At Simple Survey, “party wall” doesn’t have to mean paperwork, delays, or drama. Proactive management—right from pre-notice review, through to a cleanly-closed file—keeps costs down and sites running. Here’s our playbook for Building Owners, Adjoining Owners, and fellow surveyors who want a smoother run under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
1) Take the “dispute” out of the dispute
A dissent under the Act isn’t hostility—it’s simply the gateway to a structured, impartial process. Set that tone early. Explain what’s notifiable, why it’s notifiable, and how the Award will manage method, timing, and safeguards. Make correspondence plain-English and solution-oriented so owners know what’s happening and why.
2) Front-load clarity (and spot invalidities before they bite)
Serve valid Notices with the right content, timing and service method. For Section 6, attach plans/sections with depths. Cross-check Land Registry names (and leaseholders over one year). If you’re the Building Owner: send full-set drawings with the Notice—not legally required for every section, but it builds confidence and speeds consent.
3) Engage early with neighbours and their team
A quick introduction email to the Adjoining Owner cools nerves. Walk them through the scope, programme, and access needs. Meeting people before decisions are needed makes the decision easier.
4) Keep design conversations engineer-to-engineer
When works are complex (basements, deep excavations, heavy transfers), bring an advising engineer into the surveyor dialogue. Tidy up temporary works, sequencing and tolerances early so the Award is precise and buildable—no mid-project rewrites.
5) Write Awards people can build from
Great Awards are specific, not bloated. Nail down:
- Methods at shared fabric (e.g., non-percussive/hand tools to reduce vibration).
- Access (s.8) windows that are realistic for the contractor and tolerable for neighbours.
- Protection measures (sheeting, safeguarding open trenches, temporary works sign-offs).
- Change control (what triggers an update, what must be re-noticed).
- Communication rules (who to tell, how fast, with what evidence).
6) Use Security for Expenses only when proportionate
If risk is real (basements, underpinning, overseas SPVs), set fair sums with staged release as risk falls. Avoid “blank cheque” numbers; they inflame costs and relationships.
7) Track the statutory clock—and keep both owners informed
A dissent means Section 10 timelines begin. Confirm appointments in writing, nominate a third surveyor promptly in two-surveyor cases, and send short status notes so owners aren’t guessing. Quiet files get expensive.
8) Don’t confuse Party Wall with everything else
Awards should contain the standard “all other consents still required” wording. Don’t conflate Right to Light, planning, or Building Regs with the Act. Keeping lanes separate avoids arguments and duplicated fees.
9) Escalate sensibly if someone stalls
If a surveyor isn’t engaging, use s.10(6)/(7) properly (written request to act; ex parte only on the subject requested). If a selected third surveyor won’t respond, the two surveyors should agree a new one quickly. Speedy, lawful escalation prevents site standstill.
10) Close out cleanly
When works complete, confirm any conditions tied to completion have been met, deal promptly with any reported damage through the Act’s framework, and close the file with a short wrap-up note. Everyone sleeps better.
Why proactive = cheaper
Clarity reduces objections. Proper notices avoid re-serving. Buildable Awards avoid on-site improvisation (the most expensive kind). Fair, focused use of engineers and Security for Expenses defuses risk without inflating cost. And steady communication keeps tempers—and invoices—down.
Simple, fixed pricing (that really is simple)
- 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)
You’ll know the cost up front. No “meter running,” no surprises.
Ready to keep your project calm and compliant?
Send us your drawings (even early-stage) and the site address. We’ll confirm what’s notifiable, serve valid Notices, and produce a crisp, buildable Award—proactively managed from day one.
Email: team@simplesurvey.co.uk
Prefer a quick start? Drop us a line with the address and target start date—we’ll map the statutory timings and get you moving.