Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

UK architects’ professional indemnity insurance: ARB 2025 Code, PII guidance and RIBA standards—limits, run-off, exclusions (fire/cladding), notification and aggregation

Published by a LexisNexis Insurance & Reinsurance expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note explains the professional indemnity insurance (PII) obligations for architects, with specific guidance on the Architects Registration Board (ARB) minimum standards.

Regulatory setting

Who is the regulator?

The ARB is the statutory regulator for architects under the Architects Act 1997 (the Act). Under section 13, the ARB must issue a code setting out the standards of professional conduct and practice expected of registered architects: the Architects Code: Standards of Professional Conduct and Practice.

A revised Code of Conduct took effect on 1 September 2025 (the ARB Code), superseding the 2017 edition.

Non-compliance with the ARB Code does not, in itself, amount to unacceptable professional conduct or serious professional incompetence; however, it will be considered in any proceedings before the ARB’s Professional Conduct Committee.

From June 2022, the Building Safety Act 2022 broadened the ARB’s powers, enabling it to assess architects’ competence, set relevant criteria, and remove an architect from the register where those criteria are not met, or...

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Rob Crossingham

Clyde & Co LLP

Rob Crossingham is a Partner in the insurance, financial and professional disputes team in the London office of Clyde & Co.Qualifying more than 20 years ago, Rob’s practice has focussed on professional liability and insurance coverage matters. The majority of his clients are insurers, and he also accepts direct instructions from commercial entities and professional services firms.Rob’s practice tends to focus on professional liability disputes involving financial or property transactions. He often advises on pure insurance and coverage issues arising across the professional indemnity field. During his career, Rob has acted for all manner of professionals including solicitors, accountants/auditors, construction professionals, surveyors/valuers, financial professionals, and financial institutions (in particular, SIPP administrators). He has experience in matters involving the emerging and ‘miscellaneous’ professions, including yacht designers, agronomists, estate agents, auctioneers, IT/media professionals, forensic scientists and property search providers. Rob has...

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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