Articles

The core principle of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is straightforward: it enables an owner to carry out certain works to their building while providing protection to neighbours who may be affected. It is not designed to prevent projects—its purpose is to facilitate...

If you’re carrying out building works near, or involving, a shared structure, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. In many cases, you must inform your neighbour before you start. Works that commonly trigger the Act Rear or side extensions Loft conversions...

A beginner-friendly guide to notices, responses, and awards If you’re planning an extension, loft conversion, structural alteration, or any work close to a neighbour, party wall procedure can arrive sooner than you expect. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out a...

Party wall issues often appear at the worst possible moment—drawings are finished, the builder is booked, and the start date is approaching. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 exists to stop that moment turning into neighbour conflict. It is a legal safeguard that requires...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England and Wales and sets out a clear procedure for certain building works that can affect shared structures, boundary positions, or neighbouring foundations. It does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The Act is best...

If you are planning building works close to a neighbour—or you have received a notice from next door—the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out a clear process that must be followed in England and Wales. The Act provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes...

If you share a wall, floor, ceiling or boundary wall with a neighbour, certain building works can trigger duties under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. The Act applies across England and Wales and is designed to enable development while protecting adjoining owners and...

If you are planning building works—whether a rear extension, loft conversion, basement works, or structural alterations inside a flat—the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. The Act is a framework for notifying neighbours and concluding matters properly when works...

Party wall matters are rarely straightforward. Buildings sit close together, ownership can be layered (leaseholders, freeholders and management companies), and construction space is often tight. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is designed to keep these situations orderly...

If you believe your neighbour is carrying out notifiable works under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 and you have not received a Party Wall Notice, it is sensible to act early—particularly if you have concerns about safety, vibration, or potential damage to your...

If you need clear guidance on Party Wall Notices, have received a notice from a neighbour, or are concerned about works being carried out next door, we can help. Simple Survey provides professional party wall advice and services for both Building Owners (the person...

A neighbour refusing party wall consent can feel like an unexpected roadblock—especially if you’ve already secured planning permission, building control approval, and a contractor start date. In practice, it’s not unusual. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 anticipates that...

Section 8 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the part of the legislation that deals with lawful access onto a neighbour’s land. It exists because some notifiable works cannot be carried out safely or properly without temporary entry onto adjoining land—for example to...

If you’re planning building works—whether you’re in a house, a flat, or a mixed-use building—the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. The Act is most often triggered when works affect a shared wall or shared structure, a boundary line, or involve excavation close to a...

If you’re planning building works that may affect a shared wall, a boundary wall position, or foundations close to a neighbour’s property—or you’ve received a notice from next door—it’s worth understanding the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 early. The Act is not there to...

If you are planning building works —whether you own a townhouse, a flat, a mixed-use building, or a commercial unit—you will often be working close to neighbouring structures. That is exactly the situation the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 was written for: to provide a...

We act for building owners and adjoining owners where proposed works are likely to fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Our role is to help both sides reach a clear, lawful position—promptly and professionally—so projects can proceed without unnecessary delay or...

If your project affects a shared wall, involves building at the boundary, or includes excavations near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is likely to apply. Serving a valid Party Wall Notice early is one of the most effective ways to avoid delay,...

If you’re planning building work in a terraced or semi-detached home (or a flat), there’s a common moment of uncertainty: “Do I need a party wall surveyor?” The answer depends on what you’re doing and how your neighbour responds once they’re formally notified. At...

When damage occurs as a result of party wall works, it can be worrying and unnerving, and it may create tension between owners. A party wall surveyor’s role is to assess the risk and set out a fair process so that, if damage occurs, the adjoining owner isn’t left out...

Many party wall projects involve work at the boundary line, at roof level, or along external elevations. In practical terms, that often means one thing: parts of the party wall—or parts of the adjoining owner’s property—may be temporarily exposed to the elements. For...

One of the most common questions adjoining owners raise after receiving a Party Wall Notice is:“Is this notice valid?” Sometimes that question is sensible. Notices can be drafted poorly, served on the wrong people, or describe the works too vaguely. However, in our...

