Planning a basement extension, rear/side extension, garden room or loft conversion is exciting—you’re finally turning drawings into bricks and mortar. Before you dive into Notices and contractors, there’s one simple step that consistently makes the Party Wall process smoother, faster and cheaper:
Speak to your neighbours early.
Why early neighbour chats matter
Reduces “shock value.” A Party Wall Notice arriving out of the blue can feel formal (because it is). A friendly heads-up weeks in advance lowers anxiety and sets expectations about noise, access and timelines.
Improves your Notice outcome. When neighbours understand the scope, duration and safeguards, they’re more likely to consent or agree to an Agreed Surveyor—both routes that tend to be quicker and lighter on fees.
Pre-empts misconceptions. Many adjoining owners assume all works are high-risk. A simple conversation—backed by clear drawings and your method (e.g., hand tools at the party wall, agreed working hours)—shows you’re being considerate and compliant.
Builds access cooperation. If your design needs temporary access (scaffold in the garden, flank-wall finishing, safe excavation), early dialogue makes access planning pragmatic rather than adversarial.
What to cover in that first conversation
- The what: Plain-English summary of works (e.g., “rear extension, 3m deep, single storey”).
- The when: Intended start window and approximate duration for the noisy bits.
- The how: Key safeguards—hand tools at the party wall, temporary protections, responsible hours.
- The who: Your contractor’s point of contact and (ideally) your surveyor’s details.
- The compliance: Reassure them you’ll serve valid Party Wall Notices and follow the Act to the letter.
Follow up with a brief email recapping the above. It creates a dated, friendly record and makes it easy for neighbours to ask questions before Notices land.
How this helps the formal process
- Notices land better. When the statutory paperwork arrives, it confirms what you already discussed—not a surprise.
- Faster decisions. Neighbours who feel informed tend to respond within 14 days, avoiding unnecessary delay.
- Fewer escalations. Clear expectations reduce disputes about access, methods or timing later on.
When to bring a surveyor in
Even with great neighbour relations, you still need to serve valid Notices (Sections 1, 2, or 6, as applicable). A quick plan check by a Party Wall surveyor ensures:
- You’re serving the right Notices (and including Section 6 drawings for excavations).
- The service method under Section 15 is valid.
- If a dissent is likely, you’ve teed up an efficient Agreed Surveyor route.
Keep costs low and compliance high with Simple Survey
- 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’re RICS-qualified building surveyors with deep experience in basements, lofts, garden rooms and extensions. We’ll validate what’s notifiable, serve airtight Notices, and—if needed—agree a clear, enforceable Award.
Ready to get neighbours onside and shovels in the ground?
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk with your address and drawings for a swift plan check and fixed-fee proposal. Start with a friendly chat next door—we’ll handle the legal heavy lifting.