Once the Party Wall Award is in place and the builders are on site, the goal is simple: get the work done safely, lawfully and with minimum stress for both neighbours. From a surveyor’s perspective, the projects that run smoothly share three habits: report issues early, keep the surveyor in the loop, and communicate clearly with the contractor. Here’s how to put that into practice.
1) Report damage early
If you’re the adjoining owner and you spot cracking, water ingress, movement, broken paving, or even excessive dust tracking into your property, flag it immediately. Small issues are quicker and cheaper to resolve the same day than after weeks of work.
- Be specific. Note the room/area, wall/ceiling/floor, and what changed (e.g., “new hairline crack approximately 120mm above skirting on east wall”).
- Add time and context. When did you first notice it? What was happening next door at that point (demolition, drilling, excavation)?
- Use photos and short video. Date-stamped images are gold for fast, fair resolution.
- Tell the surveyor first (and copy in the building owner). The Party Wall surveyor(s) administer the Act and will steer the response—quickest route to a tidy fix.
Silence breeds assumptions. Early reporting keeps solutions simple and prevents positions hardening.
2) Keep the Party Wall Surveyor updated
The appointed surveyor(s) aren’t just there to issue the Award; they administer it during the works. If something on site needs re-sequencing, a method changes, or the builder proposes a different detail, loop in the surveyor(s) before it happens. Many hiccups can be regularised via a short addendum or written agreement within the Act.
- Building owners: If your contractor wants to alter temporary works, access arrangements, or working hours, ask your surveyor to confirm what’s allowed. Acting first and asking later is how simple projects become disputes.
- Adjoining owners: If access isn’t being requested with proper notice, or works feel out of step with the Award, tell the surveyor the same day. They’ll course-correct quickly.
Think of the surveyor as mission control for compliance and fairness; keeping them informed keeps the project legal and calm.
3) Communicate with the contractor
Most friction is solved in minutes on site. A polite word with the site foreman—“The Award says noisy works 9–5 only; can you hold off until then?”—often fixes it. Follow up with a brief email so there’s a record. If it slips again, escalate to the surveyor(s) with your note and photos attached.
Practical tips that prevent 90% of complaints:
- Hours & methods: Make sure the site team has read the Award’s working hours and any “hand-tools only” clauses for sensitive tasks.
- Access etiquette: When access to your land is permitted by the Award, expect reasonable notice and care (boards, protection, clean-up). Speak up—politely—if that standard drops.
- Housekeeping: Ask for regular sweeping, sheeting, and protection where agreed. Clean sites cause fewer claims.
4) Use the Award as your playbook
When in doubt, re-read the Award. It governs the time and manner of the notifiable works, sets out access, protections, and who pays which costs. If what’s happening on site doesn’t line up, you’ve got a clear reference point—and the surveyor has authority to enforce it.
Common moments to pause and check:
- A change in structural design or foundation depth
- Requests for extra access or scaffold beyond what was envisaged
- New, persistent noise outside allowed hours
- Any instruction that looks riskier or rougher than the agreed method
These aren’t crises—they’re signals to loop in the surveyor(s) and keep the works inside the rails.
5) Keep a neat paper trail
Short, factual notes win the day. Keep emails in one thread, label photos, and avoid emotional language. If a formal determination is ever needed, that tidy evidence saves everyone time and cost—and usually prompts a swift, pragmatic settlement before it gets that far.
Bottom line
During party wall works, speedy reporting, surveyors in the loop, and clear contractor comms are your best friends. Most problems vanish when raised early and handled through the Award’s framework.
Need a steady hand on your project—or help rescuing one that’s wobbling?
Simple Survey — RICS Party Wall Surveyors (England & Wales)
Fast, friendly, fixed-fee support during and after service of notices and Awards.
📧 team@simplesurvey.co.uk