A party wall notice is the formal trigger for the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 in England and Wales. If your project could affect a shared wall, a boundary wall, or nearby foundations, you’re legally required to notify the neighbouring owner(s) before work starts. Done properly, notices keep projects compliant and reduce friction. Done badly—or not at all—they invite delay, disputes and extra cost.
Below is a clear guide to when notices are needed, what they must contain, how to serve them, and the common pitfalls to avoid.
When do you need to serve a party wall notice?
You must serve notice before starting notifiable works under the Act, typically:
- Section 1 (Line of Junction): building a new wall up to or astride the boundary.
- Section 2 (Works to Party Structures): works directly to a party wall/party fence wall/party structure (e.g., cutting in, raising, rebuilding, removing projections, adding flashings).
- Section 6 (Adjacent Excavation): excavations within 3 metres (or 6 metres for deeper works such as piles) that will go deeper than the neighbour’s foundations.
Planning permission is separate. Having planning consent does not remove your duty to serve a party wall notice.
Minimum notice periods
- Two months for most Section 2 party structure works.
- One month for Section 1 boundary walls and Section 6 excavations.
These are minimums. Serve earlier where possible to give time for responses and any follow-on steps.
What a valid party wall notice must include
A notice is a legal document. To be valid it should clearly set out:
- Who: Names and service addresses of both owners.
- Where: The properties affected.
- What: A plain-English description of the notifiable works (e.g., “cutting into the party wall to install steel beams” or “excavating for new foundations within 3 metres”).
- When: An intended start date after the statutory notice period.
- Which section(s): A clear reference to the relevant section(s) of the Act.
- Plans/sections where required: For Section 6 excavations, include drawings showing positions and depths (plans and sections).
How to serve a party wall notice (and prove it)
Acceptable service methods are set out in the Act. Common routes include:
- Post to the neighbour’s usual or last-known UK residence or place of business.
- By hand to the neighbour (not just through the letterbox if no one is in).
- Email is permitted only if the recipient has confirmed they’re willing to receive notices electronically.
Tip: Keep evidence of service (postal proof, delivery receipt, or written email consent).
What happens after service?
The neighbour has 14 days to respond in writing. They can:
- Consent – your works can proceed under the Act without further formalities (subject to any other legal requirements).
- Dissent and appoint their own surveyor – the Act’s dispute-resolution procedure starts.
- Dissent and agree to a single Agreed Surveyor – one impartial surveyor acts for both owners.
No response? After 14 days, serve a further 10-day request. If there’s still no reply, a dispute is deemed to have arisen and a surveyor can be appointed on the non-responding neighbour’s behalf under Section 10(4).
Common notice mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- Wrong owners named (missed joint owners, freeholder/long-leaseholder omissions).
- Incorrect or missing addresses (service to the wrong place).
- Vague descriptions (“general renovations”) instead of the specific notifiable elements.
- Wrong timing (attempting to start before the notice period ends).
- Missing drawings for Section 6 excavations.
- Unlawful service by email without prior written consent.
A single defect can invalidate the notice and force you to start again.
Why use a specialist?
Correct notices save weeks and minimise risk. Specialists ensure:
- The right owners are notified.
- The right sections are referenced.
- The content is clear, compliant and neighbour-ready.
- Service can be evidenced if challenged.
Transparent, fixed pricing (Simple Survey)
- Party Wall Notice service: £25 per adjoining ownership (multi-notice bundles discounted).
- Act administration as Agreed Surveyor (single surveyor): typically £300 fixed-fee, depending on complexity and number of notices/owners.
- Two-surveyor route (we act for the person doing the works): fixed-fee proposals from £325 for our side. (The neighbour’s surveyor often bills hourly; we work to keep those costs reasonable and contained.)
- Complex works (deep excavations, multi-owner blocks): we still offer fixed pricing as above.
No surprises, no creeping extras. You’ll know the number before we start.
FAQs
Can I serve my own party wall notice?
Yes—many owners do. Just ensure it’s valid: correct parties, sections, content, timing and service. If in doubt, have us draft and serve for £25 per adjoining ownership.
Do I need drawings with the notice?
For Section 6 excavations, yes—plans and sections are mandatory. For other works, clear drawings are strongly recommended to avoid ambiguity.
Can I email the notice?
Only if the neighbour has confirmed in writing they are willing to receive notices by email. Keep that consent on file.
What if my neighbour ignores the notice?
After 14 days, issue the 10-day request. If still no response, the Act provides a pathway to appoint a surveyor on their behalf so your project can progress lawfully.
If the neighbour consents, am I finished with Party Wall?
If there’s written consent to valid notices, the formal process typically ends. You must still carry out the works with proper care and in accordance with any other legal requirements.
Does planning permission cover this?
No—planning and the Party Wall Act are completely separate processes.
The bottom line
A party wall notice is more than a courtesy—it’s a legal requirement that keeps your build on track. Serve the right notice, to the right people, at the right time, with the right detail, and you’ll avoid avoidable re-serving, objections and delay.
Need your notices prepared and served correctly—today?
Simple Survey handles everything for £25 per adjoining ownership with crystal-clear, compliant paperwork and fast turnaround.
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk to get started.