If you’re planning work that falls under the Party Wall Act, it’s important to start preparing well in advance. Depending on the type of work, notice periods range from one to two months, but more complex projects may require longer to agree on a party wall award.
We always suggest that building owners talk to their neighbours before sending out the formal notice. Neighbours who feel informed early on are less likely to immediately hire a surveyor when the official notice arrives, which can often save unnecessary surveyor fees.
It’s also a good idea for building owners to have their plans reviewed by a knowledgeable party wall surveyor to determine if the work is covered by the Act and, if needed, to help draft the correct notice(s). We provide this service for a fixed fee of £25 plus VAT per adjoining owner.
The Act allows the same surveyor to be appointed by both parties, acting as an ‘Agreed Surveyor’ who fairly manages the process for everyone involved. Having a surveyor prepare the notice can increase the chances that they will be accepted as the agreed surveyor, which often helps reduce costs, especially for smaller projects.
If the neighbouring property has been divided into flats, all owners with an interest of more than 12 months must be notified. This might mean serving multiple notices, so careful coordination is needed to minimize the number of surveyors involved—and therefore keep fees down.
While the building owner covers their own surveyor’s costs, they are also responsible for paying the reasonable fees of any surveyors appointed by the neighbours. Adjoining owners’ surveyors typically charge based on hourly rates and don’t provide a quote upfront. The final fees are agreed between surveyors, but if they cannot settle on an amount, the Third Surveyor can be brought in to make a binding decision.
For more complex work like underpinning or basement excavations, the party wall award will be more detailed to address the additional risks. This might include requirements for security deposits and strengthened foundations.
Even if the adjoining owner agrees to the notice, it’s wise to prepare a schedule of condition that documents the current state of parts of their property that could be affected. Neighbours often pay close attention for cracks once nearby work starts and may mistakenly attribute existing cracks to the construction.
If you’re planning works covered by the Party Wall Act, feel free to reach out to our party walls team for an initial consultation. To receive a fee estimate, please include drawings of the proposed work when you contact us.