Articles

Serving Party Wall Notices can feel like stepping into a maze of rules, acronyms, and deadlines—right when you’re trying to keep a build on programme and on budget. The good news: most worries are predictable, solvable, and often avoidable with the right approach....

A Party Wall Notice can feel intimidating, especially if it’s your first time seeing one. The letter looks formal, the timelines are tight, and the works next door might sound disruptive. Take a breath—most concerns are predictable and can be handled calmly within the...

Thinking about an extension, loft conversion, or digging new foundations? If the works touch a shared wall, boundary, or your neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. Here are the ten questions we hear most often—answered clearly, without...

Thinking about an extension or other work near a neighbour? If the works could affect a shared wall, boundary or nearby foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 probably applies. The Act isn’t there to block projects—it’s a framework that lets you build while...

Selecting a party wall surveyor isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—it can shape the pace, cost and harmony of your entire project. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives surveyors real authority to resolve disputes and set legally binding terms, so the person you appoint...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is designed to facilitate lawful building works while protecting neighbours. Even so, you may disagree with elements of a proposal or how it’s being carried out. Below are proportionate routes—starting with the least combative—to help you...

If your neighbour serves a Party Wall Notice about upcoming construction, you must reply in writing within the statutory timeframe set by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Your options are: 1) Consent If you’re comfortable with the proposals, you may consent in writing....

When two properties share a wall or boundary wall, Section 2 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 grants the Building Owner specific rights to carry out works to that party wall or party fence wall (a shared garden wall). These rights go beyond common-law permissions, but...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the statutory framework for managing building works that could affect shared walls, boundaries, or nearby structures in England and Wales (not just London). It aims to prevent damage, minimise disruption, and provide a fair, structured...

When both owners appoint their own party wall surveyors, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 requires those two surveyors to select a Third Surveyor. This creates a ready-made route to resolve disagreements so the process doesn’t stall. Selected vs Appointed: The Key...

If your neighbour (the Building Owner) serves a Party Wall Notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you must decide how to respond. There are three main options—and a fall-back if you don’t reply. 1) Consent (in writing) You can consent if you’re comfortable with...

If you’re planning works that fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the first formal step is serving a Party Wall Notice on your neighbour(s). Setting the right expectations from the outset will save you stress, time and money. Should I expect my neighbour to...

A Party Wall Notice is a formal document served under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 when planned works could affect a party wall, party fence wall (masonry boundary wall), or other party structures (including floors/ceilings between flats). The Act applies in England...

Selecting a party wall surveyor isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—it can shape the pace, cost and harmony of your entire project. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives surveyors real authority to resolve disputes and set legally binding terms, so the person you appoint...

Section 10 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out exactly how disputes are handled once a Party Wall Notice has been served and the Adjoining Owner either dissents or doesn’t reply. The three notice responses (the trigger point) Consent – procedures pause; no award...

If you’re planning works that fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you must serve a written Party Wall Notice on every affected Adjoining Owner before starting. The notice triggers a simple, legal process that protects both sides and keeps projects moving. When...

If your works fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 and you’ve served a Party Wall Notice on every affected neighbour (the Adjoining Owner), the next question is whether you’ll need a Party Wall Award (often called a Party Wall Agreement). Here’s how to tell—fast....

When a neighbour dissents to a Party Wall Notice, a “dispute” (in the Act’s technical sense) is triggered. At that point, owners have two routes: Each owner appoints their own surveyor, or Both owners jointly appoint a single “Agreed Surveyor.” An Agreed Surveyor is...

A Party Wall Award (often called a Party Wall Agreement) is a legally binding document made under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It is produced by the appointed party wall surveyor(s) and sets the rules for how notifiable works will proceed, protecting both the...

Party wall procedures set out how neighbours in England & Wales must notify, agree, and carry out building works that affect shared walls, boundaries, or nearby foundations. Below is the typical sequence. 1) Serve Notice (Building Owner) The Building Owner must...

If your neighbour is proposing a rear extension, whether they must serve you (the Adjoining Owner) with a Party Wall Notice depends on distance, depth, and what works are planned. Below is a practical guide to when the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England &...

Party wall issues usually stem from late communication, unclear expectations, or misunderstandings about the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. The tips below help both Building Owners and Adjoining Owners steer clear of avoidable friction and keep projects moving. For...

If you’re the Building Owner proposing works that fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you must serve a Party Wall Notice on every affected Adjoining Owner. The notice describes the notifiable elements of your project and invites a formal response. How an...

If your project includes works covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you must serve a Party Wall Notice on every affected neighbour (the Adjoining Owner). One efficient route through the process is the Agreed Surveyor option—this guide explains when notices are...

When a neighbour serves (or you serve) a Party Wall Notice, the next big decision is how to run the dispute-resolution process if there’s a dissent: appoint one Agreed Surveyor to act for both owners, or separate surveyors—one for each side. The Party Wall etc. Act...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 governs building activity that could affect a shared wall, boundary, or nearby foundations. Where works are notifiable, your neighbour (the building owner) must serve a Party Wall Notice before work begins—at least 1 month for most matters...

