Articles

Certain building activities require compliance with the Party Wall Act before work begins. These notifiable works include: Work on Existing Party Walls: Demolition and rebuilding Underpinning Inserting structural beams Raising or lowering wall height Adding a...

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, a Party Wall Surveyor acts in a statutory role, not a contractual one. This means the surveyor is formally appointed under the Act and does not act as a traditional “client’s” advisor. Their duty is to both parties, and their role...

A party wall is a wall that stands on land belonging to two or more property owners. It may form part of a building, such as the wall between terraced or semi-detached houses, or be a shared garden wall. In some cases, it can also be a wall built entirely on one...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has been in force for over 29 years, yet many homeowners and developers remain uncertain about when it applies. The Act is designed to protect neighbouring properties during construction, covering not only houses but also barns,...

Building work often affects neighbouring properties, especially when it involves a shared or boundary wall. In many cases, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies. If it does, you may need to serve notice and appoint a Party Wall Surveyor. What Is a Party Wall?A party...

If you are a Building Owner planning work that falls under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you are legally required to notify your neighbours before commencing. This is done by serving a Party Wall Notice. When Must You Serve Notice? At least 2 months before starting...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is legislation that provides homeowners with the legal right to carry out certain works on or near a property boundary. It also sets out how neighbours must be notified and establishes a clear process for resolving any disputes. The Act is...

If you own a property and plan to carry out certain types of construction, you may be classed as a Building Owner under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This means you may have to notify your neighbours before starting work. What Counts as “Notifiable” Work? Notifiable...

An Adjoining Owner is anyone who owns property neighbouring a Building Owner planning works covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This includes not only freeholders but also leaseholders with a tenancy exceeding 12 months. Notices and ResponsesAs an Adjoining...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has been in force for a year shy of 30 years, yet many homeowners remain uncertain about when it applies. The legislation was designed to prevent disputes and safeguard neighbouring properties during construction projects. When Does the...

If a Party Wall Notice has just landed through your door, you may be wondering what it means. In simple terms, it indicates that your neighbour intends to carry out construction work covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. These works have the potential to affect...

Why Simple Survey? Expert Guidance from Start to Finish Planning building works near a shared wall or boundary? Our specialist Party Wall Surveyors make the process simple and stress-free. We handle everything: Review your proposed works in detail Identify which...

You must serve a Party Wall Notice if your planned building work falls under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Common situations include: Altering, cutting into, or building against a shared (party) wall. Making changes to a party structure or a shared boundary wall...

If you’ve been served with a Party Wall Notice, you have a few possible courses of action. How you respond will determine what happens next and how your rights are protected under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. ✅ Option 1: Consent to the Works In many cases, the...

The cost of obtaining a Party Wall Agreement (legally referred to as a Party Wall Award) varies depending on the complexity of the works and the surveyors involved. For straightforward matters, costs are usually modest, particularly when surveyors work proactively to...

Whether a Party Wall Agreement is required will depend on how your extension interacts with shared walls, boundary lines, and neighbouring foundations. When a Party Wall Agreement is Required Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you must serve a Party Wall Notice and...

For the first time since its introduction, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has been updated to permit notices and documents to be served electronically via email. This change, made under the Electronic Communications Act 2000, took effect on 6th April 2016 through the...

A Party Wall Award (also referred to as a Party Wall Agreement) is a legally binding document prepared by one or more Party Wall Surveyors when neighbours cannot reach agreement on a Party Wall Notice. Even when entitled to one, the question arises: is it always...

For many homeowners, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 only becomes relevant when planning building works that fall under its provisions or upon receiving a Party Wall Notice from a neighbour proposing construction. The Act may appear complex, particularly for those...

A Party Wall Agreement (commonly referred to as a Party Wall Award or simply an Award) is a legally binding document prepared under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It establishes the rights and responsibilities of both the building owner (the party carrying out the...

For many property owners, the first encounter with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 occurs when a legal notice is received. Under the Act, a property owner intending to carry out certain types of building work is required to notify their neighbour in advance. There are...

A party wall is a wall shared between two properties, typically positioned on the boundary line separating them. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 recognises several types of party walls and related structures. Type A Party Wall A Type A Party Wall is a wall that straddles...

A Party Wall Agreement, legally referred to as a Party Wall Award, is a formal document prepared by one or more Party Wall Surveyors when a neighbouring property owner does not consent to a Party Wall Notice. Its purpose is to resolve disputes and establish the...

If you are planning alterations or an extension to a residential property, it may be necessary to serve a Party Wall Notice. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out the circumstances in which such notices are required, generally falling into three categories: Works...

Our extensive experience allows us to navigate the process efficiently, helping clients minimise costs, avoid delays, and safeguard their property throughout the course of works. If you have received a Party Wall Notice, we ensure that your neighbour is fully...

