Reporting misuse of the title “architect”

The protected title “architect”

The title “architect” is protected by law in the UK, under the Architects Act 1997. The Act prohibits anyone from using the name, style or title in business or practice unless they are registered with ARB and represented on the Architects Register.

This law exists to protect the public, ensuring that anyone who calls themselves an architect has the right education, training, and skills, and meets defined professional standards.

You can search the Architects Register to check an individual’s registered status and view our Misuse of Title policy for more information.

If an individual wishes to use the title ’architect’ in the name of a limited company or a limited liability partnership (LLP), this can only be done with ARB’s permission. ARB may authorise use of the title in a company’s name on the basis there is at least one person at the organisation that is on the Architects Register who will be responsible for any architectural work undertaken. If a practice is using the protected title in a company name and it does not have this permission in place, this might also be considered misuse of title.

For more information about using the protected title in company names, please see here.

Reporting suspected title misuse

If you suspect that someone who is not on the Architects Register has misused the title, please let us know by filling in the form below and returning it to this email, along with supporting evidence.

Please note: under the Architects Act, only the title “architect” is legally protected. We are therefore unable to investigate the use of related terms, such as “architecture” or “architectural”, as these are not covered by the legislation.

Supporting evidence

To investigate a suspected misuse of title, we require evidence that shows that an individual or practice represented themselves as an architect in the UK or in a UK context while not registered. The evidence must relate to an incident that occurred within the last 18 months.

Supporting evidence should be submitted as attachments in your email, alongside the completed form. Providing clear evidence helps us assess the situation accurately and take appropriate action.

As examples, the types of evidence you might submit could include

• Screenshots of websites, social media profiles, or online listings
• Photos of printed marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, or business cards
• Emails where the title “architect” is used in a way that implies UK registration

While we can consider links to online content, we ask that any links that are shared are supported by screenshots.

Our approach to correcting misuse of title

Our policy is to stop any ongoing misuse of the title as quickly as possible. When an incident of misuse is identified, we take a proportionate approach.

Where appropriate, we will offer guidance and seek assurance that the activity has ceased, ensuring that any harm is addressed swiftly and efficiently. However, if a breach of the Architects Act 1997 is deemed serious, we can and do take legal action.

Findings

You will not be informed if further action is taken in response to your notification, and we are unable to offer updates on ongoing investigations. Primarily, this is to protect your identity if our investigation proceeds to legal action. For offenders who are convicted, they will be liable to pay a fine (currently up to £2,500 for each offence).

Contact us

If you have further questions or require assistance, please contact us by email or telephone us on +44 (0)20 7580 5861.