Homeowners often approach party wall as though it were a matter of persuasion: “If I explain it nicely, my neighbour will sign.” Sometimes that works. Often it does not—particularly where the neighbour is cautious, absent, or simply unwilling to give written consent. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 anticipates this and provides a surveyor-led mechanism under Section 10.
At Simple Survey, we want clients to understand one essential point: a party wall surveyor is not a hired advocate. The Act operates through a dispute resolution process administered by surveyors as independent professionals. That structure only works if surveyors act in a quasi-judicial manner—independent, procedural, and focused on reaching a reasoned outcome. When surveyors behave like partisan representatives, costs rise and outcomes deteriorate.
Section 10 offers two main appointment routes. Either both owners concur in appointing one agreed surveyor, or each appoints their own surveyor and those two select a third surveyor. The agreed surveyor route is often attractive because it can reduce duplication and keep correspondence lean. The separate surveyor route can be appropriate where trust is low or where the adjoining owner wants their own professional adviser. Neither route is “right” in the abstract; the right route is the one that fits the situation without inflaming it.
So how do you choose a surveyor sensibly? We recommend looking for the following:
- Clarity of communication: Party wall becomes expensive when communications are verbose, combative, or ambiguous. You want a surveyor who can state the position plainly and keep letters proportionate.
- Programme awareness: A surveyor who understands construction sequencing will reduce delays. One who does not will inadvertently create them.
- Statutory discipline: Party wall is not a creative writing exercise. It is a statutory process. Surveyors should be comfortable with the Act’s structure and the practical consequences of its timeframes.
- Fee transparency: You should understand how fees are charged, what is included, and what triggers additional time. Hidden fee models breed mistrust and can lead to disputes about fees themselves.
Homeowners also ask what surveyors “do” in practice. Conceptually, the job is to progress the matter from notice to outcome: identify the notifiable works, ensure the process is correctly invoked, determine what is reasonable in the circumstances, and set out the result in an Award when required. The value of a good surveyor is that they keep matters proportionate: they do not inflate issues, and they do not allow uncertainty to drift.
At Simple Survey, our philosophy is simple: we keep party wall professional, not theatrical. We avoid alarmism. We avoid needless complication. We focus on the outcome you actually need—a lawful and workable basis to proceed—whilst maintaining a tone that does not antagonise a neighbour who may already feel uneasy.
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If you want party wall surveyor support that stays clear, calm, and cost-effective, contact Simple Survey. Notices start from £25 per adjoining ownership, with agreed surveyor administration typically £300, depending on complexity and owners.