Party Wall
Our team of specialist Party Wall Surveyors always aim to give you clear, cost-effective and impartial advice to guide you through your obligations.
Our Party Wall Surveyors have been working with the Party Wall Act since its inception in 1996, so you can rest assured that we’ll take the lead and aim to minimise your costs and any delays to your project.
If you have received a Party Wall notice yourself, we’ll make sure your neighbour is compliant and taking all reasonable steps to protect your interests throughout the works.
What is a Party Wall?
In simple terms, a Party Wall sits astride a boundary to land belonging to two or more owners. If it is just a boundary wall, this is known as a Party Fence Wall.
When does the Party Wall Act apply?
When various works are completed to an existing Party Wall, Party Fence Wall or Party Structure.
New buildings or structures are erected up to or sat astride the boundary line.
Excavations are completed within 6 metres of a structure on a neighbouring property, which have the potential to undermine the foundations of that structure.
So the Party Wall Act applies to my works, what do I do now?
If the Act applies, you are obliged to serve a Party Wall Notice on your neighbour, setting out details of the works at hand and providing key information such as plans, proposed commencement dates etc. In the case of adjacent excavations, you may need to provide specialist details of foundations.
What happens if my neighbour objects to my Party Wall Notice?
The Party Wall Act gives you the right to complete various types of work on or around the boundary line, so provided your works are covered by the Act, your neighbour’s objection cannot stop you going ahead, but will mean that you are obliged to follow the Dispute procedure set out under Section 10 of the Act.
This requires you to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor to act on your behalf. Your neighbour has the right to appoint their own surveyor or they may agree in the appointment of a single ‘agreed’ surveyor. Where two surveyors are appointed, they will agree on the appointment of a third surveyor to adjudicate/referee where the two surveyors cannot agree.
What is a Party Wall Agreement?
The Party Wall Agreement (correct term Award) is a written document prepared by the Party Wall Surveyors, detailing the rights and obligations of the owners.
Don't believe us?
We believe that the work we do and the clients we work for, say more about us than we could ever convey, so if you don’t believe us, take a look at our Case Studies.