Andorra to Mandate 10-Year Liability Insurance for Foreign Architects

The Col·legi Oficial d’Arquitectes d’Andorra (COAA) is collaborating with the Interior Ministry to require foreign architects working on occasional projects with local firms to hold 10-year professional liability insurance, matching the standard for Andorran professionals.

COAA dean Laura Sánchez explained that the measure addresses growing concerns over collaborations between domestic architecture offices and external ones. These partnerships have led to complaints and disputes with authorities, as the local architect currently bears responsibility through their insurance if issues arise later. “We’re discussing future liability with Interior,” Sánchez said, noting that foreign involvement is typically project-specific. She highlighted the risk: “What happens if problems emerge in those buildings years from now and they’ve already left?”

The proposal aims to close this gap by mandating equivalent decennial coverage for outsiders, ensuring it persists beyond project completion. No specific cases have prompted the change, Sánchez emphasised, but “it’s a loophole we want to seal.” The requirement would be enshrined in the forthcoming Llei d’Ordenació de l’Edificació (LOE), a long-awaited law demanded for over a decade by the COAA and the Associació de Contractistes d’Andorra (Acoda).

Sánchez described the LOE as a “fundamental tool for legal certainty,” clarifying responsibilities for all parties in the construction process throughout the legal period. This marks a shift from comments by her predecessor, Zaira Nadal, who 18 months ago suggested aligning with Spain’s shorter one-year liability for surface finishes.

Spain’s LOE, for context, sets varying insurance periods of one, three, or 10 years (plus two for prescription) depending on defect types, alongside general five-year civil code limits. Mandatory policies include decennial coverage and professional liability for architects, surveyors, and engineers, though promoters can demand more. Andorra’s version seeks to prioritise enduring protection for local stakeholders.