Articles

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,...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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,...

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,”...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Are you gearing up for works that touch a party wall, or has your neighbour just served notice on you? If you’ve heard terms like Party Wall Notice, Party Wall Award, Agreed Surveyor, or Two Surveyors, here’s the plain-English breakdown—anchored to Section 10(12) of...

If you’re a building owner or an adjoining owner named in a Party Wall Award, the Award will almost certainly deal with surveyors’ fees. The legal basis is Section 10(13) of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which provides: The reasonable costs incurred in — (a) making or...

Are you about to embark on Party Wall works—or has your neighbour just served notice on you? If the plans brush up against the boundary line, involve line of junction walls, or raise questions about airspace and fence lines, it’s vital to understand how the Party Wall...

Have you just learned an Award has been agreed? Wondering when you should receive it?Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, once surveyors have agreed and signed a Party Wall Award, they must serve it on the owners without delay. This requirement sits at the heart of...

Been served (or about to serve) a Section 1 “Line of Junction” notice? Section 1(2) of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can trip up even seasoned renovators. The headline: there is no automatic right to build a new wall astride the boundary line. You may desire to—your...

Have you been served a Section 2 Party Structure Notice and spotted a reference to Section 2(2)(b)? Or are you considering serving one yourself? Don’t sleep on this clause — it’s one of the most misunderstood (and occasionally most expensive) parts of the Party Wall...

Are you on the cusp of a dreaded party wall dispute and worried it’ll sour neighbourly relations? Take a breath. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 the word “dispute” has a specific, technical meaning. It’s not a falling-out in the everyday sense; it simply describes...

Planning to cut into a party wall for steel beams, remove a chimney breast, raise a garden wall, or open up a ceiling between flats? Those are classic Section 2 activities under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Here’s the clear, practical primer you can trust. 1) The...

Planning a new flank wall close to, up to, or astride your boundary line? Section 1 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the bit you need to understand. Here’s a clear, practical explainer so you can design and programme with confidence. Section 1 in plain English...