Articles

You look out the window and see your neighbour breaking ground or opening up a shared wall—yet no Party Wall Notice ever landed on your doormat. It happens more often than you’d think. Sometimes it’s an honest oversight; sometimes it’s a calculated gamble to “get on...

When your neighbour is extending, one of the most consequential decisions you’ll make is whether to allow access so their contractor can build and finish the flank wall that borders your land. It’s understandable to hesitate—access feels intrusive—but in party wall...

A Party Wall Award is the practical backbone of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It takes a proposed set of works that could affect neighbours—from cutting into a party wall to excavating near foundations—and turns them into a clearly governed, legally compliant plan....

Once the Party Wall Award is in place and the builders are on site, the goal is simple: get the work done safely, lawfully and with minimum stress for both neighbours. From a surveyor’s perspective, the projects that run smoothly share three habits: report issues...

Short answer: yes—you can. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 this is called appointing an Agreed Surveyor. Instead of each owner appointing their own surveyor (who then select a third surveyor as a back-stop), both neighbours jointly appoint one impartial surveyor to...

And how to avoid them altogether! Most domestic party wall matters are routine—rear extensions, loft steels, short trench-fill foundations. They shouldn’t turn into a legal saga or a four-figure shock. Yet owners still face chunky fees for simple work, slow surveyors...

Planning an extension, loft conversion or basement in England or Wales? Or has your neighbour started work near your boundary? Here’s a plain-English FAQ that demystifies the Party Wall etc. Act 1996—what triggers it, how to serve notices, who pays what, and how to...

Short version: If your project touches a shared wall, sits on or near the boundary, or involves nearby excavations, you’ll likely need to serve a Party Wall Notice before work starts. Do it early, do it properly, and you’ll avoid delays, disputes and unexpected costs....

Short version: If your project touches a shared wall, sits on or near a boundary, or digs close to a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 likely applies. Serve the right notice, allow the legal lead-in time, and you can keep your build moving without...

If you’re planning work near a boundary or shared structure, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may require you to serve a Party Wall Notice before you start. This guide explains what a notice is, when you need one, what to include, how neighbours can respond, and the...

Below is a simple, plain-English guide to the most common Party Wall questions—what’s covered, how notices work, timelines, fees, and what to do if things go off-track. What work is covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996? The Act applies when you plan to: Build on or...

Renovating is exciting—but if your plans touch a shared wall, boundary, or nearby foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out what you must do before works begin. Getting this right keeps your project compliant, avoids delays, and protects neighbour relations....

“Making Use” is a Party Wall etc. Act 1996 concept that trips up even experienced renovators. In plain English, it applies when a building owner benefits from a wall that the adjoining owner previously built at their own expense—typically by enclosing onto that wall...

If you’re planning building works in England or Wales, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may require you to serve formal notices on your neighbour(s) before you start. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense guide to the three main categories of notifiable work and the notice periods...

If your project could affect a shared wall, boundary line, or nearby foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 likely applies. The Act gives you a clear, lawful way to notify neighbours, manage risks, and avoid disputes—so compliant works can proceed. Below you’ll...

With many homeowners choosing to improve rather than move, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (“the Act”) matters more than ever. Here’s a clear, practical primer on what structures the Act covers, which works are notifiable, how notices must be served, what happens if...

Kicking off party wall procedures starts with one thing: valid notices. If your works fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, serving the right notice, to the right owners, at the right time isn’t optional—it’s your legal duty. Do this well, and the rest of the...

Getting your Party Wall paperwork out at the right moment is the difference between a smooth start on site and an avoidable delay. Here’s a clear, no-fluff guide to when to serve, how early you can move, and what to have ready so neighbours (and surveyors) can...

Thinking about work near a boundary or a shared wall? In England & Wales, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out exactly what you must do before you start — and the rights you have while you’re doing it. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense overview you can rely on. Do you...

The essentials Scope: The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 governs certain works to shared walls/structures, new walls at a boundary, and excavations close to neighbouring foundations across England & Wales (not Scotland/Northern Ireland). Purpose: A work-enabling...

A party structure notice is the formal trigger under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 when you plan works to an existing shared structure—for example a party wall, party fence wall (shared garden wall astride the boundary), or a party structure such as floors/ceilings...

Being served with a Party Wall Notice can feel intimidating. Take a breath. In most cases it’s a routine legal step under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (“the Act”) to let you know that nearby works might affect a shared wall, boundary, or nearby foundations—and to give...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has applied across England & Wales since 1 July 1997. Its job is simple: give neighbours a fair, lawful framework to notify, review and manage building works that might affect a shared or nearby structure—so projects can proceed...

If you’re planning building works near a boundary or a shared wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. Getting the notice stage right protects your project, your budget, and your relationship with next-door. Here’s a clear, no-jargon walkthrough of when notices...

If your architect, contractor, or planning officer has said you need to serve a Party Wall Notice, take a breath. This is a routine legal step under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 that lets your neighbours know about works that could affect a shared wall, boundary, or...

When proposed works fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the property carrying out the construction must serve a Party Wall Notice on any affected neighbour. That notice does three things: it identifies the notifiable works, sets the legal timetable, and asks the...

If you’re planning works that touch a boundary, affect a shared structure, or involve deeper-than-usual foundations, there’s a good chance your project is notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Serving the correct notices—early, clearly and to the right...

When a valid Party Wall Notice is served and the neighbour doesn’t reply, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has a built-in safety valve to stop your project grinding to a halt. That safety valve is Section 10(4)—the mechanism that allows an appointment to be made on behalf...

A party wall notice is the formal trigger for the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 in England and Wales. If your project could affect a shared wall, a boundary wall, or nearby foundations, you’re legally required to notify the neighbouring owner(s) before work starts. Done...

A party wall surveyor is a specialist who helps neighbours follow (and benefit from) the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 whenever building works could affect a shared or nearby structure—think terraced or semi-detached homes, flats with shared floors/ceilings, garden walls...

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, the general rule is straightforward: the person carrying out the notifiable works pays the reasonable costs of administering the Act. That typically includes the cost of valid notices, any surveyor(s) appointed, and the drafting and...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the statutory framework that governs building works in England and Wales which may affect a shared wall, boundary line, or nearby foundations. Its purpose is simple: enable development while protecting neighbours. If your project could...

If you’ve been served with a Party Wall Notice, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives you clear choices—and a clear timeline. The right response depends on your appetite for risk, the complexity of the proposed works next door, and how much formal oversight you want....

A Party Wall Award (sometimes called a “party wall agreement”) is a legally binding decision made under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. When a neighbour’s building works are not consented to, the Act’s dispute-resolution process is triggered and the appointed...

Receiving a Party Wall Notice isn’t optional admin—it’s a formal step under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 that requires a written reply. Your response determines what happens next, who gets involved, and how much control you keep over the process. Here’s the clear,...

When a Party Wall Notice lands, the clock starts. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets clear, legally binding deadlines so projects don’t drift and both neighbours have a fair window to consider what’s proposed. Here’s the simple, no-nonsense breakdown. The first...

Party wall surveying sits at the heart of many home extensions, loft conversions and structural refurbishments in England & Wales. Done properly, it protects everyone’s rights, prevents avoidable friction, and keeps projects moving. Skip it—or get it wrong—and you...