On some party wall jobs—especially those involving deeper excavations, underpinning, basements, or significant structural alterations—the appointed party wall surveyor(s) may bring in a checking engineer. Think of them as an independent, specialist peer-review: their job is to stress-test the proposed structural design from a neighbour-risk perspective so the Award can include proportionate safeguards.
Who appoints a checking engineer?
A checking engineer can be instructed by:
- An Agreed Surveyor (where there’s one surveyor acting for both owners), or
- The Adjoining Owner’s Surveyor (on two-surveyor matters).
The instruction comes from the surveyor, not from the owners directly, because their advice informs the surveyor’s decisions and the conditions written into the Party Wall Award.
What do they actually do?
- Independent risk review
They examine the structural design, method statements, temporary works and sequencing to identify risks to the Adjoining Owner’s property (movement, settlement, vibration, water ingress, stability, etc.). - Technical guidance to the surveyor
They translate engineering risk into practical, enforceable Award conditions—for example, requiring hand tools in sensitive areas, limiting concurrent excavations, specifying temporary works, or defining trigger levels and monitoring. - Engineer-to-engineer dialogue
They liaise with the Building Owner’s structural engineer to resolve queries. Where appropriate, they may recommend small tweaks—e.g., changing a pad foundation to a strip, adjusting underpinning sequence, revising propping or temporary works—to reduce neighbour risk without derailing the design intent. - Qualifications and independence
Checking engineers are typically chartered structural or civil engineers (e.g., CEng MIStructE/CEng MICE) with relevant experience in domestic and small-scale urban projects. They are independent of the design team and report to the appointing surveyor. - Inputs that may flow into the Award
Expect recommendations on:
- Excavation staging, shoring and temporary works
- Vibration/mining of percussive tools vs. hand tools in critical zones
- Waterproofing interfaces adjacent to neighbours
- Monitoring (levels, crack gauges, inclinometers) and trigger/action plans
- Inspection hold-points and evidence to be shared during works
Who pays for a checking engineer?
In almost all cases, the Building Owner funds reasonable checking-engineer fees as part of the party wall process, because they arise from the risk created by the Building Owner’s works. The surveyor(s) will only instruct a checking engineer where proportionate, and the Award will typically confirm cost responsibility.
When is a checking engineer likely to be required?
- Basement excavations/underpinning
- Deep or stepped foundations within 3–6m of neighbouring structures
- Complex temporary works or stability interfaces
- Challenging ground conditions or proximity to sensitive assets
- Significant load transfers (e.g., chimney breast removals combined with new openings)
On conventional lofts or straightforward rear extensions, a checking engineer is often unnecessary—the party wall surveyor can usually manage risk through method and tool controls alone.
Will this delay my project?
Not if managed properly. Early engagement means queries can be answered engineer-to-engineer, avoiding back-and-forth. Many reviews complete quickly, and the resulting clarity reduces on-site surprises (the true schedule-killer).
Simple Survey: keep it proportionate, keep it moving
We’re chartered building surveyors (RICS) who know when a checking engineer adds value—and when they don’t. Our approach is simple: only instruct where proportionate, set a tight, clear brief, and keep the engineer-to-engineer dialogue focused on neighbour risk so your Award is robust without becoming over-engineered or over-priced.
Transparent, low-cost pricing
- 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)
Ready for a clear, proportionate plan?
Email your drawings to team@simplesurvey.co.uk.
We’ll confirm if a checking engineer is truly needed, outline a lean brief and timeline, and provide a fixed-fee party wall proposal that keeps risk low and progress high.
Simple Survey — robust Awards, minimal fuss, fair fees.