Articles

If you’ve served a Party Wall Notice and your neighbour has dissented (or simply not replied within 14 days), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 moves you into the dispute–resolution phase. The outcome of that process is the Party Wall Award—the single most important...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is statute: you can’t skip it, fudge it, or “sort it later.” If your works are notifiable, a Party Wall Notice must be served correctly and on time. To make the process less mysterious, here’s a plain-English breakdown of what a Party Wall...

If this is your first extension, loft conversion or basement dig, Party Wall fees can feel like a curveball you didn’t price in. But here’s the truth: the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is statutory—you can’t skip it, “work around” it, or sort it later. What you can do is...

You’ve chosen your party wall surveyor and signed the appointment. Great start. The next 48–72 hours set the tone for speed, cost, and neighbour relations. Here’s how to onboard your surveyor so they can move fast, serve valid notices first time, and keep everyone...

Party Wall costs can feel like an unexpected add-on to your build. Add a few flats above, a freeholder, or two side neighbours and the numbers can snowball fast. The good news: with the right plan (and the right surveyor) you can keep fees clear, contained and...

Finding new cracks, leaks or movement next door to notifiable works is unnerving—but try not to panic. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (and any Award made under it) gives a clear, enforceable framework to sort damage quickly and fairly. Here’s how to use it—without...

Most owners don’t realise a fundamental flaw in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996: the Act’s definition of a “surveyor” is so loose that almost anyone can call themselves a party wall surveyor. There’s no built-in requirement for qualification, experience or insurance....

You’ve been served a Section 1(2) notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996: your neighbour (the Building Owner) wants to build a party wall astride the boundary line—a true, shared party wall. The first thing to know is you don’t have to agree. You’re entitled to...

A Party Wall Award is the legally binding conclusion of the Act’s dispute process. It sets out exactly how, when and in what manner the notifiable works must be carried out. If the works drift from those conditions—even with the best intentions—you’re likely in breach...

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...

Getting Party Wall Notices right first time matters. An invalid notice can stall your project, trigger costly re-service, and undermine neighbour confidence. Here are the most common pitfalls we see—and how to avoid them. 1) Serving on the tenant instead of the legal...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can feel like a minefield—especially because anyone can call themselves a “party wall surveyor.” The result? Patchy advice, inflated bills, and avoidable delays. Here’s how to stay compliant and keep costs down without risking invalid...

When proposed works carry higher-than-usual risk—think deep excavations, basement construction, significant structural alterations, or a building owner with uncertain finances—the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives adjoining owners a vital safety net: Security for...

If you’ve navigated the Party Wall process once already, you’ll know it takes planning, diplomacy and a valid legal paper trail. One date that’s easy to overlook: the lifespan of the Party Wall Award. Let’s demystify expiry, what counts as a valid start, and how to...

Most Party Wall matters are straightforward when handled with competence, pace and diplomacy. If your surveyor is creating friction, delay or unpredictability, you’re paying twice—once in fees and again in time. Here are three clear tells that your Party Wall surveyor...

When a Party Wall dispute is triggered under Section 10 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, each owner appoints a surveyor—or both agree on a single Agreed Surveyor—to resolve the dispute by issuing a legally binding Party Wall Award. A common question we’re asked is:...

When you’re eager to get your extension, loft or internal alterations underway, it’s tempting to hope your neighbour will simply “sign it off.” In reality, consents are the exception, not the rule. Most adjoining owners prefer the formal protections of the Party Wall...

On some party wall jobs—especially those involving deeper excavations, underpinning, basements, or significant structural alterations—the appointed party wall surveyor(s) may bring in a checking engineer. Think of them as an independent, specialist peer-review: their...

Choosing the right party wall surveyor can be the difference between a smooth, neighbourly build and months of delay, spiralling fees, and frayed tempers. Here’s the plain truth: anyone can call themselves a “party wall surveyor.” The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 defines...

Redesigned your extension, scaled back the scope, or decided not to proceed? If your revised proposal no longer includes notifiable works under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you shouldn’t leave an old notice “floating” in the background. The right move is to rescind...

Planning a loft, rear extension, basement, chimney removal, or internal steelwork? You want the party wall side handled quickly, correctly, and without surprise costs. That’s exactly what we do. Why homeowners and developers choose Simple Survey 1) We’ve done it...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 isn’t “red tape”—it’s the rulebook that lets you build safely, legally, and neighbourly. Treat it well and your project runs smoother, relationships stay intact, and costs stay predictable. Treat it lightly and you invite delays, disputes,...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 doesn’t have to come with premium price tags. Most projects are straightforward; the trick is choosing the right professional, on the right terms, at the right price. Here’s a practical, no-nonsense guide to keeping costs sensible—without...

