Resigning from the Register of Architects
At some point, every architect will need to consider whether they want to remain registered with ARB – whether it be because of retirement or that they are moving out of architectural practice for other reasons.
Section 20 of the Architects Act 1997 prohibits anyone from using the name, style or title ‘architect’ in business or practice unless they have their name entered on the Register of Architects – but what is ‘business or practice’? The law tells us that being in ‘business’ includes any activity which is carried on for gain or reward – that reward does not necessarily mean that it must be a financial benefit. Architectural ‘practice’ is a term not defined within the legislation, but can safely be regarded as an activity that formally relates to the design or construction of buildings.
Retiring
There is no need for a fully retired architect to remain registered – anyone can call themselves an architect in a social setting. The risks that must be managed by those retiring will depend largely on the position they are leaving. Those who manage their own business will need to ensure that there are adequate arrangements in place to guarantee the continuation of work in progress, and appropriate run-off cover to provide protection against new claims arising from historic liabilities. How much run-off cover you will need will depend on your practice and your country of practice, so you should take advice from your insurance broker as early as possible.
Anyone retiring from the Register should take the necessary steps to ensure that publicly available information is changed to remove the use of the title in connection with business or practice. This is particularly important in relation to their online presence, which can be more widespread than one might normally assume.
Practising overseas
Registration with ARB is primarily for the purpose of practising as an architect in the UK. There is no legal requirement for an architect practising in another country to remain on the Register of Architects, although they may have their own reasons for doing so.
It is important to remember that wherever you are in the world, if you are registered with ARB then you remain subject to the Architects Code of Conduct and Practice, and must act professionally and competently in accordance with the requirements of ARB.
Further information on the using the title architect, including the use of designated letters such as ‘RIBA’, can be found in our Title Protection Policy.
