£700 sounds about right for planning drawings for a simple single storey extension, they aren't doing you a massive favour for cash. I would still get some other fee quotes and arrange a couple of free initial consultation visits then you could ask them their opinion on you options for the extension. Probably for £750 - £800 you would get a professional architectural designer with all relevant insurance and come back if they make a mistake rather than a dodgy cash in hand merchant.
Planning Permission Questions
- Thread starter Candyman21
- Start date
£700 sounds about right for planning drawings for a simple single storey extension, they aren't doing you a massive favour for cash. I would still get some other fee quotes and arrange a couple of free initial consultation visits then you could ask them their opinion on you options for the extension. Probably for £750 - £800 you would get a professional architectural designer with all relevant insurance and come back if they make a mistake rather than a dodgy cash in hand merchant.
Sponsored Links
And what about the building regs plans, and any other design work?
Is he going to sting you on that?
Bear in mind that the plans are actually the same, and 75% of the design work is done at the planning stage.
It's no good just having a quote for planning drawings when further design work is necessary.
Why is cash in hand dodgy?
If I count up all the shiite designers I've come across, and those who have made mistakes and disappeared, and over-charged and generally been a bag of crap, then I will guarantee you that they were "on the books". Guaranteed.
- Joined
- 15 Mar 2017
- Messages
- 79
- Reaction score
- 1
- Country
Hi Woody,
I asked him about regs, he said it will be about the same fee as the planning, he did mention about a building notice if I am getting a good builder, or full plans and drawings. He said in each situation I will need to pay for a building regs application which is about £600? So all in I am looking at about £2000!
Sponsored Links
Touched a raw nerve did I Mr Brown Envelope? I somehow doubt anyone who says "£700 for cash" is fully qualified and working in a professional regulated firm with PI cover.
Though in reality (unless one is a registered architect) it's perefectly legitimate to trade under all of those conditions.
PI cover for a planning application?
Tell me more as to what would need such indemnity with a planning application.How many one man band plan drawers are "professionally regulated", and again what benefit is that to a planning app? Do you know how many complaints the likes of CAIT actually gets involved with and how serious it needs to be before they even bother? Likewise for the other institutes. The public are frequently let down by these associations.
Yes, your statement touched a nerve because it is factually incorrect. The Government used a similar line in their failed attempt to set up a quality system for builders, touting cash=dodgy, but the fact is that it was all about tax revenue.
Payment method is no guarantee of competance, nor is being VAT registered, nor is working for a firm, nor is saving your cornflake tokens for a membership of a commercial association. In fact I would question the competance of anyone who believes otherwise.
If a client believes they have suffered a loss due to what they believe to be a mistake on the part of the plan submitter, then whether or not the plan submitter agrees with that assessment, appropriate PII cover would seem sensible.
A loss such as .......?
Woody are you saying you don't have PI cover? But then you probably don't need it because you are perfect.
I cannot comment on all the Institutions but I know mine is very strict on conduct and having PI cover, I get a devious thrill from reading the disciplinary hearings in the journal. People have been sanctioned for not replying promptly to client's correspondence. To be fair you have to do something pretty major to get struck off.
It is the same in all walks of life, someone who has gone to all the trouble of gaining qualifications, joining an institution, paying through the nose for insurance, jumping through all the hoops of HMRC and Customs and Excise is probably going to be slightly more professional and reliable than some Herbert who set up last Tuesday, works off his dining room table and will knock a few quid off for cash, nudge nudge wink wink. But you are quite right it is not a guarantee, it is just something to bear in mind when you are choosing a professional, or a contractor come to that. The cash itself it not the problem, I occasionally get paid in cash, its a pain in the arse, you have to take it to the bank and then they charge you to pay it into your business account. But then if you don't have PII and only deal in cash I don't suppose you have a business account either.
I cannot comment on all the Institutions but I know mine is very strict on conduct and having PI cover, I get a devious thrill from reading the disciplinary hearings in the journal. People have been sanctioned for not replying promptly to client's correspondence. To be fair you have to do something pretty major to get struck off.
It is the same in all walks of life, someone who has gone to all the trouble of gaining qualifications, joining an institution, paying through the nose for insurance, jumping through all the hoops of HMRC and Customs and Excise is probably going to be slightly more professional and reliable than some Herbert who set up last Tuesday, works off his dining room table and will knock a few quid off for cash, nudge nudge wink wink. But you are quite right it is not a guarantee, it is just something to bear in mind when you are choosing a professional, or a contractor come to that. The cash itself it not the problem, I occasionally get paid in cash, its a pain in the arse, you have to take it to the bank and then they charge you to pay it into your business account. But then if you don't have PII and only deal in cash I don't suppose you have a business account either.
If you're a sole trader you don't need a business account.
Good point, I'd forgotten about that.
Pedants rule here. You should know that!
Oh come on FFS! This is a poxy domestic extension not a block of flats! Jeez!
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
Similar threads
