Articles

At Simple Survey, our team has administered thousands of valid Party Wall Notices and Awards, calmly steering just as many “disputes” to resolution under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. A frequent worry—on both sides of the fence—is fees: who pays, what’s “reasonable,”...

Are you about to start your journey into the Party Wall procedures? Perhaps you’re gearing up for construction—or your neighbour is? Either way, you’ll want sound, accurate, level-headed and factual Party Wall advice. Here’s how to make sure you get exactly that. Why...

On higher-risk party wall projects—basements, deep adjacent excavations, underpinning, or heavy structural alterations—surveyors will often bring in an advising (checking) engineer. Done properly, this keeps risk low, makes awards tighter, and prevents cost shocks...

When party wall works move into the higher-risk category—think basement construction, deep adjacent excavations, underpinning, or heavy structural alteration—the Act adds a powerful extra protection for neighbours: Security for Expenses. Section 12(1) of the Party...

If you and your neighbour have each appointed your own party wall surveyor, a third surveyor has already been selected in the background. That third surveyor is part of the Act’s built-in safety net to keep matters moving and to resolve genuine stalemates quickly and...

Are you gearing up for works that touch a party wall, or has your neighbour just served notice on you? If you’ve heard terms like Party Wall Notice, Party Wall Award, Agreed Surveyor, or Two Surveyors, here’s the plain-English breakdown—anchored to Section 10(12) of...

If you’re a building owner or an adjoining owner named in a Party Wall Award, the Award will almost certainly deal with surveyors’ fees. The legal basis is Section 10(13) of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which provides: The reasonable costs incurred in — (a) making or...

Are you about to embark on Party Wall works—or has your neighbour just served notice on you? If the plans brush up against the boundary line, involve line of junction walls, or raise questions about airspace and fence lines, it’s vital to understand how the Party Wall...

Have you just learned an Award has been agreed? Wondering when you should receive it?Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, once surveyors have agreed and signed a Party Wall Award, they must serve it on the owners without delay. This requirement sits at the heart of...

Been served (or about to serve) a Section 1 “Line of Junction” notice? Section 1(2) of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can trip up even seasoned renovators. The headline: there is no automatic right to build a new wall astride the boundary line. You may desire to—your...

Have you been served a Section 2 Party Structure Notice and spotted a reference to Section 2(2)(b)? Or are you considering serving one yourself? Don’t sleep on this clause — it’s one of the most misunderstood (and occasionally most expensive) parts of the Party Wall...

Are you on the cusp of a dreaded party wall dispute and worried it’ll sour neighbourly relations? Take a breath. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 the word “dispute” has a specific, technical meaning. It’s not a falling-out in the everyday sense; it simply describes...

Planning to cut into a party wall for steel beams, remove a chimney breast, raise a garden wall, or open up a ceiling between flats? Those are classic Section 2 activities under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Here’s the clear, practical primer you can trust. 1) The...

Planning a new flank wall close to, up to, or astride your boundary line? Section 1 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the bit you need to understand. Here’s a clear, practical explainer so you can design and programme with confidence. Section 1 in plain English...

If you’re a Building Owner and you’ve been told you need to serve a Party Wall Notice, you might be tempted to go DIY. Before you hang your hat on that hook, here’s our plain-English, no-nonsense guide to help you choose the safest and smartest route. 1) DIY notices...

Whether you’re the Building Owner planning works or the Adjoining Owner affected by them, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides powerful protections—provided you know how to use them. Below is your practical, plain-English guide to squeeze the most benefit from the...

If you’ve just been served a Party Wall Notice and you’re leaning toward dissent, this guide will help you turn that decision into a smooth, well-managed process that protects your home and your peace of mind. 1) First principles: what “dissent” really means Under the...

Whether you need to serve a Party Wall Notice or you’ve just been handed one, getting this first step right will save time, cost, and stress later. A Party Wall Notice is more than a courtesy letter—it’s a legal instrument that triggers statutory timelines and sets...

If your Party Wall Award grants access onto a neighbour’s land—or, as an Adjoining Owner, your neighbour’s contractor needs access to yours—this guide explains how to make that access safe, limited, and drama-free. The right of access is powerful, but it’s also...

Whether you’re about to appoint a surveyor, already have one on board, or feel you’re butting heads, this guide will help you turn the relationship into a productive, compliant and cost-sensible partnership. 1) Use your surveyor—talk early, talk often Party wall...

Has a Party Wall Award just landed in your inbox or through the letterbox? Great — that means the “dispute” under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has been formally resolved and you now have a clear, enforceable roadmap for the works. Below are our Simple Survey tips to...