Pursuant to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, a “surveyor” is defined as an individual who is not directly involved in the proposed building works. Property owners are therefore prohibited from acting on their own behalf in this capacity. However, they may appoint a...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 grants building owners certain rights of access over a neighbour’s land — but these rights are not unlimited. Section 8 sets out two key conditions: The work must fall under the ActAccess is only permitted where the works are those...

If you’re planning building works, it’s essential to check whether any part of your project falls under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Depending on the type of work, notice must be served either one or two months before starting. You should also factor in the time it...

Many adjoining owners first learn about planned works when a party wall notice arrives in the post, or when letters are sent suggesting they should immediately dissent and appoint a surveyor. However, dissenting isn’t always necessary. Whether you need a surveyor...

When planning building work that involves shared boundaries, it’s important to understand the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This law sets out how neighbours should be notified and protects both property owners by providing a clear process for preventing and resolving...

A party wall is a wall that separates two properties, with the dividing line between ownerships usually lying within its thickness. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, property owners have the legal right to carry out certain works to a party wall or structure....

A party wall surveyor (or a single Agreed Surveyor if both owners consent to one appointment) is responsible for producing a legally binding document called a Party Wall Award. Sometimes referred to as a party wall agreement, this document sets out how the works can...

A party wall survey is a formal process required whenever planned building works could affect a shared wall, structure, or boundary between neighbouring properties. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, homeowners must serve a notice on their neighbours if the works...

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, a “dispute” does not necessarily mean a heated disagreement between neighbours. In fact, the Act defines a dispute in much simpler terms: If an adjoining owner does not provide written consent within 14 days of receiving a valid...

If damage is identified, the surveyor will record it in a Schedule of Damage and pass it to the building owner for review. If the building owner accepts responsibility, discussions move on to the cost of repairs or compensation. If responsibility is disputed, the...

Receiving a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can be confusing if you’re unfamiliar with the procedures. This Act requires property owners to formally notify neighbouring owners when planned construction may affect their property. Knowing how notices work...

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, an Adjoining Owner is anyone who owns property next to a Building Owner’s premises. Before starting certain construction works, the Building Owner is legally required to notify you with a Party Wall Notice. Notifiable works include:...

Managing party wall procedures effectively is essential for both property owners and surveyors, as poor handling can significantly increase construction costs. By following strategic steps, homeowners and professionals can reduce expenses while keeping the process...

At Simple Survey, our RICS-registered Party Wall Surveyors specialise in resolving disputes between neighbours when building works are planned close to shared boundaries. Whether for residential or commercial properties, our role is to ensure projects move forward...

A party wall contract is a legally binding document used by property owners who share walls, fences, or boundaries. It defines responsibilities for maintenance, repair, alterations, and restoration, helping prevent disputes and minimizing conflicts during construction...

The primary responsibility of a Party Wall Surveyor is to resolve disagreements between neighbours relating to Party Wall Notices served under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Surveyors act impartially, ensuring that building works can proceed lawfully while minimising...

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, anyone carrying out building work that may affect a neighbour’s property is considered a Building Owner. As a Building Owner, you are legally required to inform neighbouring property owners about certain types of work before you...

Property owners in England and Wales must manage construction near shared walls carefully. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 governs these processes, requiring Party Wall Notices and, where necessary, formal agreements to protect all parties involved. What Is a Party Wall...

A Party Wall Award (sometimes called a Party Wall Agreement) is a legally binding document prepared under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It is issued by one or more surveyors when a neighbour dissents to a Party Wall Notice, and it sets out in detail how the proposed...

When carrying out construction that affects shared walls, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a key piece of legislation in England and Wales. One critical requirement under this Act is the Party Structure Notice, which ensures that neighbouring property owners are...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to specific types of construction activities. Below is an overview of common works that require Party Wall procedures: Internal Works Chimney Breast RemovalRemoving a party wall chimney breast and adding structural supports for the...

A Party Wall Notice is a formal legal document served under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It informs your neighbour that you intend to carry out works which may affect a shared wall, boundary, or foundations. The Act identifies three main categories of notifiable...

1. When a Notice is Required Work on shared walls (terraced/semi-detached houses) Work on party structures (shared floors, ceilings, structural elements) Work on shared garden/fence walls Excavation near neighbour’s foundations (3–6 m) Not Required: Minor maintenance...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides a clear legal framework to help neighbours manage and resolve disputes concerning shared walls, boundary walls, party structures, and foundations near adjoining properties. It is a nationwide piece of legislation designed to...

What is a Building Owner? A Building Owner is any property owner (house, flat, commercial premises, or land) who plans to carry out works that fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Are You Planning Building Works? If your project involves notifiable works, you must...