A party wall is a wall shared by two adjoining properties, even if it stands entirely on the land of one owner. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 also covers other party structures, such as floors separating flats, and party fence walls, such as boundary walls that straddle two properties.
The Act may also apply when you:
- Excavate below the foundation level within 3 metres of a neighbouring structure
- Excavate within 6 metres where works go below a 45° line from the base of a neighbour’s foundation
- Build a new wall directly on, or very close to, a boundary
What Does the Party Wall Act Cover?
Under the Act, the following types of work require formal notice to your neighbours and, in many cases, a Party Wall Agreement:
- Cutting into a party wall to insert structural beams (e.g. for a loft conversion)
- Installing a damp-proof course through a shared wall
- Raising or reducing the height of a party wall, including cutting off projections
- Cutting a flashing into an adjoining wall
- Building a new wall on the boundary line (line of junction)
- Removing chimney breasts from a party wall
- Excavating below foundation level within 3 metres of a neighbouring structure
- Excavating within 6 metres if below a 45° plane from neighbouring foundations
- Demolishing and rebuilding, or underpinning, part or all of a party wall
Why the Legal Process Matters
Any notifiable works covered by the Act must follow the formal legal process. This begins with serving the correct Party Wall Notices on your neighbours. Failure to do so can lead to disputes, injunctions, and costly delays to your project.
Get Expert Help Today
At Simple Survey, we handle the entire Party Wall process for you—ensuring your notices are valid, your rights are protected, and your project runs smoothly. With our fixed-fee pricing, we are the UK’s cheapest party wall surveyors.
📩 Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk today for free advice or a no-obligation quote.