Choose the right option, protect your home, keep the project moving Being served with a Party Wall Notice can feel daunting. The good news: the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives you clear, limited choices—and real protection when you use them well. This simple guide...

How to tell—quickly and confidently—if the Act applies to you One of the questions we’re asked daily is: “Are my works covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996?” Or the flip side: “My neighbour is starting works—are those notifiable to me?” This guide sets out the...

Why “dispute” under the Act isn’t a fight—and how to keep it that way In everyday language, a “dispute” sounds adversarial. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, it isn’t. The Act uses “dispute” as a trigger word for a structured, professional resolution process—not a...

Who does what, when—and how to get this right first time Choosing and appointing Party Wall Surveyors is one of the most consequential steps in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 process. The Act gives surveyors statutory powers, strict duties, and—crucially—their...

How to find trustworthy guidance, sense-check it, and move forward with confidence If you’ve clicked on this, you’ve either discovered you need to serve a Party Wall Notice or you’ve been served one. The web is full of opinions, templates and “top tips”, but the Party...

What they are, how to serve them correctly, and what happens next If you’ve landed here, you’ve either discovered you need to serve a Party Wall Notice or you’ve been served one. This guide gives you a surveyor’s eye view—clear, impartial and practical—so you...

What you’ll likely pay, why you’re paying it, and how to keep it under control If you’ve reached this page, you’ve either discovered you must serve a Party Wall Notice or you’ve been served one. Understandably, your next question is: “How much is this going to...

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been told you need to serve a Party Wall Notice—or your neighbour has said they’ll be serving one on you. Either way, you’re in the right place. Below is a clear, practical guide to help you understand when the Party Wall etc....

If you’re here, you’ve probably been told that contractors will need access over a neighbour’s land (or your neighbour needs access over yours) to carry out building works. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, that can be perfectly lawful—but only in tightly defined...

What it means, what happens next, and how to keep your build on track You’re about to create new space and value—great! If your project falls within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (loft steels into a shared wall, a rear extension with excavations, a new wall up...

You’re gearing up for works that will add space and value without the upheaval of moving—great news. If those works fall within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you’ll need a party wall surveyor. Here’s the catch: not all “party wall surveyors” are equal. The title...

Party wall procedures don’t have to be tense, slow, or expensive. With the right prep, the correct notices, and crystal-clear site controls, you can keep neighbours onside and your programme on track. Here’s a practical, step-by-step roadmap from first sketch to...

Planning a basement is exciting—big gains in space and value without the SDLT pain of moving. It’s also the highest-risk category of domestic work under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, so the party wall process must be watertight. Here’s a practical, no-nonsense guide...

Planning an extension is exciting—more space, more value, better living. If your works interact with a neighbour’s land or shared structures, parts of your build will fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Here’s a clear, practical guide to keep you compliant,...

Converting your loft is one of the most popular ways to add space and value—but if you share walls (terraced or semi-detached houses, or flats), parts of the project will usually fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Here’s your clear, practical guide to staying...

Planning to remove a chimney breast? If any part abuts a party wall (houses) or party structure (flats), parts of the work are very likely notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Done properly, this is a straightforward, low-risk project. Done casually, it can...

A practical, professional guide before you commence works If your project triggers the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you’ve been handed both a legal framework and a prevention tool. Use it well and you’ll cut risk, cost, and delays. Ignore it and you invite injunctions,...

A clear, practical guide before you (or your neighbour) start building Planning an extension, loft conversion, basement, garden wall or new foundations near a boundary? The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. Here’s a no-nonsense guide to what it covers, how the...

How to set the tone for smooth Party Wall procedures and friendlier outcomes Embarking on an extension, loft conversion or excavation that brushes up against your neighbour’s home? Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, they’re “Adjoining Owners”—and their experience of...

Being served with a Party Wall Award and feeling it’s “wrong” can be unsettling—especially if works are about to start or are already underway. Before you rush to court, here’s a clear, practical guide to how appeals work, whether an appeal is sensible in your case,...

Hearing from a neighbour, contractor or surveyor that “a dispute has arisen” can sound alarming. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, however, “dispute” is a technical term—not a falling-out. Here’s a clear, comprehensive guide to what it means, how it’s resolved, and...

Have you been told that your neighbour’s contractor can come onto your land? Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, that can be correct—but only in tightly defined circumstances and under strict safeguards. Here’s the clear, practical guide you need. 1) Yes—access rights...