If your planned works could affect a shared wall, boundary, or a neighbour’s property, you may need a Party Wall Agreement under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Putting the agreement in place clarifies rights and responsibilities for both owners and helps prevent disputes, delays, and unexpected costs.
Works that typically require a Party Wall Agreement
You’ll usually need to follow the Act if you intend to:
- Build a new wall on or astride the boundary line
- Cut into a party wall to install beams or other structural supports (e.g., for a loft conversion)
- Excavate near a neighbour’s foundations (common for extensions or basements)
- Remove or rebuild a shared chimney breast
- Raise, thicken, or otherwise alter an existing party wall
- Construct a new boundary wall or outbuilding close to the boundary
- Undertake underpinning or other foundation strengthening within 3–6 metres of a neighbouring structure
If your works could affect the stability or integrity of a shared wall—or create a new boundary wall—the Act is likely to apply.
The 3-metre & 6-metre excavation rules
- Within 3 metres: If your new foundations will be deeper than your neighbour’s, you must serve notice.
- Within 6 metres: If your excavation would intersect a 45-degree line drawn from the bottom of your neighbour’s foundations, notice is also required.
These rules safeguard neighbouring buildings from excavation-related risks.
What a Party Wall Surveyor does
A qualified surveyor will:
- Prepare and serve valid notices on all relevant owners
- Facilitate fair, compliant agreements between both parties
- Issue a Party Wall Award when required, setting out scope, access, protection measures, and timing
- Act impartially to resolve disputes and protect both Building and Adjoining Owners
How long does it last?
As a rule of thumb, a notice must be acted on within 12 months (works should commence within that period). The Party Wall Award then governs how the works proceed and remains effective until the works are completed in accordance with its terms.
If no notice has been served
- Speak with your neighbour—they may be unaware of their obligations.
- Check your rights under the Act.
- Seek professional advice to protect your position.
- Consider a counter-notice to formalise concerns and trigger the dispute-resolution process.
If a neighbour ignores your notice
- After 14 days with no reply, the law treats this as a dissent.
- A further 10-day notice follows.
- If there is still no response, a surveyor can be appointed on the non-responding owner’s behalf.
- One surveyor (Agreed Surveyor) or two surveyors then issue the Party Wall Award so the project can proceed lawfully.
Why choose Simple Survey?
- Lowest fixed fees in England & Wales — transparent, affordable pricing
- RICS-qualified — experienced, impartial specialists
- Clear guidance — plain-English advice at every step
- Fast, reliable service — keep your project compliant and on track
📩 Contact team@simplesurvey.co.uk, England and Wales’ most cost effective Party Wall Surveying team with Party Wall Notice fees from £25.00 and Party Wall Award fees capped at £325.00. We will not be beaten on price!