If you are planning building works —whether you own a townhouse, a flat, a mixed-use building, or a commercial unit—you will often be working close to neighbouring structures. That is exactly the situation the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 was written for: to provide a clear, lawful process for works that may affect a shared wall, a boundary wall position, or neighbouring foundations.
At Simple Survey, we act for both Building Owners (the person carrying out the works) and Adjoining Owners (the neighbour affected by them). Our focus is simple: clear advice, correct notices, realistic timing, and a calm route to conclusion—so projects do not drift into delay or neighbour conflict.
What we do
We advise and act where the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is likely to be triggered, including:
- Works to party walls and party structures (common in terraces and flats)
- Boundary-related works (new walls up to the line of junction, or works involving shared boundary walls)
- Excavations near neighbouring buildings (often for extension foundations or deeper works)
We cover both residential and commercial scenarios in Westminster, where property layouts, shared structures, and ownership arrangements can be more complex than many homeowners expect.
Why projects need a careful, professional party wall approach
Our experience includes everything from period buildings with complex layouts to modern developments with layered ownership. That affects party wall matters in practical ways:
- Flats and mixed ownership: the “neighbour” may not be a single person, and the correct legal owners must be served.
- Tight building lines: many projects involve works close to boundaries, requiring clarity on scope and method.
- Programme pressure: building owners often have fixed contractor dates—party wall timing must be planned early to avoid last-minute friction.
A good party wall surveyor doesn’t just “know the Act”. They manage the process so it stays proportionate and does not become a source of delay.
The three main types of work covered by the Act
Most party wall matters fall into one (or more) of these categories:
1) Works to a party wall, party structure, or certain shared boundary walls
This is commonly Section 2 work (works to an existing party wall/party structure), notified via a Section 3 notice. Typical examples include:
- cutting into a shared wall to insert beams or supports
- raising, thickening, or otherwise altering a shared wall
- works to structural walls or floors separating flats
2) Excavations near neighbouring buildings
This is commonly Section 6. It is frequently triggered by:
- digging for foundations close to a neighbour’s building
- deeper excavations where depth and proximity may be relevant
3) New walls at the boundary line (line of junction)
This is commonly Section 1, covering new walls built up to (and in limited circumstances astride) the boundary line.
If your project involves more than one category, more than one notice type may be required. This is one of the most common reasons DIY notices go wrong.
The Party Wall process written simply
Notice → Response → (if needed) Award
Step 1: Serve the correct notice
The Building Owner must notify the Adjoining Owner(s) in writing. A valid notice must be served on the correct legal owners and must describe the works clearly enough for a non-expert to understand.
Typical minimum notice periods (depending on the work category) are:
- around 2 months for works to an existing party wall/party structure (Section 2 notified under Section 3)
- around 1 month for boundary notices (Section 1) and excavation notices (Section 6)
Step 2: The Adjoining Owner responds
The Adjoining Owner typically has 14 days to respond in writing:
- Consent: they agree in writing
- Dissent: they do not consent (this triggers the formal route)
- No reply: silence is not “consent”; it usually moves the matter into the dispute route for procedural purposes
Step 3: If there is no written consent, surveyors may be required
Where consent is not given, the Act provides a structured route (commonly through Section 10) where:
- one agreed surveyor may act impartially for both owners, or
- each owner appoints their own surveyor, and the surveyors work through the statutory procedure
A formal Party Wall Award may then be produced to conclude the party wall aspects of the matter so works can proceed in a controlled way.
Who can serve a Party Wall Notice?
A notice can be served by the Building Owner, or by a representative acting on their behalf (such as a party wall surveyor).
Although owners can serve notices themselves, the practical issue is not permission—it is accuracy. Most delays in party wall matters come from:
- serving the wrong person
- using the wrong notice type
- vague scope
- inconsistent dates
- missing key information
- serving too late and trying to rush a response
Professional service often prevents those avoidable failures.
What “efficient party wall surveying” actually looks like
A party wall process becomes slow for predictable reasons: late action, unclear scope, and drift. We avoid that with a straightforward working style:
- Clear notices that notify properly without being so narrow that minor changes force re-service
- Proportionate drafting so the other side can agree documents without endless rewriting
- Regular follow-up so files do not disappear into an inbox
- Calm communication that reduces neighbour anxiety rather than inflaming it
- Practical decision-making: focusing on what must be agreed, not on point-scoring
This is what keeps projects moving in Westminster, where timing and coordination matter.
Fees: what owners usually need to know
Costs vary with complexity, number of adjoining owners, and how quickly owners engage. In many typical domestic projects, the Building Owner (the party doing the works) usually pays the reasonable professional fees associated with concluding party wall matters—particularly where the works are solely for their benefit.
The most reliable way to keep costs down is not “cheap paperwork”. It is:
- correct notice service first time,
- realistic timing,
- and a process that avoids unnecessary correspondence and delay.
Helpful FAQs
Do neighbours have the right to stop the work?
The Act is not a “veto” system. Neighbours can influence the route (consent vs the formal procedure) and may raise legitimate concerns, but lawful works can usually proceed once the statutory process is followed properly.
What if the Adjoining Owner does not reply?
Silence is not consent. If there is no written consent within the response window, the matter typically proceeds through the statutory route and surveyor procedures may apply.
When should I start party wall steps for a project?
As soon as your design is stable enough to describe clearly, and well before your intended start date. Leaving party wall until the builder is booked is a common cause of delay.
Does planning permission remove party wall obligations?
No. Planning and party wall are separate. A project can have planning approval and still require notices under the Act.
Get Cost Saving Pro Advice Now
If you need to serve a Party Wall Notice—or you have received one—contact Simple Survey. We keep the process clear and controlled: correct notices, realistic timings, and practical progression to agreement where formal documents are required. We are built around low-cost fixed-fee pricing and aim to be the UK’s cheapest party wall surveyors without compromising professional standards.