If this is your first extension, loft conversion or basement dig, Party Wall fees can feel like a curveball you didn’t price in. But here’s the truth: the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is statutory—you can’t skip it, “work around” it, or sort it later. What you can do is control the process, lock down costs, and keep everyone (including your neighbours) calm and cooperative.
Below is a practical playbook to keep your Party Wall spend lean without cutting corners.
1) Lock a fixed surveyor fee
Open-ended hourly billing is where budgets go to die. You want clear scope and a committed number up front.
- Ask for a fixed fee for: drafting/serving valid notices, handling responses, and (if needed) producing the Party Wall Award.
- If a surveyor won’t fix their fee for standard works, move on. There are plenty who will—especially for conventional lofts, rear extensions and modest excavations.
Simple Survey’s fixed, ultra-clear 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)
Fixed fees de-risk your budget, shorten decision time, and keep the process focused.
2) Give your neighbour a proper heads-up
Silence spooks people. Surprises trigger knee-jerk dissents (and sometimes the most expensive surveyor in town). A short, friendly pre-notice chat often pays for itself.
What to do—this week:
- Explain the works in plain English: what, when, how long, and how you’ll mitigate noise and dust.
- Flag access needs early (scaffold in their garden? ladder over the boundary?) so the first time they hear it isn’t in legalese.
- Set expectations: a Party Wall Notice will arrive, and it’s a legal requirement—not a threat.
Why it saves money:
- Informed neighbours are more likely to consent or choose an Agreed Surveyor—both routes typically keep costs down and timelines tight.
- If they prefer their own surveyor, your early transparency can still temper fee inflation and tone.
3) Choose experience and qualifications over “cheap and cheerful”
Anyone can call themselves a party wall surveyor. The Act’s definition is notoriously broad—no guarantee of competence. That’s how “cheap” becomes expensive: invalid notices, re-serving, delays, and bloated back-and-forth.
What to check:
- RICS membership (MRICS/FRICS) and professional indemnity insurance.
- Building pathology experience (lofts, basements, extensions) so design risks are spotted before they become fee-generating disputes.
- A willingness to work collaboratively with your engineer/architect to close technical queries fast.
A competent, qualified surveyor reduces disputes, drafts valid notices first time, and issues robust awards—fewer surprises, fewer extras, fewer headaches.
Bonus savings that add up
- Serve valid notices early. Two months can evaporate fast—early service avoids rush premiums and builder downtime.
- Provide clear drawings. Clean plans and excavation sections calm neighbours and cut queries (and therefore hours).
- Aim for an Agreed Surveyor (when appropriate). For conventional works and good neighbour relations, a single, impartial surveyor is often the fastest, most economical route.
What if the neighbour dissents anyway?
That’s fine—the Act anticipates it. If they appoint their own surveyor, you’ll typically cover reasonable fees, and the Award will set method, timing and protections. A good building-owner surveyor (that’s us) will challenge excess, keep dialogue constructive, and push for proportionate, efficient administration.
The bottom line
You can’t avoid the Party Wall process—but you can avoid unnecessary cost:
- Fix your surveyor costs.
- De-risk your neighbour’s response with early, honest communication.
- Hire qualified, experienced professionals who keep things valid, proportionate and calm.
With the right setup, Party Wall doesn’t sink your budget—it protects your build and keeps your timeline intact.
Keep it simple. Keep it affordable.
- Party Wall Notice service — £25 per adjoining ownership (multi-notice bundles discounted)
- Agreed Surveyor administration — typically £300 fixed-fee
- Two-surveyor route (we act for you) — fixed-fee from £325 (and we work to contain your neighbour’s surveyor’s fees)
Email: team@simplesurvey.co.uk
Attach your drawings (even provisional), tell us your intended start date and the neighbour’s details. We’ll confirm what’s notifiable, issue valid notices fast, and keep your Party Wall spend predictable, lean and lawful.