Executive summary
If your neighbour is planning building work, the Party Wall process is the route that helps you understand what’s proposed, choose how to respond, and, if needed, move the matter into a formal dispute-resolution pathway. As the adjoining owner, your key decision is whether to consent in writing or dissent in writing, because that choice determines whether the works can proceed informally or whether surveyors and a legally binding award may be required.
You live next door to a building project—what happens first?
When work is planned next door, the first question is simple: have you received a Party Wall Notice? That notice is the formal written document that starts the process for certain types of work that fall under the Party Wall rules.
From there, the process splits into two paths: you have been served a notice or you have not.
If you have NOT been served a Party Wall Notice
If you haven’t received a notice but you believe the work could affect a shared wall, boundary structure, or nearby groundworks, your next step is to speak to your neighbour and confirm the scope of what they intend to do. The aim here is to establish whether the works are likely to be “notifiable” under the Party Wall framework.
When the works are not notifiable
If, after checking the details, the proposed works are not the kind that trigger the Party Wall process, then there is no requirement for a notice under this route.
When the works ARE notifiable
If the works are notifiable, your neighbour should serve a valid notice. If they refuse to acknowledge that obligation and continue regardless, the process described in the guide shows that, after taking professional advice, you may consider applying to the court for an injunction to stop the works.
The practical point: don’t sit on uncertainty. If you believe the work should have been notified, clarify it early while options remain open.
If you HAVE been served a Party Wall Notice
Once a valid notice is in your hands, you normally have two written response routes:
Option 1: Consent in writing
If you consent in writing, your neighbour is generally free to proceed with the works.
This route is typically chosen when you understand the scope of the project, feel comfortable with the risk, and don’t need the matter handled under the dispute pathway.
Option 2: Dissent in writing
If you dissent in writing, it doesn’t automatically mean “no building work.” It means you want the matter dealt with through the Act’s dispute-resolution mechanism. In the guide’s process, a dispute is then treated as having arisen and the next stage is the appointment of surveyor(s).
What happens after you dissent
Dissent triggers a structured route that’s designed to move things forward without relying on neighbour-to-neighbour negotiation alone.
Surveyor appointment
At this stage, each party appoints a Party Wall Surveyor, or—if both parties can agree—one surveyor can be appointed to act for both sides as an “agreed surveyor.”
The key idea is impartiality: the surveyor role is to reach a fair outcome under the Party Wall framework, not to “take sides.”
The Party Wall Award
Once surveyors are in place, they agree the content of a Party Wall Award. The guide describes the award as a legally binding document that is enforceable if either party deviates from it.
After the award is served, the building owner can proceed with the notifiable works in accordance with the award.
The right to challenge
The process also includes a defined window to appeal the award: both owners have the right to appeal its contents within 14 days of it being served.
A quick decision guide for adjoining owners
If you want a simple way to decide how to respond, use this checklist:
- Do you fully understand what the works involve? If not, request clarity before you choose your response.
- Are you comfortable proceeding informally? If yes, written consent may be appropriate.
- Do you want a formal set of rules controlling how the works proceed? If yes, dissent in writing moves the matter into the surveyor-and-award route.
- Has work started without a valid notice where you believe one is required? The guide’s pathway flags that professional advice and potential court action may be options if obligations are ignored.
The bottom line
As an adjoining owner, the Party Wall process is less about conflict and more about control and clarity. If you are served a notice, your written response shapes what happens next. If you are not served a notice but believe the works should be notifiable, early action is better than late frustration. Either way, the process described in the guide is designed to move from uncertainty to a clear route forward—either by written consent or by a formal award that sets enforceable rules.