PII is failing architects

摘要

Is obtaining affordable and comprehensive professional indemnity insurance (PII) now the most significant threat to the business of architecture?For some time, RIBA members have been providing anecdotal reports of rapidly escalating PII costs and of policies being revised to apply an increasing range of exclusions and restrictions. As part of its response, the RIBA ran a survey into PII among its chartered members. The results described below give a broad and evidence-based understanding of the issues, which the RIBA will use to put forward the architects' view. The survey ran from June to early July 2021 with members proving keen to share their experiences and views; there were 1,405 responses to the survey, though not all respondents answered all questions.Overall, the findings are clear: PII costs are rising for the majority, and exclusions and restrictions are regularly being applied to renewed policies. Because of these exclusions and restrictions, it is becoming difficult for architects to work in certain sectors - often the ones where they are most needed. For many, the issue of PII is not an inconvenience or a regrettable expense. It is a threat to their business.