Under the Building Safety Act, clients must now satisfy themselves that the designers they employ are competent. This seems to be a requirement that could become loaded with unintended consequences.

I can tell you that I have qualifications in architecture and engineering; am a registered and chartered architect; wrote a book on architectural history; was awarded a Rome Scholarship; did 42 hours of CPD training last year; and can list the projects I am leading for the practice I work for. But other than concluding that my free time is limited, would you really be able to conclude that I was competent to work on your building project?

…