If you’ve served (or are about to serve) Party Wall Notices and your neighbour doesn’t want a separate surveyor, you may both choose to appoint one impartial professional as an Agreed Surveyor. Done well, it’s the quickest, most cost-effective route to a valid Party Wall Award—provided everyone understands what it is (and isn’t).
What is an Agreed Surveyor?
Under section 10 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, once a dissent arises (or is deemed), each owner may appoint their own surveyor—or both owners can concur in appointing a single “Agreed Surveyor.” That word agreed is key:
- You can only have an Agreed Surveyor if the Adjoining Owner expressly agrees.
- If the Adjoining Owner prefers their own surveyor, the two-surveyor route must be used.
Who does the Agreed Surveyor act for?
Both owners. The Agreed Surveyor’s duty is statutory and impartial—they don’t “represent” one side. Their role is to resolve the Act’s dispute and produce a Party Wall Award that sets the time and manner of the works and any safeguards needed to protect both properties. They must apply the Act neutrally, regardless of who first contacted or pays them.
What does the Agreed Surveyor actually do?
- Reviews drawings and method statements against the Act.
- Communicates with both owners; clarifies access, sequencing, and protective measures.
- Drafts and serves the Party Wall Award (and any addenda if the design materially changes).
- Determines cost responsibility under the Act (e.g., who pays for what and when).
- Provides a clear framework for variation, damage resolution and post-award queries.
(Note: routine “policing” inspections aren’t automatic under the Act. Owners must promptly notify the surveyor if works or risks change so the Award can be updated where necessary.)
No third surveyor: what that means
In the two-surveyor route, the two appointees select a Third Surveyor as a built-in fallback tribunal if the two can’t agree. With an Agreed Surveyor, there is no Third Surveyor. That doesn’t make the Award weaker—Awards by an Agreed Surveyor carry the same legal weight—but it does mean:
- You’re relying on one professional’s judgment and efficiency.
- If either owner feels the Award is wrong in law or jurisdiction, the remedy is an appeal to the County Court within 14 days of service—not a Third Surveyor referral.
Because there’s no “second set of eyes,” choose your Agreed Surveyor carefully: experience, clarity, and calm, even-handed administration matter.
Who pays the Agreed Surveyor’s fees?
Typically the Building Owner, as the party initiating notifiable works. The Act expects costs to be reasonable and proportionate to the scope and complexity of the project. (There are edge cases—e.g., owner-requested extras or shared repairs—where costs can be apportioned, but the norm is Building Owner pays.)
When an Agreed Surveyor is a smart choice
- Conventional works: loft beams, modest rear extensions, simple cut-ins.
- Good neighbourly relations and open communication.
- Clear, fixed design with minimal uncertainty.
- Speed and cost control are a priority.
When two surveyors may be better
- High-risk works (deep basements, complex retained structures, intricate party wall interfaces).
- Tense relations or poor communication.
- Material unknowns (ground conditions, legacy defects) where peer review is helpful.
- Either owner simply prefers separate representation—which is their right.
Practical tips to make the Agreed Surveyor route work
- Serve valid Notices first—clean service avoids rework and delay.
- Share full drawings and methods early. Less ambiguity = fewer queries.
- Keep to the design used for the Award; material changes often need a further award.
- Tell the surveyor early if risks or methods change so they can lawfully update the Award.
- Be responsive and pragmatic. Efficiency keeps fees proportionate.
Simple Survey: the fast, fair Agreed Surveyor option
Our pricing is built to remove friction and keep you compliant:
- 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)
Next step: Email your address and drawings (drafts are fine) to team@simplesurvey.co.uk. We’ll confirm what’s notifiable, recommend the least-cost, compliant route, and—if suitable—progress an Agreed Surveyor Award quickly and transparently.
Simple Survey — the most cost-effective way to a robust, lawful Party Wall Award.