If you’re planning works near a boundary or shared wall, you’ll quickly hear the term Party Wall Award.
Think of the Award as the rulebook that lets your project proceed lawfully and safely while protecting your neighbour’s property.
Here’s a clear, no-jargon primer covering when Awards apply, who agrees them, what they contain, and why they matter.
When is a Party Wall Award required?
Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you (the Building Owner) must serve a valid Party Wall Notice before starting notifiable works. After service, your neighbour (the Adjoining Owner) has 14 days to respond:
- Consent in writing: If they formally consent to your Notice, you can proceed with the notifiable works (in line with the Act). An Award is not compulsory in this scenario—though one can still be requested if either party wants the extra assurance.
- Dissent or no reply: If they dissent (or don’t respond), a dispute is deemed to have arisen under the Act. At that point, the Act requires surveyor(s) to be appointed and a Party Wall Award to be agreed before the notifiable works proceed.
Typical notifiable works include:
- Cutting into or otherwise working on a party wall/party structure (Section 2).
- Excavations within 3–6m that go deeper than your neighbour’s foundations (Section 6).
- Building a new wall at or astride the boundary (Section 1)—Awards can also arise here if terms can’t be agreed.
Bottom line: If there’s a dissent (or silence), you’ll need an Award to lawfully move forward with the notifiable elements.
Who agrees the Award?
You have two routes:
- Agreed Surveyor
Both owners appoint one impartial surveyor (the “Agreed Surveyor”) to act for both sides and make the Award. - Two Surveyors
Each owner appoints their own surveyor. Those two surveyors then select a Third Surveyor (a reserve decision-maker if the first two can’t agree).
Surveyors act under statute, not as your personal advocate. Their duty is to resolve the dispute impartially and produce a legally valid Award that regulates how the notifiable works proceed.
What’s included in a Party Wall Award?
While the exact content varies by project, a robust Award typically sets out:
- The works permitted under the Act
A clear description referencing drawings, methods and any sequencing constraints. - Time and manner of execution
Practical controls—for example, hand-tooling for delicate cuts, limits on heavy vibration, or temporary supports during critical operations. - Access arrangements
How and when lawful access to the Adjoining Owner’s land may occur (e.g., scaffold placement, notice periods, protection to finishes and landscaping). - Protection measures
Safeguards for the Adjoining Owner’s property (temporary weatherproofing, safeguarding exposed walls, dust and debris controls, etc.). - Monitoring & notifications
Triggers for notifying surveyors if methods, depths, or designs change, or if unforeseen conditions arise. - Damage & making-good provisions
The route to rectify or compensate for damage caused by the notifiable works, and the mechanism for valuing any claim. - Costs and fees
Who pays which costs (usually the Building Owner for works solely to their benefit), plus how any additional reasonable fees are addressed. - Drawings & technical documents (as appendices)
For excavations (Section 6), plans/sections showing location and depth are essential. Method statements or engineer’s notes may be attached where risk is higher (e.g., basements).
Why a Party Wall Award is a legal necessity
Once dissent has occurred (or no response is given within 14 days), the Act requires an Award. Proceeding without one risks:
- Injunctions stopping your works—often at short notice.
- Delays and extra cost as you retrofit compliance mid-build.
- Sale or remortgage issues later—your solicitor or lender may ask for the Award to evidence the works were lawfully regulated.
With a valid Award in place, responsibilities are clear, access rights are set, and there’s a defined pathway to handle change or damage—which keeps everyone out of avoidable disputes.
Agreed Surveyor vs Two-Surveyor route—what’s best?
- Agreed Surveyor: Quicker and more economical on conventional schemes where neighbourly relations are good and risk is modest.
- Two Surveyors: Adds a second set of eyes; helpful on complex or sensitive projects (deep excavations, basements, tricky structural alterations). A Third Surveyor stands ready if the first two can’t agree.
We’ll advise which route suits your programme, design and risk profile—then deliver the paperwork efficiently so you can get on site legally and confidently.
Simple Survey: clear fees, fast paperwork, real protection
- Party Wall Notice service: £25 per adjoining ownership
(multi-notice bundles discounted) - Act administration as Agreed Surveyor (single surveyor): typically £300 fixed-fee
(depends on complexity and number of notices/owners) - Two-surveyor route (we act for the Building Owner): fixed-fee proposals from £325 for our side
(we work to keep your neighbour’s surveyor’s hourly fees reasonable and contained)
We keep the process compliant, calm and cost-effective—no drama, no “mystery” charges.
Ready to move forward?
Email your drawings and site address to team@simplesurvey.co.uk for a same-day check on what’s notifiable, who needs notice, and the fastest compliant path to a Party Wall Award (if required).
Simple Survey — party wall compliance made simple, so your build stays on time and on budget.