Party Wall Notices can land with a thud—especially if it’s your first brush with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. For a building owner, they may find they’re suddenly fielding questions from the adjoining owner next door.
Adjoining owners, the key is to respond clearly, correctly, and on time. Here’s how to keep things tidy, lawful, and neighbourly.
1) If you don’t want an Agreed Surveyor, say so early
One of the first decisions for an Adjoining Owner is whether to use one Agreed Surveyor (acting impartially for both owners) or the two-surveyor route (each owner appoints their own surveyor). If you’re not comfortable with the Agreed Surveyor option, state that upfront in your response.
Why it matters:
- It removes uncertainty for the Building Owner and their programme.
- It avoids false starts where a surveyor drafts as if they’re agreed—only to find you want independent representation.
- It lets your chosen surveyor engage early, reducing delay and duplication.
Plain English is fine: “I dissent and will appoint my own surveyor; I do not agree to an Agreed Surveyor.”
2) Spot an error? Flag it immediately so it can be fixed
Notices are legal documents. If there’s a wrong owner name, missing address, incorrect title details, or—for Section 6 (excavations)—missing plans/sections and depths, the safest course is to tell the sender right away. An invalid notice can waste weeks; better to re-serve correctly and restart the clock now than discover the defect after everyone has invested time and money.
What to check fast:
- Are all owners named (freeholder and any long leaseholders)?
- Is the service method valid (Section 15)?
- For excavation notices, are the drawings showing location and depth attached?
- Is the scope of notifiable works clear (which section(s) of the Act apply)?
A short, polite email works: “Thanks for the notice. I’ve spotted X—please can you re-serve with the correct Y so we can proceed properly?”
3) Use a valid response—no “blended” options
Under the Act there are only three valid responses within 14 days of service:
- Consent to the works (in writing).
- Dissent and agree to appoint one Agreed Surveyor.
- Dissent and appoint your own surveyor (two-surveyor route).
Custom or “conditional” replies—“I’ll consent if you use this contractor,” or “I consent but want weekend bans written in”—aren’t valid responses under the Act. If you want conditions, the correct vehicle is a dissent, which triggers the surveyor(s) to agree a Party Wall Award that can include method controls, hours, access terms, and protections.
If you don’t respond in 14 days, a dispute is deemed and the process moves to surveyor appointment anyway—so it’s better to choose your route proactively.
Practical extras to keep it smooth
- Be contactable. If you’re away, nominate an email and postal address you’ll check.
- Remember timelines. Section 1 and 2 notices require at least two months before works; Section 6 needs one month. Your 14-day response window sits within those periods.
Keep costs sensible with Simple Survey
Our fixed, low fees:
- 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 and number of notices/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)
We’re qualified, impartial, and laser-focused on valid paperwork, clear communication, and quick resolutions—so you avoid the delays and expense that come with invalid notices and muddled responses.
Not sure how to respond? We’ll sanity-check it today.
Email your notice (PDF/photo is fine) and we’ll confirm whether it’s valid, what your response options are, and—if you dissent—how to appoint the right surveyor without inflaming relations.
Email: team@simplesurvey.co.uk
Make a clear choice, use the right form of response, and keep everything moving—simply.