Below is a practical guide to how party wall surveyors usually price their work, and why fees vary between projects. Lets start with our fees, £25.00 for Notices, £300.00 for Awards. Nice simple, low cost and straightforward! 1) Building Owner’s Surveyor (Fixed-Fee,...

A “10(4) Surveyor” is the shorthand for a party wall surveyor appointed under Section 10(4) of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 when an Adjoining Owner does not respond to a valid Party Wall Notice. The purpose is simple: silence must not stall lawful works—the Act...

A Third Surveyor is the independent back-stop built into Section 10 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Their job is to determine points the two appointed surveyors (for the Building Owner and the Adjoining Owner) cannot agree—quickly, fairly, and within the framework of...

Disagreements do happen—about timings, methods, access, damage, or fees. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives owners structured ways to deal with them, but it also limits what you can (and can’t) do. You generally cannot sack your appointed surveyor Section 10(2) is...

Lets start with the headline! Our Fees are Fixed at £25.00 for Notices and £300.00 for Party Wall Awards. In most cases, the Building Owner pays. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, surveyors determine reasonable costs (s.10(13)). Because the Building Owner benefits...

If your project could affect a shared structure (a wall, floor/ceiling between flats, or a garden wall on the boundary), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out a simple legal route that protects both you and your neighbour while keeping works moving. What counts as a...

Party wall surveyor costs vary by scope and location, but typical figures are: Hourly rates: ~£120–£350/hour Project totals: ~£800–£2,500 per appointment (straightforward to moderately complex matters) Our Approach: £25.00 for Notices, £300 for Awards! Yes, they...

Short answer: yes—provided they are not a party to the matter (i.e., not the Building Owner or the Adjoining Owner).The Act defines a surveyor as “any person not being a party to the matter” appointed under Section 10 to determine disputes. In practice, that means a...

If your planned works fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you have a legal duty to serve a written Party Wall Notice on every affected neighbour (the Adjoining Owner). The notice tells them what you intend to do and starts the formal process that protects both...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides a clear framework for resolving disputes where building works may affect a neighbour’s property. Its aim is twofold: to enable the Building Owner’s works to proceed lawfully, and to protect Adjoining Owners from unnecessary risk...

If you’ve received a Party Wall Notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you have three ways to respond. Think of them as green, amber, and red—each perfectly valid, just different levels of formality and protection. ✅ GREEN — Consent You consent in writing and the...

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, response periods are fixed in law so the process moves fairly and efficiently. Here are the key clocks to watch. 1) Initial Party Wall Notice — 14 days From the day the Adjoining Owner receives the notice, they have 14 days to reply...

If you’re the Building Owner planning works that could affect a shared wall, boundary, or nearby structure, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 likely applies. Serving the correct notices early keeps your project lawful, reduces friction, and protects both properties. What...

Section 12 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 allows either neighbour to require Security for Expenses before notifiable works begin. In plain terms, it’s money held on account to cover foreseeable damage and urgent protection/support measures if something goes wrong...

Under Section 11(11) of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, if an Adjoining Owner later makes use of work that was originally built and paid for solely by the Building Owner, the Adjoining Owner must pay a due (fair) proportion of the cost of that work. Crucially, the Act...

Yes. If your works fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you have a statutory duty to serve a written Party Wall Notice on every affected neighbour (the Adjoining Owner) before you start. Failing to do so risks court action (injunctions), delay, and additional...

Understanding whether your proposed works are notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, ensures that you are able to correctly serve a Party Wall Notice and ensure that Adjoining Owners receive the correct notice. The Act grants rights under Sections 1, 2, and 6,...

Once you know your works are notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the next step is working out who must receive notice. Get this wrong and even a perfectly drafted notice can be invalid. Who counts as an “owner”? (Section 20) Under s.20, an owner includes:...

Once you’ve confirmed your works are notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the next decision is whether to draft and serve the notices yourself or instruct a surveyor. I’ll keep this balanced. Option A — Do it yourself (DIY) There are reputable templates...

Party wall notices are legal documents, so they must be served correctly. Section 15 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out the permitted methods. 1) Personal service (by hand) Hand delivery is fine only if it’s delivered to the person in question. If no one is...

Silence happens more than you’d think. Owners move without updating the Title, go on extended trips, or simply don’t deal with paperwork. In practice, Party Wall Notices can get a non response. The Act anticipates this—and provides a way to keep your project moving...

For many Building Owners, the most worrying response to a Party Wall Notice isn’t just a dissent—it’s the Adjoining Owner appointing a separate surveyor. Some projects even get cancelled at this point. That’s understandable—but usually unnecessary. Who’s in control...

For most Building Owners, the ideal outcome after serving Party Wall Notices is a written consent—you still gain the Act’s benefits (like statutory access) without paying for surveyors to make an Award. In practice, though, consents are uncommon (anecdotally ~1 in 5)....

When an Adjoining Owner dissents to a Party Wall Notice, there are two routes: Appoint your own surveyor, or Concur in a single Agreed Surveyor acting for both owners. Cost: why an Agreed Surveyor is usually cheaper In many cases, one impartial surveyor costs less...