Articles

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 rear/side extension, a basement, a lightwell or rebuilding walls with new footings? If your works dig close to a neighbour, Section 6 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is likely in play. Here’s the clear, plain-English guide you can rely on. What Section 6...

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...

If you’re a Building Owner and you’ve been told you need to serve a Party Wall Notice, you might be tempted to go DIY. Before you hang your hat on that hook, here’s our plain-English, no-nonsense guide to help you choose the safest and smartest route. 1) DIY notices...

Whether you’re the Building Owner planning works or the Adjoining Owner affected by them, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides powerful protections—provided you know how to use them. Below is your practical, plain-English guide to squeeze the most benefit from the...

If you’ve just been served a Party Wall Notice and you’re leaning toward dissent, this guide will help you turn that decision into a smooth, well-managed process that protects your home and your peace of mind. 1) First principles: what “dissent” really means Under the...

Whether you need to serve a Party Wall Notice or you’ve just been handed one, getting this first step right will save time, cost, and stress later. A Party Wall Notice is more than a courtesy letter—it’s a legal instrument that triggers statutory timelines and sets...

If your Party Wall Award grants access onto a neighbour’s land—or, as an Adjoining Owner, your neighbour’s contractor needs access to yours—this guide explains how to make that access safe, limited, and drama-free. The right of access is powerful, but it’s also...

Whether you’re about to appoint a surveyor, already have one on board, or feel you’re butting heads, this guide will help you turn the relationship into a productive, compliant and cost-sensible partnership. 1) Use your surveyor—talk early, talk often Party wall...

Has a Party Wall Award just landed in your inbox or through the letterbox? Great — that means the “dispute” under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has been formally resolved and you now have a clear, enforceable roadmap for the works. Below are our Simple Survey tips to...

Choose the right option, protect your home, keep the project moving Being served with a Party Wall Notice can feel daunting. The good news: the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives you clear, limited choices—and real protection when you use them well. This simple guide...

How to tell—quickly and confidently—if the Act applies to you One of the questions we’re asked daily is: “Are my works covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996?” Or the flip side: “My neighbour is starting works—are those notifiable to me?” This guide sets out the...

Why “dispute” under the Act isn’t a fight—and how to keep it that way In everyday language, a “dispute” sounds adversarial. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, it isn’t. The Act uses “dispute” as a trigger word for a structured, professional resolution process—not a...

Who does what, when—and how to get this right first time Choosing and appointing Party Wall Surveyors is one of the most consequential steps in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 process. The Act gives surveyors statutory powers, strict duties, and—crucially—their...

What’s valid under the Act—and what isn’t Party Wall “Awards”, “Agreements”, “Contracts”… it’s easy to get lost in the terminology. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 uses very specific language and procedures. Using the right instrument matters—for enforceability, access...

How to find trustworthy guidance, sense-check it, and move forward with confidence If you’ve clicked on this, you’ve either discovered you need to serve a Party Wall Notice or you’ve been served one. The web is full of opinions, templates and “top tips”, but the Party...

What they are, how to serve them correctly, and what happens next If you’ve landed here, you’ve either discovered you need to serve a Party Wall Notice or you’ve been served one. This guide gives you a surveyor’s eye view—clear, impartial and practical—so you...

What you’ll likely pay, why you’re paying it, and how to keep it under control If you’ve reached this page, you’ve either discovered you must serve a Party Wall Notice or you’ve been served one. Understandably, your next question is: “How much is this going to...

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been told you need to serve a Party Wall Notice—or your neighbour has said they’ll be serving one on you. Either way, you’re in the right place. Below is a clear, practical guide to help you understand when the Party Wall etc....

If you’re here, you’ve probably been told that contractors will need access over a neighbour’s land (or your neighbour needs access over yours) to carry out building works. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, that can be perfectly lawful—but only in tightly defined...

What it means, what happens next, and how to keep your build on track You’re about to create new space and value—great! If your project falls within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (loft steels into a shared wall, a rear extension with excavations, a new wall up...

You’re gearing up for works that will add space and value without the upheaval of moving—great news. If those works fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you’ll need a party wall surveyor. Here’s the catch: not all “party wall surveyors” are equal. The title...

Party wall procedures don’t have to be tense, slow, or expensive. With the right prep, the correct notices, and crystal-clear site controls, you can keep neighbours onside and your programme on track. Here’s a practical, step-by-step roadmap from first sketch to...

Planning a basement is exciting—big gains in space and value without the SDLT pain of moving. It’s also the highest-risk category of domestic work under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, so the party wall process must be watertight. Here’s a practical, no-nonsense guide...

Planning an extension is exciting—more space, more value, better living. If your works interact with a neighbour’s land or shared structures, parts of your build will fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Here’s a clear, practical guide to keep you compliant,...

