Selecting a party wall surveyor isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—it can shape the pace, cost and harmony of your entire project. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives surveyors real authority to resolve disputes and set legally binding terms, so the person you appoint matters. Here’s a pragmatic guide to help you choose wisely.
1) Start with competence you can verify
Qualifications & memberships. While “party wall surveyor” isn’t a protected title, look for professionals with recognised credentials (e.g., RICS, CIOB, CABE, IStructE/ICE for engineers with party wall expertise). Memberships usually require professional standards, continued learning and complaints procedures.
Professional indemnity insurance. Ask for confirmation of active PI cover and the limit of indemnity. If something goes wrong in the administration of the Act, you want proper insurance behind the advice.
Relevant experience. Party wall work is its own niche. Prioritise surveyors who regularly draft awards, handle Section 1/2/6 notices, navigate third-surveyor referrals when needed, and are comfortable with procedural details like valid service, timings, and electronic execution/serving of awards.
2) Look for genuine impartiality (and evidence of it)
Under the Act, surveyors must act independently and impartially. That applies whether they’re your appointed surveyor, your neighbour’s, or acting as an Agreed Surveyor for both. Probe for real-world examples:
- How do they handle pushback from an appointing owner who wants something the Act doesn’t allow?
- When have they disagreed with their own client to protect impartiality?
- How do they balance “work enabling” with avoiding unnecessary inconvenience to the neighbour?
If the answers sound client-pleasing rather than statute-anchored, keep looking.
3) Decide early: Agreed Surveyor or separate surveyors?
Agreed Surveyor (one surveyor acting for both owners)
Pros: usually cheaper and faster (one set of fees, fewer hand-offs).
Cons: no third surveyor is selected up front. If a disagreement with that surveyor arises, you’ll rely on appeals rather than a quick third-surveyor determination.
Separate surveyors (one each)
Pros: two viewpoints and a built-in safety valve—the third surveyor—to resolve deadlocks.
Cons: typically higher total fees and a little more administration.
A good candidate can talk you through which route suits your project’s complexity, budget and neighbour dynamics—without nudging you toward the option that benefits their fees.
4) Demystify fees before you commit
Party wall fees vary widely. Get them in writing and make sure you understand the basis:
- Fixed fees are common for building owner surveyor work (e.g., notices and award drafting) and for Agreed Surveyor roles. Clarify what’s included (drafting, revisions, serving, communications) and what triggers extras.
- Hourly rates are common for adjoining-owner surveyors. Ask for a range estimate tied to your project’s scope and complexity, what could push it higher, and any caps or stage gates.
- Disbursements & specialists. Will they need an advising engineer? How are those costs controlled and authorised?
- Payment timings. Some surveyors require payment prior to serving an award; understand cash-flow implications.
The gold standard is a transparent menu of services, clear triggers for variable work, and proactive cost control when the matter becomes more complex than expected.
5) Test their process discipline
The Act is procedural. Small defects (e.g., invalid notices, wrong parties, missing statutory content, poor service) can unravel everything. Ask:
- How do they verify title and correct “owners” (freeholders, long leaseholders, management companies) before serving?
- Do they tailor notices to the correct sections (1, 2, 6) and include mandatory plans/sections for excavations?
- How do they track and prove service (post, hand-delivery, email consent), and manage statutory timelines (14-day responses, 10-day 10(4) requests, one/two-month notice periods, 12-month validity windows)?
- What’s their method for agreeing and serving awards promptly (often electronically) so appeal clocks are aligned?
You want a surveyor who treats admin as mission-critical, not an afterthought.
6) Prioritise communication style and availability
Clarity and tone can prevent neighbour friction from becoming a formal dispute. Favour surveyors who:
- Explain plainly—they can translate legalese into practical next steps.
- Set expectations—with you and your neighbour—around working hours, access, sequencing, and paperwork milestones.
- Stay responsive—return calls/emails quickly and meet realistic target dates.
- Document decisions—so there’s a clean audit trail if anything is challenged.
A composed communicator often keeps matters cooperative, which saves you time and fees.
7) Check local knowledge and professional relationships
Party wall practice varies subtly by area. A surveyor who regularly works in your borough will understand:
- Typical local authority approaches (useful when appointing officers are needed for third-surveyor selection).
- Common construction types and foundation depths by era (handy for Section 6 assessments).
- The local market norms on fees and what other surveyors expect as “reasonable.”
They’ll also know the small circle of respected third surveyors regionally—which can be invaluable if a referral becomes necessary.
8) Understand their approach to disputes and third-surveyor referrals
Most matters don’t need third-surveyor involvement, but you want someone who can negotiate pragmatically and refer decisively when reason runs out. Ask:
- When do they escalate to the third surveyor?
- How do they prepare submissions (succinct, evidence-driven, on-point to the Act)?
- How do they minimise costs and delay in a referral?
- What’s their experience with appeals—when they’re justified, and when they’re a waste?
A measured, statute-led approach protects you from performative wrangling that only inflates fees.
9) Tech, admin and service efficiency
Modern party wall work benefits from clean digital workflows:
- Secure document sharing, e-signatures, and email service where consented (to avoid postal lag and lost documents).
- Reliable file management so nothing goes missing if the matter runs long or a follow-on award is needed.
- Clear templating aligned with the latest industry practice and case law.
Ask how they’ll keep you and your neighbour updated and what you’ll see at each step.
10) Reputation and references
Don’t just scan star ratings—read the comments. You’re looking for:
- Consistent praise for impartiality, clarity and speed.
- Positive feedback from both building owners and adjoining owners (a strong indicator of fairness).
- Willingness to provide recent referees for similar projects (rear extension, loft, basement, etc.).
Questions to put to your shortlist
- How many party wall matters have you completed in the last 12 months, and how many were similar to mine?
- Will you act as Agreed Surveyor if both owners request it? If yes, what fixed fee applies?
- If separate surveyors are appointed, how do you keep the other side’s time (and fees) reasonable?
- What’s your plan to ensure all notices and service are beyond challenge?
- How do you handle a non-responsive neighbour under section 10(4)?
- What’s your typical timeline from notice to award in cases like mine?
- When do you recommend seeking legal input (e.g., injunctions), and how do you coordinate that?
- What are the likely fee ranges (including any specialists) and the points that could move them up or down?
Red flags to avoid
- Vague or shifting fees; reluctance to write terms down.
- Over-promising (“we’ll guarantee consent” or “we can ignore the time limits”)—that’s not how the Act works.
- Aggressive, client-pleasing postures that downplay impartiality.
- Poor grasp of service methods, statutory timings, or who qualifies as an “owner.”
- Slow, unclear communication in the quoting phase (it rarely improves later).
The bottom line
The best party wall surveyors are calm, impartial technicians with excellent process discipline and people skills. They keep paperwork watertight, costs predictable, timelines realistic and neighbour relations constructive—so your project moves forward with the least fuss.
Choose on merit, method and mindset: credible credentials, clear processes, transparent fees, and a measured, statute-led approach to resolving differences. Get that right and you’ll rarely think about the appointment again—exactly as it should be.
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk — the lowest-cost party wall surveyors across England & Wales. We’ll confirm what’s notifiable, identify every Adjoining Owner, draft and serve valid notices, and include neighbour-friendly cover letters to maximise your chances of a smooth consent.