Articles
Building Owner Advice in 2026 That Can Control Your Party Wall Fees
In most cases, they rise or fall based on how much professional time the matter consumes—and that is heavily influenced by what you do before and during the Party Wall process. Below is practical, building-owner-focused advice to help you keep fees under control while...
Simple Survey’s Party Wall Predictions for 2026
Party wall work in 2026 isn’t changing because the Act has suddenly become “new” (it hasn’t). It’s changing because projects, neighbours, timelines, and expectations are changing—and that’s what typically drives party wall outcomes in the real world. Below are Simple...
Will Party Wall Surveyor Fees Go Up in 2026?
Understanding the Trends, What Drives Costs, and How to Plan Your Budget One of the most common questions we get from homeowners and developers is: “Will Party Wall surveyor fees increase in 2026?” With rising construction costs and shifting market conditions, it...
The Top Party Wall Case Laws Every Building Owner Should Know
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out clear statutory procedures, but much of how the Act is interpreted in practice has been shaped by case law. Over the years, the courts have clarified grey areas around notices, access, surveyor powers, and disputes. Understanding...
Talking Vs Not Talking To My Neighbour Before Party Wall Notice Service
When planning building works that fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, one of the most common questions we hear is whether you should talk to your neighbour before formally serving a Party Wall Notice. While the law does not require a conversation before notice is...
Getting the Party Wall Notice Consent You Need to Crack On
If you’re planning building work near a shared wall or boundary, getting consent to your Party Wall Notice can be the difference between starting on time and facing frustrating delays. While the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out a clear legal process, how you handle...
Do I Really Need a Party Wall Surveyor in 2026?
If you’re planning building work near a shared wall or boundary in England or Wales, it’s normal to wonder whether a party wall surveyor is genuinely necessary—or whether it’s just another “box-ticking” cost. In 2026, the short reality is this: You don’t always need a...
2026 Third Surveyor Referral Tips
What to Know When Party Wall Surveyors Can’t Agree Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, most matters are resolved by the two appointed surveyors working together. However, in some cases, agreement cannot be reached. When that happens, the Act provides a built-in...
2026 Party Wall Surveyor Tips
Up-to-date guidance to keep your building project lawful, efficient, and neighbour-friendly Party wall matters continue to cause unnecessary delays in building projects, often because they are left too late or misunderstood. As construction methods evolve in 2026, the...
2026 DIY Party Wall Notice Validity Tips
How to Get It Right First Time (and Avoid Costly Delays) Serving your own Party Wall Notice can seem straightforward. Many building owners choose the DIY route to save time or professional fees. However, in 2026, invalid notices remain one of the most common causes of...
2026 Building Owner Party Wall Tips
How to Keep Your Neighbour on Side and Your Project Moving If you’re planning building works that fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, how you handle your neighbour can be just as important as the design of your project. In 2026, with tighter build schedules and...
2026 Adjoining Owner Party Wall Tips
What Neighbours Need to Know Before Building Work Starts If your neighbour is planning building work near your property, you may receive a Party Wall Notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. For many adjoining owners, this can feel confusing or even...
Invalid Party Wall Notice Guidance
If you’re a building owner, serving a Party Wall Notice can feel like just ticking a box. But here’s the reality: an invalid Party Wall Notice is as good as not serving one at all – and that can seriously delay your project. So, what makes a notice invalid? First,...
Is My Neighbour Allowed Party Wall Access Onto My Land?
If you’ve just discovered that your neighbour’s contractor wants to come onto your land as part of the planned party wall works, your first instinct might be: “Hang on… can they actually do that?” Under the wording of the Party Wall etcetera Act 1996, in short, yes,...
Party Wall Agreement vs Party Wall Award Full Factsheet
If you’re planning building works, you might be wondering: “Can my neighbour and I just agree something between ourselves instead of going through surveyors and a Party Wall Award?” Let’s clear this up. Under the Party Wall etcetera Act 1996, a Party Wall Award is a...
DIY Party Wall Notices Our Full Factsheet
So, you’ve found out you need a Party Wall Notice and you’re wondering, “Can I just serve it myself?” Short answer: yes, you can. The Party Wall etcetera Act 1996 allows a building owner to serve their own notice. But before you hit print and pop it through the...
Party Wall Facts Party Wall Fee Responsibility
If you’re wondering who actually pays the Party Wall Surveyor fees, you’re not alone – it’s one of the most common questions we get. Here’s the simple answer. Under the Party Wall etcetera Act 1996, the rule is this: The building owner, who is the person doing the...