If you have read a Party Wall Award before, you may have seen conditions about percussive tools—for example, restrictions on heavy breakers, impact drills, or demolition hammers, and a requirement to use hand tools in certain locations. Some building owners see these...

If you have read a Party Wall Award before, you may have seen wording along the lines of:“Foundations are to be excavated and concreted (or otherwise filled) within 12 hours. If not, the excavation must be suitably supported.” Building owners sometimes see this and...

If your project involves new foundations close to a neighbour’s building, you may hear a party wall surveyor refer to “foundation bays”, “hit and miss excavation”, or “sectional digging”. Building owners often dislike the idea because it can be slower and more costly...

Party wall matters are rarely “just paperwork”. They sit at the point where building work, property rights, and neighbour relationships meet. Even when a project is entirely reasonable, it can raise stress levels. For adjoining owners, there can be genuine concern:...

A Party Wall Award is often viewed as the “end of the party wall process”. In practice, it is the point at which the process either becomes efficient and controlled—or becomes slow, argumentative, and expensive. The difference is rarely the Act itself. The difference...

One of the most common mistakes we see in residential building projects is not structural, not technical, and not even legal. It is managerial: assuming the neighbour will consent to a Party Wall Notice. It is understandable why owners think this way. You may have a...

If you have never dealt with party wall matters before, the process can sound more intimidating than it really is. People hear “Act”, “Notice”, and “Surveyor” and assume it means delay, conflict, and legal expense. In truth, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 exists to do...

If you are planning building works and discover you need to serve a Party Wall Notice, it is perfectly natural to think: “How hard can it be?” Many building owners assume they can download a template, fill in a few details, and keep costs down. We understand that...

Receiving a Party Wall Notice can feel unsettling, particularly if you have never come across the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 before. Many adjoining owners worry that the notice is a demand for permission, or that they must respond a certain way to “avoid trouble”. That...

If you have never dealt with party wall matters before, the process can feel like an unwanted hurdle: extra paperwork, unfamiliar rules, and the worry that a neighbour can “stop the build”. In reality, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is designed to do the opposite. It...

Roof works are often assumed to be “maintenance”. However, where works involve altering the party wall at roof level or cutting into the shared structure, the Act can apply. Which part of the Act applies? Where roof works involve works to the party wall/party...

Boundary walls cause confusion because not every boundary wall is a party wall matter. The Act is concerned with certain shared walls—particularly masonry boundary walls used as a dividing wall between properties. Which part of the Act applies? This depends on what...

People often assume that anything on a boundary is covered by the Party Wall Act. That is not correct. The Act focuses on party walls, party structures, and certain excavations—not ordinary timber fence panels and posts. Which part of the Act explains this? The...

If you have never dealt with party wall matters, the easiest way to understand the Act is this: it usually appears in domestic projects in three main areas. The three common triggers and their sections 1) Building at the boundary — Section 1New wall at the line of...

Flats introduce layered ownership: neighbouring flats, leaseholders, and sometimes freeholders or management structures. Structural works can affect more than one adjoining owner. Which part of the Act applies? Most structural flat works engage Section 2, requiring a...

Loft conversions often involve steel beams and structural works at or into the shared wall. The fact that the work is “in your loft” does not automatically mean it is outside the Act. Which part of the Act applies? Many loft conversions fall under Section 2, with a...

Basement projects tend to involve a combination of excavation and structural interaction with shared walls. They require early planning because the statutory steps take time and cannot be rushed safely. Which parts of the Act apply? Basement projects commonly involve:...

The “6 metre” category surprises homeowners because six metres does not feel close. However, where excavation is deeper, the zone of influence can extend further than you expect. Which part of the Act applies? This sits within Section 6 of the Act, commonly associated...

Many homeowners assume the Act only applies when you touch a shared wall. In reality, the Act also covers certain excavations near a neighbour’s building, because excavation can affect foundations and ground stability. Which part of the Act applies? Excavations close...

Removing a chimney breast is often described as an “internal alteration”, but in terraced and semi-detached homes it frequently affects a party wall—the shared wall between two properties. Where your works involve cutting into, altering, or relying upon that shared...