If you’re new to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, one of the first practical questions is: who pays the surveyors? In most cases it’s the Building Owner (the party doing the notifiable works).
But “most cases” isn’t “always,” and the Act’s test of reasonableness protects both sides from runaway costs. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense explainer.
Who is usually liable for fees?
As a starting point, the Building Owner pays the reasonable costs of administering the Act. That normally includes:
- Their own surveyor’s fees (if they appoint one).
- The Adjoining Owner’s surveyor’s reasonable fees (if separate surveyors are appointed).
- Any necessary third-party input that the surveyors reasonably instruct (e.g., structural advice on a method statement).
Why? Because the Building Owner is the party initiating notifiable works and benefitting from them. The Act is designed to facilitate those works while protecting the neighbour, not to penalise them for engaging with the process.
What does “reasonable” mean?
“Reasonable” is the anchor point. In practice, appointed surveyor(s) look at:
- Scope & complexity of the works (simple loft steels vs. deep basement underpinning).
- Time actually required to review drawings, liaise, inspect (if needed), and draft/agree an Award.
- Market-consistent rates and proportionate time entries.
- Efficiency: duplication, delays or over-servicing can be resisted.
If a fee is challenged, surveyors can determine responsibility and quantum in the Award. This is a built-in check against excessive billing.
When might the Adjoining Owner contribute?
It’s rare, but the Act does allow costs to be shared or shifted when fairness requires it. Examples include:
- Unreasonable conduct that materially increases surveyor time (e.g., repeatedly cancelling agreed meetings, refusing reasonable access essential for the works, or insisting on unnecessary site attendances).
- Additional works for the Adjoining Owner’s benefit (e.g., they request extra protective measures or alterations that go beyond what the Building Owner reasonably needs).
In these narrow circumstances, the surveyors may determine that some costs fall to the Adjoining Owner. It’s not the norm, but it is a safety valve against fee inflation caused by avoidable behaviour.
Common fee structures you’ll see
- Fixed fees for straightforward work (typical for conventional loft beams or modest rear extensions).
- Time-charged fees where complexity or uncertainty exists (basements, tricky access, unusual details).
- Hybrid: a core fixed fee plus time-based charges if specific contingencies arise (e.g., design changes or additional neighbour requests).
Good practice is clear scoping up front, so owners know what’s included and what would trigger extras.
How to keep fees proportionate
- Serve clean, compliant notices. Errors cause re-service and duplicate time.
- Provide clear drawings and details early. Ambiguity invites rounds of queries.
- Choose experienced surveyors. Efficiency saves money.
- Keep to the notified design. Late changes often mean extra surveyor time and, sometimes, new notices.
- Be responsive and pragmatic. Avoidable delay is the quickest path to added cost.
Agreed Surveyor vs Two Surveyors: fee impact
- Agreed Surveyor (one surveyor for both owners): Often the most cost-effective route for conventional works with good neighbourly relations. One professional drafts and serves the Award; no second surveyor to coordinate with.
- Two Surveyors: Sensible where relations are strained, risk is higher, or a second set of eyes is reassuring. Costs are typically higher than the agreed route, but still bound by reasonableness.
Either way, the Act expects surveyors to work efficiently and proportionately.
Damage later = further fees?
If notifiable works cause damage, the Act allows the Adjoining Owner to re-engage their surveyor to resolve it—agreeing making good or payment in lieu. Those additional, damage-related surveyor fees are usually Building Owner’s responsibility (again, subject to reasonableness). Clear communication during the works helps prevent small issues snowballing.
Simple Survey: transparent, low-cost Party Wall support
We set our pricing to keep the process predictable and fair:
- Party Wall Notice service: £25 per adjoining ownership (multi-notice bundles discounted)
- Act administration as Agreed Surveyor (single surveyor): typically £300 fixed-fee (depends on complexity/number of owners)
- Two-surveyor route (we act for the Building Owner): fixed-fee proposals from £325 for our side (we work to keep your neighbour’s surveyor’s hourly fees reasonable and contained)
Email your drawings (drafts are fine) and address to team@simplesurvey.co.uk. We’ll confirm what’s notifiable, recommend the least-cost, compliant route, and issue valid notices fast—so you control risk, not rack up fees.
Simple Survey — keep it compliant, keep it sensible, keep it affordable.