If you’re planning works that fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the first formal step is serving a Party Wall Notice on your neighbour(s). Setting the right expectations from the outset will save you stress, time and money.
Should I expect my neighbour to consent?
In most cases, no. Adjoining owners often dissent—not because they object to your project, but to secure the extra protections the Act provides. A dissent simply triggers the Act’s dispute-resolution process; it isn’t a veto.
Can I influence how they respond?
Not directly. The Notice is a legal document and the adjoining owner must decide free from pressure. That said, you can make a consent more likely—or at least keep things smooth—by being transparent and considerate.
How to give your Notice the best reception
1) Talk first, serve later
- Explain the works in plain English (what, where, when, how long).
- Show drawings and highlight anything close to the boundary or affecting the party wall.
- Acknowledge impact (noise, deliveries, scaffolding) and how you’ll manage it.
2) Give generous lead-in time
- Serve well before the statutory minimums.
- Invite your neighbour to flag quiet hours, sensitive dates, or access concerns so you can plan around them.
3) Hand-deliver where appropriate
- Personal delivery (and a friendly chat) humanises the process and reduces anxiety.
- Follow up with the formal written Notice and an easy tick-box response form.
4) Offer practical reassurances up front
- Confirm you’ll make good any damage caused by the notifiable works.
- Suggest an Agreed Surveyor (impartial) as an option—while making clear they’re free to appoint their own.
5) Include everything needed for a valid Notice
- Correct owner details and addresses.
- Clear description of the notifiable elements only.
- Intended start date (after the statutory period unless they agree otherwise).
- Plans/sections for excavations (Section 6).
- A brief reference to the relevant sections of the Act.
After service: what happens next?
- They have 14 days to respond (consent, dissent with Agreed Surveyor, or dissent with their own surveyor).
- No reply? You’ll issue a 10-day follow-up; if still no response, you may appoint a surveyor on their behalf under section 10(4) so the process can continue.
Final thought
You can’t (and shouldn’t) steer your neighbour’s legal choice—but you can build trust: be early, be clear, be considerate, and be ready to fund sensible protections. That approach keeps relationships intact and keeps your programme moving.
Want this handled quickly, correctly, and for less?
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk — Simple Survey are the lowest-cost party wall surveyors across England & Wales. We’ll draft and serve compliant notices, produce a proportionate Award that keeps your build on programme.