Draft contract forms drawn up by the British Property Federation could lead to consultants being hit with insurance hikes, experts have warned.

The claim comes as a further blow to the BPF’s attempt to win support for the contracts, which were attacked by engineers and architects when they were released earlier this year. The RIBA and the Association of Consulting Engineers both claimed the forms exposed consultants to excessive liability.

Insurance broker Alexander Forbes said the BPF’s rejection of liability capping and net contribution clauses could mean consultants would no longer be protected from claims resulting from negligence elsewhere in the supply chain.

David Martin, of Alexander Forbes, said: “Net contribution clauses should be part of any firm’s risk management procedures. Consultants need to avoid facing high cost claims as this could result in higher PI insurance premiums.”