Articles

“Right to light” issues and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 often show up on the same project, but they are wholly separate legal regimes. Mixing them up can cause delay, needless expense, or—worse—an unenforceable outcome. Here’s a clear, practical guide to how they...

Planning a loft, extension or basement and wondering whether you can swing a crane over next-door’s garden or drop a scaffold on their land? Two routes might apply: Licence to Oversail / Scaffold Licence – a private agreement (a licence) for your works or equipment to...

Short answer: yes—and that’s by design. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, once a dispute has arisen (because your neighbour dissented or didn’t reply within 14 days), Section 10 hands the pen to the appointed surveyor(s). Their statutory job is to determine the...

When a neighbour consents to your Party Wall notice, there’s nothing more to do. But if they dissent (or don’t reply within 14 days), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 requires a dispute-resolution route. You have two choices: appoint one “Agreed Surveyor” to act...

Serving a Party Wall Notice correctly is not optional—it’s the foundation on which the whole Party Wall process stands. If service is invalid, the notice clock doesn’t start, responses can’t be relied upon, and you risk delay or even injunction. Under the Party Wall...

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the duty to serve a valid Party Wall Notice sits squarely with the Building Owner—the person proposing the works. That notice can be prepared and issued by the Building Owner personally or by an authorised agent acting for them. The...

Take a breath. You still have options—but you’ll need to act methodically and right now. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a procedural law with statutory timelines. You can’t bulldoze those deadlines, but you can minimise delay by serving valid notices immediately,...

Short answer: no. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the statutory process is prospective, not retrospective. If notifiable works have already been carried out, you cannot “go back” and serve valid Party Wall Notices or obtain a lawful Party Wall Award for what has...

Even with competent contractors and a well-drafted Party Wall Award, construction carries risk. If the Adjoining Owner’s property suffers damage as a result of notifiable party wall works, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides a clear route to put things right—and it...

When a Building Owner serves a Party Wall Notice, the Adjoining Owner has three basic choices within 14 days: Consent in writing – confirming there’s nothing “in dispute” at that point. Dissent and appoint an Agreed Surveyor – one impartial surveyor acts for both...

Rear extensions are brilliant for creating open-plan living—but they almost always wake up the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. That’s because new foundations, drainage runs, and pad foundations for steels are frequently dug within 3 metres of a neighbour’s wall, house,...

Loft conversions in terraced and semi-detached homes almost always engage the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. The reason is simple: to create new habitable space you’ll typically cut steel beams into the party wall, raise parapets, or alter the roof structure at or near the...

When you’re working on or near a party wall, finesse beats force every time. Many Party Wall Awards specify “hand tools only” for sensitive operations—and for good reason. Hand tools dramatically reduce vibration, give finer control at the wall face, and lower the...

It can feel intrusive to see “access to the Adjoining Owner’s land” written into a Party Wall Award—especially when it’s your garden, side return or driveway. The good news: this isn’t a free-for-all. Access is a limited, legal right under the Party Wall etc. Act...

Horror stories about party wall fees usually have the same roots: vague drawings, late notices, frosty neighbours, and an open-ended hourly fee model. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is designed to facilitate works, not make them unaffordable—but you need to set the job...

It’s a common (and stressful) moment: you’ve properly posted or delivered your Party Wall Notice, the clock is ticking, and your neighbour says, “We never got it—send it again.” So… must you re-serve? The answer depends on how you served the notice, what evidence you...

Most party wall matters run to time: notices go out, responses come back, surveyors agree an Award and works proceed. But sometimes an appointed surveyor becomes unresponsive—emails unanswered, calls ignored, milestones slipping. Here’s what that means under the Party...

If you’re planning an extension, loft conversion or excavation, you need the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 on your side—without wrecking your budget. That’s exactly what we do. Simple Survey delivers robust, legally compliant party wall work at sensible, fixed fees, with...