Party Wall Facts Party Wall Notice Responses & Options
I’m going to walk you through how to respond to a Party Wall Notice calmly and correctly. First, don’t ignore it. A Party Wall Notice is a legal document under the Party Wall etcetera Act 1996. As soon as it arrives, check three things: Does it show your correct name...
Party Wall Facts Firing a Party Wall Surveyor
One of the little-known procedural aspects within the Party Wall etcetera Act 1996, is that you can’t fire your Party Wall Surveyor. Let’s unpack why and what you can do if you’re unhappy. Under Section 10 of the Act, once a surveyor is appointed, that appointment is...
Party Wall Facts Agreed Surveyor OR Two Surveyors
When a neighbour dissents to a Party Wall Notice, the next big decision is how the dispute will be administered under the Party Wall etcetera Act 1996 and whether this will be by one Agreed Surveyor, or by two separate Party Wall Surveyors. So what is an Agreed...
Party Wall Facts on Fees
Party wall surveyor fees can often be confusing and worrying, but they’re actually governed by some clear principles in the Party Wall etcetera Act 1996. First, who pays?In almost all cases, the building owner, who is the person doing the works, pays the reasonable...
The Tell-Tale Signs of a Good Party Wall Surveyor
Having dealt with thousands of Party Wall Notices, Awards and surveyors over the years, we’ve seen the full spectrum – from the truly excellent to the frankly problematic. So what actually makes a good Party Wall Surveyor? It’s not complicated, and the best surveyors...
Jargon Buster Party Wall Notices
Over the years, our surveyors have seen the good, the bad and the very ugly when it comes to Party Wall Notices. Too often they’re treated as “just a letter” for a neighbour to sign so the works can start. In reality, a Party Wall Notice is a formal legal document...
The Tell-Tale Signs to Look For When Appointing a Party Wall Surveyor
Appointing a party wall surveyor is not like appointing most other professionals you’ll deal with in your project. When you instruct an architect, engineer or contractor, you are the client and they act on your instructions. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, it...
Jargon Buster Party Wall Award Appeals
So you’ve received a Party Wall Award – and you’re not happy.Maybe you feel it’s unfair, maybe something important is missing, or you’re being told it’s “wrong in law”. The good news: the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 does give you a right of appeal.The bad news: that...
Jargon Buster Party Wall Agreements
If you’ve started Googling party wall procedures, you’ve almost certainly come across the phrase “Party Wall Agreement”. Here’s the important bit: There is no such thing as a “Party Wall Agreement” in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.The Act only recognises a Party Wall...
Jargon Buster Party Wall Third Surveyors
If you’ve just discovered there’s a third surveyor named in your Party Wall paperwork, it’s completely normal to feel confused – you’ve already got two surveyors, so why on earth is there a third? You’re not alone. Third surveyors are one of the least understood parts...
Jargon Buster Party Wall Surveyors
“Party wall surveyor” is one of the most over‑used and misunderstood labels in property. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the term has a very specific legal meaning – but it doesn’t require any qualification, membership, or experience. In other words: Anyone not a...
Jargon Buster Party Wall Notice Invalidity
One of the strengths of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is its flexibility – a building owner can serve their own Party Wall Notice. It’s a great way to stay hands‑on, keep initial costs down and move things forward quickly. But there’s a catch. Because the Notice is a...
Jargon Buster Surveyor Served Party Wall Notices
Here at Simple Survey, we fully understand that Party Wall matters can be confusing – and nothing creates more confusion than the Party Wall Notice itself. This is the document that: Starts the statutory clock under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 Gives the adjoining...
Simplifying Party Wall Help Explained
Party wall matters have a habit of arriving just when you already feel stretched. As a building owner, you’re juggling designs, planning, budgets and contractors – then you discover there’s a legal process to follow, extra costs to consider and a risk of delay if it’s...
The Tell‑Tale Signs You Need to Serve a Party Wall Notice
Planning your construction works is an exciting stage. You’ve pictured the new space, had drawings prepared, maybe even secured planning permission or confirmed that your project is permitted development. Then the phrase “Party Wall Notice” appears in an email, on a...
The Tell‑Tale Signs Your Neighbour Is Going to Dissent to the Party Wall Notice
Many building owners assume that a friendly chat over the fence, a thumbs‑up on WhatsApp, or a quick “sounds fine” on the driveway means their neighbour will happily consent to a Party Wall Notice. In practice, that’s rarely how it plays out. Once neighbours...
