First things first: we always recommend getting a qualified party wall surveyor to prepare and serve notices. A Party Wall Notice is a legal document. If it’s invalid, the clock resets, neighbours can challenge it, and your start date can slip. That said, if you’re set on serving your own DIY notice, here’s how to do it properly and minimise risk.
1) Serve the right people (all of them)
The Act requires service on adjoining owners — that means the freeholder and any leaseholders with a lease term over one year. Flats can mean multiple owners above, below and beside you. Check Land Registry (and Companies House where relevant). If a property is let on an AST, you do not serve the tenant; you serve the legal owner(s).
2) Prove service (and avoid “I never got it”)
Use first-class post and keep proof of postage. Recorded delivery can be refused at the door, which risks non-service. Hand delivery is fine (make a note of date/time and who accepted it). Fixing the notice to the front door/gate is also permitted in specific circumstances. Email only works if the recipient agrees in writing to electronic service beforehand.
3) Attach the correct plans (especially for excavations)
Your notice must describe the works clearly. For Section 6 excavation notices, you must include plans and sections showing the line and depth of the dig relative to the neighbour’s foundations. Without these, the notice is invalid. For party structure works (Section 2) and line of junction (Section 1), detailed drawings aren’t strictly mandatory, but clear particulars help prevent disputes.
4) Include the statutory response options
Adjoining owners have 14 days to respond. Your pack should explain they can:
- Consent to the works; or
- Dissent and appoint an Agreed Surveyor; or
- Dissent and appoint their own surveyor (triggering the two-surveyor route).
If there’s no response within 14 days to a Section 2 or 6 notice, it’s treated as a dissent, and the dispute resolution procedure under Section 10 kicks in.
5) Sign and date the notice (yes, really)
It’s surprising how often unsigned notices surface. Sign and date every notice you serve. The notice period runs from actual service, not the printed date, so don’t backdate. Lead-times: two months for most Section 2 works; one month for Section 1 and Section 6.
DIY Checklist
- All adjoining owners identified (freehold + qualifying leaseholds)
- Correct notice type(s) (Section 1, 2 and/or 6)
- Clear description of works (and plans/sections for Section 6)
- Service method compliant (and proof retained)
- Response form enclosed (consent/dissent options explained)
- Signed and dated
If any of the above is missing for the relevant notice, you may have to re-serve and restart the statutory clock.
Prefer zero risk and faster progress? Use our low-cost service.
- 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)
FAQs
Can I serve a Party Wall Notice myself?
Yes — the Act allows owners to draft and serve their own notice, but it must comply with statutory requirements (content, timing, correct recipients).
What must a valid Party Wall Notice contain?
It should clearly describe the proposed work, include the correct legal section (e.g., Section 2), and specify the intended start date.
How early must I serve a notice?
It depends on which section of the Act applies. For example, a Section 2 notice usually requires at least 2 months’ lead-time. (Refer to your timing guide.)
What happens if the neighbour dissents to my DIY notice?
If they dissent, surveyors may need to be appointed. That can lead to a formal Party Wall Award being drafted by a surveyor.
What are the risks of doing a DIY notice incorrectly?
Mistakes may lead to invalid service, delays, higher costs (re-serving or disputes), or even legal challenges.
Email your drawings and addresses to team@simplesurvey.co.uk. We’ll tell you exactly which notices you need, draft them correctly, and (if you like) serve them for you—so your project starts on time and stays on track.