If you want your project to start on time (and stay neighbourly), your best tactic is to make it easy for your adjoining owner to say “yes.” Here’s a practical, fast-track playbook that consistently turns perfectly valid Party Wall Notices into quick consents—without...

Getting Party Wall Notices right the first time saves months of delay, neighbour friction and wasted fees. Here are the five most common mistakes that render notices invalid—plus the quick fixes to keep your project compliant and moving. 1) Missing drawings on...

Choosing the right party wall surveyor can be the difference between a smooth, neighbourly process and a slow, expensive dispute. While most practitioners aim to do things properly, we routinely encounter avoidable mistakes that delay projects, inflate fees and, in...

If you’ve dipped a toe into the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you’ll have seen Section 20—the definitions section. Tucked inside is the Act’s definition of a “surveyor”: “…any person not being a party to the matter appointed or selected under section 10 to determine...

If you’re gearing up for works near a shared wall or boundary, you’ll quickly bump into Section 9 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It’s a short Section with big consequences—especially if anyone mentions rights to light or other easements. Here’s a clear, practical...

Section 2(2)(b) is short but powerful. It gives a Building Owner the right to “repair or demolish and rebuild” a party structure (including a party wall or party fence wall) where it is defective or in disrepair. Crucially, when this section is used, the costs don’t...

Most neighbours are surprised to learn the Party Wall Act doesn’t just regulate notices and awards—it also grants temporary access rights over adjoining land so notifiable works can be done safely and properly. That power lives in Section 8. Here’s what you need to...

If the Party Wall Act is the rulebook, Section 15 is the bit that tells you how to legally hand the rulebook to your neighbour. It sets out the only permitted ways to serve (i.e., deliver) Party Wall Notices and Awards. Get service wrong and even a perfectly drafted...

Section 10 is the engine room of the Party Wall Act. It only “switches on” when an Adjoining Owner dissents to a valid Party Wall Notice (or simply doesn’t respond within 14 days, which the Act treats as a dissent). From that moment, you’re in the Act’s formal...

Section 2 is the workhorse of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. If you’re altering, cutting into, raising, repairing or otherwise working on a shared wall or structure, Section 2 is almost certainly the route you’ll use to notify your neighbour. It covers works to party...

Many owners think the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 only applies to party walls. Not so! One of the most commonly triggered parts of the Act is Section 6—the rulebook for excavations near neighbouring buildings and structures. If you’re putting in new foundations, a...

Planning a new side or rear extension and need a brand-new wall along the boundary? That’s exactly what Section 1 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 covers. This guide explains what a Section 1 Notice is, the response options for your neighbour, when you can (and can’t)...

When notifiable works carry higher-than-usual risk, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives an Adjoining Owner the right to ask the Building Owner for Security for Expenses. Think of it as a financial safety net: money held on standby so that, if works are abandoned or...

If your neighbour has already built a new wall for their extension and you now want to build off it rather than erecting your own independent wall, you’ll encounter the Party Wall concept of “making use”—often called enclosure costs. Far from being a penalty, this...

If you’re new to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, one of the first practical questions is: who pays the surveyors? In most cases it’s the Building Owner (the party doing the notifiable works). But “most cases” isn’t “always,” and the Act’s test of reasonableness protects...

So you’ve served a Party Wall Notice and your neighbour hasn’t consented within 14 days—or they’ve replied to dissent. Don’t panic. A dissent doesn’t stop your project; it simply triggers the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 dispute-resolution procedure so the works can...

If you’re planning an extension, loft conversion, basement works, or any structural alteration near a boundary, you’ll likely meet the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. The first (and most important) step under the Act is serving a Party Wall Notice. This guide explains when...

When party wall matters move from friendly discussion to formal dispute, most projects run smoothly with either an Agreed Surveyor (one surveyor acting for both owners) or two appointed surveyors (one for each owner). Occasionally, those two surveyors can’t agree on a...

If you’re planning works near a boundary or shared wall, you’ll quickly hear the term Party Wall Award. Think of the Award as the rulebook that lets your project proceed lawfully and safely while protecting your neighbour’s property. Here’s a clear, no-jargon primer...

Short answer: yes—if your works are notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you must serve a valid Party Wall Notice even when everyone’s on friendly terms. A friendly nod over the fence is great for neighbourly relations, but it isn’t a substitute for the...

Thinking about a loft conversion, rear extension or basement? If your plans touch a shared wall or involve excavations near a neighbour, you’ll meet a key figure: the party wall surveyor. Unlike most consultants, a party wall surveyor’s role is created by statute—the...

Large extensions, loft conversions that abut two neighbours, wrap-arounds on corner plots, or basement digs near a terrace rarely involve just one adjoining owner. The more neighbours you notify at once, the greater the chance you’ll end up with multiple surveyors,...