Articles

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...

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),...

Planning construction is exciting—more space, better layout, added value. But when the works touch a party wall, a little foresight can dramatically reduce neighbour impact and your exposure to claims. Here’s one simple, routinely overlooked step that pays for itself...

Planning an extension is exciting—more space, better living space, added value. While your architect focuses on planning permission and design, there’s a smart Party Wall etc. Act 1996 tip that can make the build quicker, neater and often more cost-effective. Don’t...

Party wall third-surveyor referrals can feel daunting for owners and surveyors alike. In most files they’re avoidable with clear communication and pragmatic drafting—yet a small minority genuinely need an independent determination under Section 10. If you do have to...

A Party Wall Award is the mechanism that resolves the Act’s “dispute” and regularises how the notifiable works will proceed. At Simple Survey, our whole approach is to keep that journey predictable and low-stress. Below are the practical levers that reliably speed...

Not every notifiable project under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a nail-biter. Many common residential jobs are firmly at the “minor” end of the risk spectrum—still requiring proper notices and (sometimes) an Award, but rarely needing heavyweight engineering,...

At Simple Survey, “party wall” doesn’t have to mean paperwork, delays, or drama. Proactive management—right from pre-notice review, through to a cleanly-closed file—keeps costs down and sites running. Here’s our playbook for Building Owners, Adjoining Owners, and...

When projects get bigger, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 expects more structure, more safeguards—and, usually, more professionals involved. At Simple Survey, we keep the process simple and clear, even on high-stakes schemes. Below we outline the types of works the Act...

At Simple Survey, we get it: the project you’re about to embark on is exciting—but it’s also expensive, stressful, and full of moving parts. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 shouldn’t be the bit that tips your budget over the edge. Our mission is simple: keep the party...

When people hear the word “dispute,” they picture arguments, solicitors’ letters and courtrooms. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, a “dispute” is something far narrower and far more practical. Here’s how to reframe it—so you can move from anxiety to action. 1)...

Planning notifiable works under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996? Newsflash: you’re going to need a party wall surveyor. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense explainer so you know exactly who you’re appointing and what to expect. 1) A statutory appointment — not “your”...

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...

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...

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:...

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,...

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...

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’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...