If you’re a Building Owner and you’ve been told you need to serve a Party Wall Notice, you might be tempted to go DIY. Before you hang your hat on that hook, here’s our plain-English, no-nonsense guide to help you choose the safest and smartest route.
1) DIY notices can work — in the right circumstances
There is a time and a place for DIY:
- You’re on very good terms with your neighbour(s).
- The works are simple and low-risk (e.g., a straightforward loft beam or a small opening).
- You’ve already had a verbal confirmation of how they intend to respond — ideally consent — and they understand what that means.
Why this matters: Where trust is high and the scheme is simple, the chance of a technical challenge is smaller. Even then, ensure the notice is valid, correctly served, and includes everything required by law.
2) Notices are low-cost compared to the risk of getting it wrong
Even at the upper end of the market, professional notice service is “a couple of hundred pounds” at most. That fee buys:
- A legally robust notice that won’t unravel on a technicality.
- Correct service method and accurate owner details (including leaseholders where relevant).
- The comfort that someone who drafts 5–10 notices a day has checked drawings, descriptions and statutory timing.
Remember: A notice is not just a letter; it starts a legal process. If anything goes wrong later, your notice may be scrutinised. Paying a modest fee now can save weeks of delay and £££ later.
3) DIY invalidity = a full timing reset
One of the biggest DIY pitfalls is invalidity (wrong owners, wrong content, wrong service method, missing plans for excavation, or sloppy dates).
If your notice is invalid:
- You must start over, re-serve correctly, and restart all statutory clocks.
- This causes avoidable delay to your programme — especially painful if relations are already strained or if you’re up against contractor bookings, mortgages, childcare, holidays, etc.
4) DIY can isolate your neighbour from professional guidance
When surveyors serve notices, they also offer an open line of communication for Adjoining Owners to ask:
- What the Act covers
- What the response options mean
- How access and protections will work
- What happens if damage occurs
A DIY notice often prompts neighbours to seek independent advice. That can lead to a dissent and the appointment of their own surveyor.
Sometimes that’s absolutely appropriate; other times, it’s an avoidable escalation triggered by uncertainty. A professional face at the outset can de-risk the journey for everyone.
5) Common DIY trip-ups (and how to avoid them)
- Serving the wrong person (e.g., on a tenant but not the owner; missing the long-leaseholder).
- Fix: Confirm the legal owner(s) before service.
- Missing content (e.g., no structural description; no drawings for excavation notices).
- Fix: Include clear, unambiguous details and required plans.
- Wrong dates and clocks (e.g., “backdating” or mixing up the 1-month vs 2-month lead times).
- Fix: Set a clean timeline that respects statutory notice periods plus postal allowance.
- Improper service (e.g., methods not permitted, or emailing without written agreement for e-service).
- Fix: Use permitted service methods only, and keep proof.
- Ambiguous response forms (not making the three responses explicit).
- Fix: Present the three options only: Consent, Dissent & your own surveyor, or Dissent & an Agreed Surveyor.
6) A practical decision tree
- Are you certain who the legal Adjoining Owners are (including any relevant long-leaseholders)?
- No → Use a surveyor.
- Are you certain your works are notifiable, and which section(s) apply?
- No → Ask a surveyor to check the plans first.
- Is your neighbour comfortable with the process and likely to consent?
- No / Unsure → Use a surveyor to serve and to answer questions.
- Is your programme tight (contractor booked, finance ticking)?
- Yes → Avoid re-service risk: use a surveyor.
- Is the scheme complex (excavations, underpinning, basements, unusual sequences)?
- Yes → Use a surveyor.
If you’re still “all green” after the above, DIY might be reasonable — but consider a professional pre-check before you serve.
Free 10-minute Notice Check
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk with your draft notice and drawings.
We’ll flag any validity risks, confirm service steps, and suggest the safest path — in plain English.
Simple Survey — Fixed Nationwide Fees (RICS-Qualified)
| Service | What’s included | Fixed price* |
|---|---|---|
| Party Wall Notice (per Adjoining Owner) | Drafting, validity checks, correct service & response tracking | £25 |
| Agreed Surveyor Award | Impartial, single-surveyor route; tailored protections; service of Award | from £300 |
| Building Owner’s Surveyor (two-surveyor route) | Negotiations, method & protection clauses, Award drafting & service | from £325 |
*Complex/engineered schemes (e.g., deep excavations/basements) may require additional specialist input; we’ll flag this up-front. No surprises.
Nationwide coverage • Fixed fees • RICS-qualified • Experienced and approachable
FAQ
Q1: If my neighbour says “I’m happy,” do I still need a notice?
Yes, if the works are notifiable. A verbal “OK” isn’t a substitute for a valid notice. Proper paperwork protects both of you.
Q2: Can I email the notice?
Only if the Adjoining Owner has agreed in writing to receive notices electronically. Otherwise, use a permitted method and keep proof of service.
Q3: The notice I drafted missed a plan for excavation — can I add it later?
If a required drawing was missing, the safest route is to re-serve correctly and restart timings. Partial “patching” is risky and may be invalid.
Q4: Will a DIY notice make a neighbour more likely to dissent?
Not necessarily — but without a professional contact, neighbours often seek independent advice, which can increase the chance of dissent. Having a surveyor front the process can keep things calm and informed.
Q5: If my DIY notice is valid and they consent, is that the end of it?
If they give written consent, the Act allows you to proceed. You must still carry out the works carefully and lawfully, and you remain liable for damage caused.
Need certainty from the start?
Get your free 10-minute Notice Check today: team@simplesurvey.co.uk.
Simple. Clear. RICS-qualified.