works quoted herein.
20. RJG subcontract any structural work required on the project to a third-party structural engineer who is responsible for Part A of the approved document relating to the structural integrity of the building. Should any structural concerns be raised at building control stage where the engineer has been involved, any such liability rests with the structural engineer and not RJG.  Any further liaison required by RJG will be subject to an additional charge at the hourly rate quoted herein.
21. Upon completion of the building notice stage, RJG professional services are concluded. Should the client require further changes to the building control drawings and project management or liaison with a chosen contractor is needed, this will be charged at the hourly rate stated during correspondence with RJG.
22. Upon completion of the full plans building regulation checklist, RJG professional services are concluded. Should the client require further changes to the drawings and project management or liaison with a chosen contractor is needed, this will be charged at the hourly rate stated during correspondence with RJG.
23. There may be a requirement following the initial inspection by Building Control for a build over agreement to be entered in to with United Utilities which RJG have no prior knowledge. In this instance RJG will quote for the services required prior to starting any further works.
24. We will submit an invoice upon completion of works on a staged payment basis.
25. The Client shall pay RJG in accordance with the payment terms set out in the invoice
26. We reserve the right to place any debt into the hand of a debt recovery agency following failure to pay or update RJG within a specified period.
27. VAT will be charged at the standard rate at the time of invoice and is applicable to all our fees.
28. Any additional fees will be quoted and charged at the time they are instructed, required, or raised such as the purchase of OS CAD files, Land Registry files, etc.
29. The Client or the Architect can suspend or end performance of any or all of the services by giving at least 7 days’ written or email notice of the intention to suspend / terminate and stating the reason for doing so.
30. Where services are suspended or terminated, we will be entitled to keep any papers, drawings and other documents (including those in electronic format), whilst there is money owing to us for our fees and expenses.
31. If at any stage you do not want us to continue doing work or suspend working for a period of time, you must tell us clearly in writing and settle any outstanding payments due for work already carried out.