Has a Party Wall Award just landed in your inbox or through the letterbox?
Great — that means the “dispute” under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has been formally resolved and you now have a clear, enforceable roadmap for the works.
Below are our Simple Survey tips to help you use the Award properly, protect your position, and keep your project calm, compliant and on-time.
1) Read it… and properly
Even though much of the wording will look “standard”, your Award is bespoke to your properties and the agreed works. Expect it to include:
- Authorisation of the notifiable works and the drawings the surveyor(s) relied on.
- Protections for the Adjoining Owner (e.g., hand tools on the party wall, dust/ vibration limits, temporary weathering, sealing fireplaces/vents, protection to paving/landscaping, scaffold/hoarding requirements).
- Access terms under Section 8 (if needed): where, when, how long, and with what precautions.
- Damage procedure (make good or compensation), including how quotes, payments and timescales are handled.
- Working hours and site conduct rules.
- Variation mechanism if the design or method materially changes.
- Appeal window (see §3 below).
Tip: Save digital and hard copies of the Award and all appendices. Share them with your contractor, architect and engineer.
2) Know what to do if something changes or goes wrong
Your Award should set out clear, step-by-step procedures for common scenarios. Get familiar with them now:
A) Damage appears
- Notify the surveyor(s) promptly (and the other owner).
- Record with dated photos/video and a short description.
- Follow the Award’s process: verification of causation → make good by the Building Owner’s contractor or agree cash settlement based on quotes → payment or supplemental award if needed.
B) You need to vary the works
- Don’t “quietly” build something different. If drawings, structure, depth, sequence, risk or access change materially, alert the surveyor(s). They’ll decide whether a variation or new award is required.
C) Access overruns or dates move
- Access rights are not open-ended. If you need longer or different routes/times, seek agreement before overrunning.
3) Unhappy with the Award? Understand appeals before you act
- There is a strict 14-day window from service of the Award to lodge an appeal in the County Court.
- Appeals are about errors in law/jurisdiction or clear defects — not simply disliking an outcome.
- Appeals carry cost risk (your own legal fees and potentially the other side’s provable losses if you fail).
- Always take legal advice and speak to your surveyor(s) first; many concerns can be solved by clarification or minor variation without Court.
4) Make the Award work on site
- Contractor briefing: Walk your contractor through the Award line-by-line before starting. Treat it like a method statement you must obey.
- Site checklist: Tools permitted, coverings to install, access windows, neighbour notification steps, inspection points.
- Communications: Send short updates to the neighbour for key milestones (start, access days, concrete pour, completion).
- Record-keeping: Keep a simple log of events, dates, photos and any agreed variations.
5) Common mistakes to avoid
- Building from outdated drawings referenced in the Award.
- Ignoring hand-tool/non-percussive clauses on the party wall.
- Overstaying access or using areas not awarded.
- Failing to report damage early with evidence.
- Making material design changes without a variation award.
- Treating the Award as “guidance” — it’s a legally binding instruction.
Simple, fixed survey cost chart (nationwide)
| Service | What’s included | Fixed price* |
|---|---|---|
| Party Wall Notice (per Adjoining Owner) | Drafting, legal validation, service & tracking | £25 |
| Agreed Surveyor Award | One impartial surveyor for both owners,Award & service | from £300 |
| Building Owner’s Surveyor (two-surveyor route) | Liaison/negotiation, Award & service | from £325 |
*Complex works (e.g., basements, deep excavations, Security for Expenses, movement monitoring, advising engineer) may require specialist input. We flag all extras upfront—no surprises.
FAQs
Q1: Does the Award let the Building Owner start work immediately?
Yes—subject to the Award’s conditions, any notice periods within it, and statutory lead-times in the Act.
Q2: Can the Adjoining Owner block access awarded under Section 8?
No. Access awarded is a legal right. It must, however, follow the limits, timings and protections in the Award.
Q3: Who pays the surveyors’ fees?
Ordinarily the Building Owner pays the reasonable fees of the surveyor(s) and award service costs.
Q4: We’ve spotted damage. Can we choose our own contractor to make good?
Typically yes. Most Awards allow the Adjoining Owner to opt for make-good by the Building Owner’s contractor or a cash settlement based on quotes.
Q5: The contractor wants to use breakers on the party wall. Is that okay?
Only if the Award permits percussive tools. Many Awards require hand tools on the party wall to reduce vibration and risk.
Q6: Our works have changed slightly. Do we need a new Award?
If the change is material (affects structure, risk, access, depth or method), expect a variation or fresh award. Ask your surveyor before proceeding.
Q7: How long is the Award “valid”?
It’s tied to the notices and works it governs. If works don’t commence within the notice limits or change materially, you may need to re-serve/refresh and obtain a new/varied award.
Need a quick Award health-check?
Email us your Award and drawings. We’ll flag critical clauses, brief your contractor in plain English, and map any variations — for a fixed fee.
Simple Survey — Nationwide • Fixed Fees • Experienced & Qualified
📧 team@simplesurvey.co.uk