Professional Negligence Claims

Last reviewed: September 2026 · EA Personal Injury Solicitors

If an accountant, surveyor, financial adviser, architect or other professional fails to meet the standard of a reasonably competent member of their profession and you lose money as a result, you may be able to claim compensation. We can advise on the merits of your claim and the best route to resolving it.

TL;DR — Quick Summary

Key Points

Applies to accountants, surveyors, financial advisers, architects and other professionals
You must show a duty of care, a breach of the professional standard, and a resulting loss
A wrong outcome alone is not negligence — the advice must have fallen below a reasonable standard
Professional indemnity insurance often means a claim remains possible after a firm closes
Six-year (or three-year date of knowledge) limitation period generally applies

What Counts as Professional Negligence?

Any professional providing services under a contract or a duty of care — an accountant preparing your accounts or tax returns, a surveyor valuing a property, a financial adviser recommending an investment or pension transfer, an architect or engineer designing a building — is required to exercise the skill and care of a reasonably competent member of their profession. Where their advice or service falls below that standard, and this causes you a financial loss you would not otherwise have suffered, a professional negligence claim may succeed.

Common Types of Professional Negligence Claims

Accountancy negligence — errors in accounts, tax advice or audit work leading to financial loss or penalties
Surveyor and valuer negligence — a negligent survey or valuation failing to identify significant defects, leading to a property being bought at an inflated price or with unforeseen repair costs
Financial adviser negligence — unsuitable investment or pension advice, including negligent pension transfer advice
Insurance broker negligence — failing to obtain appropriate cover, or failing to disclose material information correctly, leaving you without valid cover when you needed it
Architect and engineer negligence — design or specification errors leading to defective construction and additional cost

Establishing a Claim

Professional negligence claims turn on comparing what the professional actually did against what a reasonably competent member of the same profession would have done in the same circumstances. This usually requires independent expert evidence from a suitably qualified professional in the same field, together with the documentary record of the advice given and the instructions you provided. Causation — showing that the negligence, rather than some other factor, caused your loss — is often the most contested element of these claims.

Valuing Your Loss

The general aim of compensation is to put you back in the position you would have been in had the negligence not occurred. Depending on the type of claim, this can involve expert accountancy or valuation evidence to quantify the difference between your actual position and the position you should have been in.

Resolving Your Claim

We generally favour resolving professional negligence disputes through direct negotiation with the professional or their insurer, or through mediation, before considering court proceedings. Most professionals hold professional indemnity insurance, and claims are frequently resolved through their insurer without the need for litigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which professionals can I bring a negligence claim against?

Any professional providing services under a duty of care can potentially be the subject of a claim, including accountants, financial advisers, surveyors and valuers, architects and engineers, insurance brokers, and independent financial advisers, in addition to solicitors (covered on our separate solicitor negligence page).

What do I need to prove in a professional negligence claim?

You must show that the professional owed you a duty of care, that their advice or service fell below the standard of a reasonably competent member of that profession, and that this breach caused you a financial loss that is capable of being quantified. Expert evidence from a suitably qualified professional in the same field is usually needed to establish the required standard and whether it was met.

What if the professional says they gave their honest opinion at the time?

A professional is not negligent simply because their advice later turns out to be wrong, or because a different, equally competent professional might have taken a different view. Negligence requires a failure to meet the standard of a reasonably competent professional — not mere hindsight-based criticism of a judgment call that was reasonable at the time it was made.

How is my loss calculated in a professional negligence claim?

The general aim is to put you in the position you would have been in had the negligence not occurred — often, though not always, this means comparing your actual financial position with the position you would have been in had proper advice been given or the service properly performed. The precise approach depends on the type of claim and can require expert accountancy or valuation evidence.

How long do I have to bring a professional negligence claim?

Generally six years from the date of the negligent act or advice, or three years from your date of knowledge (if later), subject to an overall long-stop limit in some circumstances. Because these rules are complex, it is important to seek advice promptly.

What if the professional has since retired or their firm has closed?

Most professionals are required to hold professional indemnity insurance, and in many professions this cover continues for a period after retirement or closure specifically to protect against claims like this. It may still be possible to pursue a claim against the insurer even where the individual or firm is no longer trading.

Published by EA Personal Injury Solicitors

Edward and Amaury Limited · SRA No. 800525

Verify the firm and its regulated people on the SRA Register. General information only; this is not legal advice.