If you want your project to start on time (and stay neighbourly), your best tactic is to make it easy for your adjoining owner to say “yes.” Here’s a practical, fast-track playbook that consistently turns perfectly valid Party Wall Notices into quick consents—without drama, delay or unnecessary cost.
1) Give early, friendly warning
Surprises slow things down. As soon as your plans firm up, have a friendly chat or send a short note explaining what you’re building, why, and roughly when. Early visibility lowers anxiety and prevents knee-jerk dissents that add weeks. Think: “Here’s what we’re planning; a formal Party Wall Notice will follow and we’ll keep you posted.”
2) Have a party wall surveyor serve the Notice
Nothing builds confidence like showing you’re doing things by the book. When a qualified surveyor prepares and serves the Notice, it signals respect for the Act and reduces doubts about validity, timings and content. It also ensures the correct owners are served and that service methods comply with Section 15—the two biggest Notice pitfalls in DIY attempts.
3) Share the start date and duration up front
People consent faster when they can plan around your works. Add a simple timeline: “Scaffold up on X, noisy works between Y–Z, demobilise by W.” Setting expectations reassures neighbours you’re organised and considerate—and helps avoid avoidable objections.
4) Make a warm introduction to your contractor
A quick meet or call between your neighbour and your main contractor works wonders. It humanises the process, opens a direct line for day-to-day practicalities (e.g., parking, deliveries, noisy periods), and builds trust. When neighbours know who’s on site—and that they’ll be sensible—consent follows more readily.
5) Serve a valid Notice
After all that good groundwork, don’t undermine it with an invalid Notice. Common DIY errors include:
- Missing drawings with Section 6 (adjacent excavation) Notices
- Serving the wrong owners (e.g., omitting long leaseholders)
- Using invalid service methods (e.g., emailing without written consent)
- Cutting the statutory lead times too fine
Each of these opens the door to challenge, delay—or a forced restart. Get it right first time and shorten the path to a clean, written consent.
Why this five-step approach works
- Certainty: Early information reduces fear of the unknown.
- Credibility: Surveyor-served notices demonstrate compliance.
- Clarity: Dates and durations show you’re organised and respectful.
- Rapport: Human contact with your contractor builds cooperation.
- Compliance: A technically valid Notice makes “yes” the easy answer.
The result? Fewer dissents, fewer referrals to surveyors, fewer delays—and a quicker start on site.
Keep costs low and momentum high with Simple Survey
Transparent, UK-wide pricing
- 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)
What we do, fast:
- Check your drawings and confirm exactly what’s notifiable
- Identify all qualifying adjoining owners correctly
- Serve Notices validly under the Act with proper evidence of service
- Provide clear timelines and practical guidance you can share with neighbours
- Support you through consent—or, if needed, a fair and efficient Award
Ready to secure consent the smart way?
Email your plans and site address to team@simplesurvey.co.uk.
We’ll confirm what’s notifiable, serve valid Notices for £25 per ownership, and set you up with the best chance of a swift, stress-free consent—so you can get building.