Articles

Extensions constructed alongside an existing neighbouring wall often need careful roof detailing. Homeowners sometimes ask whether they can simply install flashing into the neighbour's wall or attach parts of their new roof to it. The answer depends on ownership, the...

Replacing an old extension can be a great way to improve the layout and performance of a property. Homeowners sometimes assume that because an extension already exists, rebuilding it cannot create new Party Wall requirements. That assumption can be risky. Why can...

It is not uncommon for neighbouring homeowners to decide to extend at around the same time. This can be convenient, but it can also create unusual Party Wall and construction issues. If both projects affect the shared boundary or party structure, coordination becomes...

Piled foundations are commonly used where ground conditions, structural loads or nearby buildings make conventional shallow foundations unsuitable. They can be an effective engineering solution, but projects involving piles close to neighbouring properties deserve...

Retaining walls perform an important structural function. Unlike a simple garden wall, they are designed to hold back soil or accommodate a difference in ground levels. Because of this, retaining-wall projects can involve excavation, substantial foundations and...

Rear infill extensions can create valuable additional internal space, particularly in terraced and semi-detached houses. Although the design can sometimes look relatively straightforward, the Party Wall implications can involve several different parts of the Act. Why...

Patios and terraces can transform an outside space. For most straightforward paving works, the Party Wall Act will not be relevant. However, the position can change where a patio is significantly raised, involves retaining structures or requires substantial excavation...

Air source heat pumps are becoming increasingly common as homeowners look at alternative ways of heating their properties. The installation itself will not usually be a Party Wall matter. However, depending on where the equipment is positioned and what construction...

Garden rooms have become increasingly popular as home offices, gyms, studios and additional living spaces. Because many are relatively small and detached from the main house, homeowners often assume that Party Wall matters cannot apply. That is not always the case....

A mansard extension can create a substantial amount of additional living space. It can also involve much more Party Wall work than a straightforward roof refurbishment. If you live in a terraced or semi-detached property, it is sensible to consider the Party Wall...

Changing a staircase can dramatically improve the layout of a property. In many cases, installing or relocating a staircase is entirely internal and creates no Party Wall issue. However, some staircase alterations involve structural work that can affect shared walls...

Lowering an internal floor can transform a property. It may provide greater ceiling height, improve a basement conversion or help create a level connection between different parts of a building. But lowering a floor can also involve significant excavation and...

Drainage works are not always the first thing homeowners associate with the Party Wall Act. However, new drains are often installed at the same time as extensions, and the excavation needed to construct them can sometimes become relevant. Does installing a drain...

Building work always introduces an element of risk. When those works involve shared structures, excavation or significant alterations, homeowners sometimes ask whether their buildings insurance could also be affected. The answer will depend on the insurer, the policy...

Many extension projects involve excavation close to a neighbouring property. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 contains specific provisions relating to certain excavations, but assessing whether they apply can become more difficult when nobody knows how deep the...

Victorian and Edwardian houses make up a significant proportion of the housing stock in towns and cities across England and Wales. Their traditional construction, shared walls and relatively close spacing mean Party Wall matters frequently arise when these homes are...

Roof works can range from replacing a few tiles to completely changing the shape and structure of a building. So, when does a roof alteration become a Party Wall matter? The important point is that repairing or altering a roof does not automatically require a Party...

Combining two flats into one larger home can create an excellent property, but it can also involve substantial structural work. Whether the flats are side by side or positioned one above the other, removing walls, altering floors and changing structural arrangements...

Underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular, particularly during refurbishments and extensions. It can provide a comfortable and efficient way of heating a home, but homeowners sometimes ask whether installing it could trigger the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. The...

If you are planning building works in England and Wales, understanding the role of party wall surveyors is essential. Whether you are a building owner carrying out works or an adjoining owner responding to a notice, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 creates a specialist...

If you are planning building works in England and Wales, it is important to understand whether you need to serve a party wall notice. This is one of the most common legal requirements that arises when carrying out extensions, loft conversions, basement works,...