Party wall costs shouldn’t swamp your build budget. At Simple Survey, we’ve engineered a pricing model that’s lean, transparent and focused on doing the essentials really well—so you stay compliant with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 without paying premium-rate mystery...

A properly served Party Wall Award is legally binding on both owners. If the Building Owner (the party doing the works) drifts from the Award—or ignores it altogether—the Adjoining Owner doesn’t have to tolerate it. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives clear remedies to...

Short answer: No—not if access has been lawfully awarded and is genuinely necessary for notifiable works under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. The Act gives a Building Owner a statutory right of access to neighbouring land when it’s needed to carry out works “in...

Short answer: not in the ordinary course. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, each owner has the right to choose their own surveyor. The only time a Building Owner can appoint on behalf of an Adjoining Owner is in a very specific, time-limited scenario set out in...

Short answer: usually no. If your extension is lawful (planning/building regs) and your proposals fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, your neighbour can’t use the Party Wall process to veto your project. What they can do is influence how and when you carry out...

If your neighbour didn’t respond to your Party Wall Notice and your follow-up 10-day request, you’re entitled under section 10(4) of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 to appoint a surveyor on their behalf so the process can move forward.It’s perfectly lawful — but it can...

Short answer: yes—the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 doesn’t pause for Christmas, New Year or bank holidays. But timing, method of service, and neighbour relations matter more than ever in December–January. Here’s how to get it right and keep your programme on track. Do...

If you’re planning an extension, loft conversion, basement, or new boundary wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may require you to serve formal notice on affected neighbours before you start. Here’s a plain-English guide to the three parts of the Act that most often...

If your project involves building on or near a boundary—think loft conversions, rear/side extensions, chimney alterations, or any excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations—the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 will likely apply. One of the most common causes of delay is...

If you’re planning an extension, loft conversion, basement, or other structural works near a boundary, you may need to serve a Party Wall Notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Doing this correctly keeps your project lawful, avoids injunctions and delays, and...

If you’re planning an extension, loft conversion, internal steelwork, or any structural alteration close to a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 likely applies. The Act lets you carry out lawful works—including limited access onto neighbouring land where...

If you’re planning an extension, loft conversion, basement, or any work near a boundary, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may require you to serve a formal Party Wall Notice on affected neighbours before you start. Doing this properly keeps your project legal, avoids...

Navigating party wall paperwork can feel daunting. This guide breaks down what a Party Wall Notice is, when you need one, how to serve it correctly, and what it means for both Building Owners and Adjoining Owners under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. What is a Party...

Planning an extension, loft conversion or basement? If your works touch a shared wall, sit on the boundary, or involve deeper excavations near a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 will likely apply. The Act creates a simple legal framework so you can carry out...

You’ve been on great terms with your neighbour for years. You mention the extension is finally happening; there’ll be a bit of noise, but it’ll be over in a few weeks. Then—halfway through the job—they knock on your door about a “new” crack in their hallway. Tempers...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 protects you and your neighbours when building work is planned near shared walls or boundaries. If you’re extending, converting a loft, altering structure, or excavating for new foundations, complying with the Act keeps your project...

Planning an extension, loft conversion or basement? If your works touch a shared wall, sit on the boundary, or involve deeper excavations near a neighbour, you’ll likely need to serve a Party Wall Notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense...

You’ve been good neighbours for years. You mention you’re finally cracking on with that extension, there’ll be a bit of noise, but nothing to worry about. Then, mid-build, your neighbour appears at the door furious about a “new” crack in their hallway. Words like...

It happens more often than you’d think: a building owner serves valid Party Wall notices to keep a project moving, then plans change—budget shifts, planning feedback, design rethink, or life getting in the way. If you’ve decided not to proceed with notifiable works,...

Under section 10 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, when two party wall surveyors are appointed, they must also select a third surveyor at the outset. The third surveyor is there as a safety valve: if the two surveyors can’t agree—or an owner raises a point the two...