ABSTRACT
It is particularly important for architects to have a solid grasp of the core principles of contract law and to know in detail the standard form contracts they work with. Beyond contracts, architects also need to have a broad understanding of other areas of legislation including: health and safety; planning law; property law; and other areas such as human rights, and the supply of goods and services. This chapter describes the core principles of contract law and examines how claims against professionals might arise. It describes the legislation most relevant to architects, including that pertaining to environmental sustainability, and provides some sources of further information. The chapter provides a broad summary of contract law and its relevance to architects. Contract administration is central to achieving the appropriate level of quality on site and it is critical that architects have a firm understanding of the standard contract forms.