Converting your loft is one of the most popular ways to add space and value—but if you share walls (terraced or semi-detached houses, or flats), parts of the project will usually fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Here’s your clear, practical guide to staying...

Planning to remove a chimney breast? If any part abuts a party wall (houses) or party structure (flats), parts of the work are very likely notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Done properly, this is a straightforward, low-risk project. Done casually, it can...

A practical, professional guide before you commence works If your project triggers the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you’ve been handed both a legal framework and a prevention tool. Use it well and you’ll cut risk, cost, and delays. Ignore it and you invite injunctions,...

A clear, practical guide before you (or your neighbour) start building Planning an extension, loft conversion, basement, garden wall or new foundations near a boundary? The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. Here’s a no-nonsense guide to what it covers, how the...

How to set the tone for smooth Party Wall procedures and friendlier outcomes Embarking on an extension, loft conversion or excavation that brushes up against your neighbour’s home? Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, they’re “Adjoining Owners”—and their experience of...

Being served with a Party Wall Award and feeling it’s “wrong” can be unsettling—especially if works are about to start or are already underway. Before you rush to court, here’s a clear, practical guide to how appeals work, whether an appeal is sensible in your case,...

Hearing from a neighbour, contractor or surveyor that “a dispute has arisen” can sound alarming. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, however, “dispute” is a technical term—not a falling-out. Here’s a clear, comprehensive guide to what it means, how it’s resolved, and...

Have you been told that your neighbour’s contractor can come onto your land? Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, that can be correct—but only in tightly defined circumstances and under strict safeguards. Here’s the clear, practical guide you need. 1) Yes—access rights...

Have works started on site and you’ve noticed damage? Don’t panic. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides a clear procedure to identify the cause, agree the remedy and secure payment. Below is a practical, end-to-end workflow you can follow today. 1) Alert the Party...

Fed up with a surveyor who’s slow, unclear or seemingly biased? We hear this a lot. Here’s the hard truth first: under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, once a surveyor is properly appointed you cannot dismiss them just because you’re unhappy. Their duty is to the Act,...

Confused about who party wall surveyors are, what they do and who pays? Here’s the clear, no-nonsense guide. 1) First things first: anyone can call themselves a “party wall surveyor” Yes, really. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 defines a “surveyor” as any person not...

Act early. Timings under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 are strict—and they stack. Getting your notices and responses right keeps your project lawful, neighbourly, and on schedule. Below is a clear, practical guide to every key interval you’ll meet—from the day you...

(We make a confusing process simple.) Whether you’re planning a loft, rear extension or basement, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets the rules that keep projects moving and neighbours protected. Here’s the clear, no-nonsense route through it—what happens, who decides,...

When an Adjoining Owner dissents to your Party Wall Notice, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 moves into its resolution phase. That resolution is documented in a Party Wall Award. Here’s a clear guide to what an Award is, why it matters, and how it protects both sides. 1)...

If your project touches a shared wall, boundary or nearby foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 likely applies. Here’s a clear, start-to-finish roadmap so you can build confidently, neighbourly and lawfully. 1) Check if your works are legally notifiable You must...

Getting the right people notified is the bedrock of a valid Party Wall process. If you miss an owner, the notice can be invalid and your timetable slips. Here’s a clear guide to who counts as an “Owner”, how to serve notice correctly under Section 15, and what...

If your project involves digging, underpinning or new structural supports near a boundary, you’ll run into the term special foundations. Getting this right matters: surveyors cannot authorise special foundations on or under a neighbour’s land without the neighbour’s...

A brief history: why party walls were regulated in the first place Long before today’s extensions and basements, Londoners were already arguing about walls on their boundaries. By the 13th century, basic rules existed to reduce neighbour disputes and—crucially—limit...

If you’re new to party wall matters, the core idea is simple: the Act is an enabling and dispute-preventing framework you must follow before starting certain works. Below is a plain-English guide collecting the essentials practitioners repeat on real projects—what...

Party wall surveying is a blend of statute, legal procedure, building pathology and—crucially—timing. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is designed to be followed before you start notifiable works. So when a Building Owner asks, “Can you serve a retrospective Party Wall...

Planning a basement extension, rear/side extension, garden room or loft conversion is exciting—you’re finally turning drawings into reality. If you’re tempted to DIY your Party Wall Notice to save time or money, here’s one simple step that dramatically reduces the...

Planning a basement extension, rear/side extension, garden room or loft conversion is exciting—you’re finally turning drawings into bricks and mortar. Before you dive into Notices and contractors, there’s one simple step that consistently makes the Party Wall process...

Planning your loft, rear or side extension is exciting—you’re finally turning drawings into space you can live in. If your design encloses on an existing party wall (i.e., you’re building off the full thickness of the shared wall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996),...