Articles

One of the most frustrating situations in party wall practice arises when building work begins and the adjoining owner realises that no notice was ever served. There may already be drilling, demolition, scaffolding, excavation, or cracks appearing in plaster. At that...

Party wall disputes often appear to be about bricks, excavation, dust, or access. In reality, many of the most important arguments begin much earlier, at the point where one owner decides whether to serve notice. That single step has major legal consequences. It does...

Executive Summary: The Act can allow access onto a neighbour’s land, but only within strict limits. This article explains who can enter, when notice is required, what counts as lawful access, and why overreach turns a legal right into a fresh dispute. Who can enter...

Executive Summary: Party wall surveyors are not free roaming problem solvers. Their authority comes from the Act, and it is limited. This article explains what creates jurisdiction, how awards can become void, and why staying inside the rules protects both neighbours....

Executive Summary: If building work begins next door without a proper party wall notice, the statutory process may not be properly engaged and delay can cost you leverage. This article explains why early action matters, what evidence helps, and how injunctions fit...

 Executive Summary: People often treat the Act’s excavation distances as if they were engineering approval. They are not. This article explains what the 3 metre and 6 metre triggers actually do, what the 45 degree line means in practice, and why good design and...

Executive Summary: Most party wall disputes start because the paperwork is late, vague, or served the wrong way. This guide explains what a valid notice needs to say, how it must be delivered, and why small technical mistakes can derail an entire project before it...

Executive Summary A party wall notice is a legal heads up that building work nearby may affect a shared wall, a boundary line, or ground close to your property. The Party Wall Act sets out a clear route from notice to agreement, including how neighbours respond, when...

What They Mean and What to Do Next A party wall notice is a legal heads up that building work may affect a shared wall, a boundary wall, or ground close to a neighbouring property; it triggers a clear process with deadlines, response options, and in some cases a...

Getting a party wall notice can feel a bit alarming—especially if you weren’t expecting building work next door. The good news is that it’s usually just part of a normal legal process meant to keep things fair and reduce the chance of neighbour disputes. In England...

Party wall fees are easiest to control when you treat the process as part of your project planning, not an afterthought. Costs rarely rise because the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is “difficult”. They rise because notices are served late, information is unclear, the scope...

Party wall surveyor fees are not “one price fits all”. The overall cost is shaped by the nature of the works, the adjoining owner’s response, and—most importantly—how efficiently the statutory process is managed. If you want fees to remain proportionate, the sensible...

Party wall matters often feel complicated because people talk about “the Party Wall Notice” as if there’s only one. In reality, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 uses different notice types depending on what you’re doing—working on a shared wall, building at the boundary,...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England and Wales and exists for a clear, practical reason: some building works can affect a shared structure, a boundary wall position, or a neighbour’s foundations. The Act sets out a structured process so those works can...

If you live in a terraced or semi-detached house, or in a flat where floors and walls are shared, you may come across party wall issues when building works are planned next door (or by you). The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out a practical process for certain...

When homeowners get caught out by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, it’s rarely because the rules are complicated—it’s because the sequence is missed. The quickest way to stay in control is to follow a simple decision path: what work are you doing, which notice applies,...

If your neighbour is planning building work close to your home—often a loft conversion, structural alteration, or a rear extension—it’s completely normal to worry about your property. Shared walls and nearby foundations can be sensitive, and disruption can feel...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 exists for one reason: some building works can affect a shared structure or a neighbour’s foundations, and those works need a clear legal process so they can proceed properly. The Act places duties on owners to notify neighbours before...

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 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...