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Architect /project manager has become a nightmare - can we get rid of him?

6 replies

MonChoufleur123 · 07/12/2020 21:16

Would really appreciate any thoughts / advice on how to proceed here... We have been working with an architect & project manager on a ground floor extension and loft conversion for our house for nearly 2 years. He did the plans in 2019 and we got planning permission in January this year... since then progress has ground to a halt!
I realise Covid has affected things but he's still been working during this time and friends have had their building work completed. He is just incredibly slow!! Days to reply to emails, vague recommendations etc. All contact is initiated by us - if we don't chase for progress we don't hear from him for weeks at a time.
We have asked repeatedly for a final schedule of works, which is still not complete. He did go out to tender with some building firms in August but got cruical details wrong on what we had asked for so all the quotes came back way over our stated budget. After asking him to re-do the costings the only builder still interested has walked away this week before we could sign a contract to start next summer because the PM took 4 weeks to get the paperwork over to him and he was offered something else.
We're really no further forward now than we were in January! Should we try to prove breach of contract as PM? See if we can both just amicably drop the contract and walk away? We appointed a PM as we've no experience of dealing with building work ourselves but dealing with him has become the stress we were hoping to avoid! Unfortunately he is director of his small family firm so there's noone else to complain to. Any advice much appreciated! Thank you

OP posts:
NewHouseNewMe · 08/12/2020 00:16

I would go down the route of amicably agreeing to part company with him. I think the drawings and planing is where they make their money so they tend to chase new business rather than actually project manage.

DevilDamo · 08/12/2020 08:30

Who is the issue with... the architect, project manager or both? Or are they the same person?

Loofah01 · 08/12/2020 09:16

Why are you using a PM? Any decent builder can manage their own workforce to complete the job, they do not need a PM telling them how to accomplish it.
Ditch the PM immediately. I assume you have the drawings and there isn't an issue with the architect, if there is then same thing - get rid. Make sure you have what you have paid for to date, ie full drawings (including the CAD files, they're yours, you paid for them), communications of planning etc.
No way this should have taken this long so there must be something going on.

MonChoufleur123 · 08/12/2020 09:39

Thanks all - yes he is an architect and project managwr in one. we've got the drawings I just want to get the schedule of works because we've paid for. We signes the contract to have him PM the build but haven't paid this yet so hoping we can get out of it. Good to know our timescales aren't unreasonable! I'm wondering if there's something going on in his personal life or financial problems with the business...

OP posts:
DevilDamo · 08/12/2020 09:54

If he is a qualified and chartered Architect and you have concerns about his involvement, you could raise a query or even complaint to his governing body, i.e. RIBA.

HMSBeagle · 08/12/2020 16:30

We did a two story full length extension with no prior building experience on our own. You approach builders directly and they just cracked on with building expector getting around issues as they came up.

You paid for something he has not provided. Surely he is in breach of contract?

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