The Tell‑Tale Signs Your Neighbour Is About to Start Party Wall Works
Fifteen–twenty years ago, most of our calls started the same way: “I’ve never heard of the Party Wall Act – do I really need to do anything?” Fast‑forward to today and things have changed. Thanks to online guides, videos, podcasts, TV renovation shows and countless...
Simplifying Party Wall Disputes
“Party Wall dispute” sounds dramatic—but under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 it’s simply the formal trigger for bringing in surveyors when an adjoining owner does not consent to a notice. It’s not a neighbourly bust-up; it’s the Act’s way of moving matters into a...
Simplifying Party Wall Notices
Handling hundreds of Party Wall matters every year gives us a front-row seat to the most common misunderstandings about Party Wall Notices. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense explainer so you can serve (or respond to) notices correctly, keep momentum, and avoid needless cost...
Simplifying Party Wall Dissents
At Simple Survey, we keep the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 clear, calm and constructive. One area that often causes confusion is the “dissent” to a Party Wall Notice. Below we explain exactly what a dissent is, how it arises, and what happens next—without the drama. Two...
Party Wall Complexity Underpinning
Underpinning is one of the highest-risk categories of notifiable work under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Done properly, it’s a safe, tightly controlled process; done casually, it can jeopardise neighbouring structures and stall your project. Here’s the fully-fledged...
Simplifying Party Wall Awards
Have you been served a Party Wall Award? Maybe your surveyor has just told you one is coming? Here’s a clear, practical explainer so you know exactly what the document does—and how to get the most from it. What is a Party Wall Award? The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets...
Simplifying Party Wall Works
If you’re new to party wall matters, the web can feel like wall-to-wall noise. Here’s the clean, professional breakdown of exactly which works fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, what that means for you, and what to do next. The three work categories that trigger...
Simplifying Third Surveyors
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 looks intimidating at first glance, but compared with many property statutes it’s short, purposeful, and designed to resolve (not inflame) disputes. One of its most forward-thinking features is the built-in dispute-resolution mechanism:...
Simplifying Party Wall Surveyor Appointments
Over the years, we’ve handled almost every flavour of party wall matter—from clean, straightforward extensions to high-risk basements, from thorny access negotiations to fee challenges and late-stage variations. The constant across successful outcomes is a correct,...
Simplifying Party Wall Costs
At Simple Survey, our team has administered thousands of valid Party Wall Notices and Awards, calmly steering just as many “disputes” to resolution under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. A frequent worry—on both sides of the fence—is fees: who pays, what’s “reasonable,”...
Simplifying Party Wall Experience
Within several of our guides we’ve stressed a crucial truth: anyone can call themselves a “party wall surveyor,” and once appointed under the Act they cannot be fired (save for very limited circumstances). That makes your selection the single most important decision...
Simplifying Party Wall Advice
Are you about to start your journey into the Party Wall procedures? Perhaps you’re gearing up for construction—or your neighbour is? Either way, you’ll want sound, accurate, level-headed and factual Party Wall advice. Here’s how to make sure you get exactly that. Why...
Simplifying Party Wall Access
We manage hundreds of Party Wall Awards every year. One clause causes more confusion than any other: access under Section 8 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Below is a clear, practical explainer you can rely on—whether you’re the building owner seeking access or the...
Party Wall Complexity Advising Engineers
On higher-risk party wall projects—basements, deep adjacent excavations, underpinning, or heavy structural alterations—surveyors will often bring in an advising (checking) engineer. Done properly, this keeps risk low, makes awards tighter, and prevents cost shocks...
Party Wall Complexity Section 12, Security for Expenses
When party wall works move into the higher-risk category—think basement construction, deep adjacent excavations, underpinning, or heavy structural alteration—the Act adds a powerful extra protection for neighbours: Security for Expenses. Section 12(1) of the Party...
Party Wall Complexity Third Surveyors
If you and your neighbour have each appointed your own party wall surveyor, a third surveyor has already been selected in the background. That third surveyor is part of the Act’s built-in safety net to keep matters moving and to resolve genuine stalemates quickly and...
Party Wall Complexity Special Foundations
Planning a basement or deep excavation? If your engineer is proposing reinforced foundations (slim, strong and common in modern design), you’re stepping into “special foundations” territory under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Here’s the plain-English guide to what...