Choosing the right party wall surveyor can make a significant difference to how smoothly a project progresses. Whether you are a building owner planning works or an adjoining owner responding to a notice, the quality of the surveyor involved can affect timescales,...

Party wall surveying is one of the most important, and often least understood, areas of residential construction. Many homeowners only come across it when planning a loft conversion, rear extension, basement works, or structural alterations close to a neighbouring...

When dealing with a party wall dispute, one of the most important factors is the impartiality of the party wall surveyor involved. Whether you are a building owner planning works or an adjoining owner responding to a notice, the surveyor’s ability to act impartially...

If you are planning building works to your home, you may have come across the term party wall agreement and wondered what it means. Whether you are extending, altering a shared wall, or excavating close to a neighbouring property, understanding the Party Wall etc. Act...

If you are planning building works to your property, you may already have come across the term party wall agreement. For many homeowners, it is something they only discover once plans are well underway. At first, it can sound technical, expensive and difficult to...

This is one of the most common questions we are asked here at Simple Survey. The timing of a party wall notice is important not only because it needs to align with the proposed start date of the project, but also because it must take account of the statutory notice...

If you are a building owner preparing to undertake construction works to your property, it is naturally an exciting time. Whether you are planning a loft conversion, rear extension, basement works or structural alterations, the project will often represent a major...

In this article, we look at the conventional protections that party wall surveyors commonly introduce into a party wall award where a building owner is proposing to undertake a rear or side extension. In most cases, an extension project will give rise to the need for...

Many building owners understandably want to keep the costs of their project and related professional fees to a minimum. That is entirely normal, and at Simple Survey we fully appreciate the importance of keeping expenditure under control wherever possible. However,...

Many owners are understandably surprised, and sometimes concerned, when their party wall surveyor tells them that a third surveyor has been selected. To those unfamiliar with the party wall process, it can sound as though matters have become more serious or that the...

At Simple Survey, we know that party wall surveying costs are often one of the most unexpected and unwelcome expenses that arise when you are moving ahead with your well-earned property refurbishment plans. Whether you are extending, converting, or carrying out...

Party wall access is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Many building owners assume that if works affect a boundary or neighbouring structure, they automatically gain the right to go onto a neighbour’s land or into their airspace....

Executive summary The Party Wall rules exist to reduce neighbour fallouts by requiring early consultation before certain building work starts, then setting expectations for how that work should be carried out. The process is private between property owners, separate...

Executive summary If your neighbour is planning building work, the Party Wall process is the route that helps you understand what’s proposed, choose how to respond, and, if needed, move the matter into a formal dispute-resolution pathway. As the adjoining owner, your...

Executive summary The third surveyor is not a spare surveyor. They are a built in tie breaker for genuine deadlock when two appointed surveyors cannot agree. Chosen properly and used sparingly, the third surveyor prevents small disputes from turning into expensive...

Executive summary Party wall notices do not last forever. If you do not start within the required timeframe, or if your design changes materially, you may need to serve fresh notices and restart parts of the process. Good timing keeps your project moving. Bad timing...

Executive summary The Party Wall process is a framework for managing certain work, not a blank cheque to change shared or boundary structures however you like. If the Act does not clearly give a right to carry out a specific action, you should not assume an award can...

Executive summary A Party Wall Award can feel like the finish line, but it only works if the steps leading to it were done properly. If the notice was flawed, the wrong people were named, or the surveyor appointments were not valid, the award can be challenged and the...

Few debates in party wall practice generate as much heat as the question of surveyor impartiality. On one side is the view that all surveyors involved in making awards must act like neutral decision-makers, independent of the owners who appointed them. On the other is...

Consent is often treated as the friendly shortcut in party wall matters. A building owner serves notice, the adjoining owner agrees, and everyone hopes the work can proceed without the expense of surveyors and formal awards. In many straightforward cases, that is...

In party wall matters, people often focus on engineering details or neighbourly conflict. Yet one of the most decisive issues can be far less dramatic: how documents are served. A notice that is not served correctly can undermine the entire process. A valid award can...