Planning a basement extension, rear/side extension, garden room or loft conversion is exciting—you’re finally turning drawings into reality. If you’re tempted to DIY your Party Wall Notice to save time or money, here’s one simple step that dramatically reduces the risk of invalid service (and the hassle of starting again):
Always check the Land Registry for the legal title owner(s) first
The single most common DIY mistake isn’t wording—it’s serving the notice on the wrong person. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 requires notices to be served on every “owner” (freeholder and any leaseholder with a lease exceeding a year). Guessing, asking the neighbour casually, or addressing only the occupier/tenant often leads to invalid service.
Before you draft a single line:
- Obtain the official title register(s) for each adjoining property from HM Land Registry.
- Identify all owners: freeholder(s), company ownership, and any long leaseholders where applicable.
- Match names and addresses precisely as shown on the register (companies must be served at their registered/principal office).
- Check for multiple titles to the same building (common with flats/maisonettes). You may need to serve more than one notice.
This avoids awkward “are you the owner or the tenant?” conversations, prevents service on the wrong party, and gives you a belt-and-braces foundation for validity.
Other quick validity checks (so your notice doesn’t get binned)
- Choose the right notice type(s):
Section 1 (new wall at/astride boundary), Section 2 (works to party wall/party structure/party fence wall), Section 6 (adjacent excavation). - Include the legally required particulars: nature and particulars of the works, proposed start date, and the correct parties’ details.
- Attach drawings for Section 6 excavations: plans/sections showing location and depth (omitting these makes a Sec. 6 notice invalid).
- Serve correctly under Section 15: by post (keep proof of posting), by hand to an owner/occupier, by fixing to the premises, or by email only if the owner has agreed to electronic service.
- Respect timings: at least 1 month (Sec. 1 & 6) or 2 months (Sec. 2) before works begin.
Remember: if a notice is invalid, the clock never started. You’ll have to re-serve and reset the statutory timetable.
Should you DIY at all?
Even with the Land Registry tip, a Party Wall Notice is a legal document. Errors (wrong section, missing drawings, mis-served owners, backdated dates, incorrect service method) are easy to make and can cause delay, injunction risk, and extra fees later. Most owners are better off asking a specialist to draft and serve properly the first time.
Keep costs down and compliance up with Simple Survey
- 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.
RICS-qualified, building-pathology trained, and experienced across basements, lofts, extensions and garden rooms—we’ll validate what’s notifiable, serve airtight notices, and if needed, agree a clear, enforceable Award.
Ready for a notice that won’t come back to bite you?
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk with your address and drawings for a fast Land Registry ownership check and a fixed-fee notice/award proposal.
Serve it right the first time—let us handle the legal heavy lifting while you focus on the build.