If you’re planning building works, it’s essential to check whether any part of your project falls under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Depending on the type of work, notice must be served either one or two months before starting.
You should also factor in the time it takes to deal with responses and potential disputes. On average, straightforward party wall matters take around 2–10 weeks from start to finish, while more complex works, such as basement excavations, can take longer.
Talk to Your Neighbours First
Before sending a formal notice, it’s always worth speaking with your neighbours. Explaining your plans in advance can:
- Ease their concerns
- Reduce the likelihood of disputes
- Avoid the appointment of additional surveyors (which can increase costs)
At Simple Survey, we recommend having your drawings reviewed by a party wall surveyor before notices are served. This helps prevent delays later and ensures notices are legally compliant from the outset.
Your Legal Duties
By law, you must serve notice on any adjoining owner with a legal interest in their property of more than 12 months. This can include freeholders, leaseholders, and long-term tenants. Managing this correctly avoids duplication of notices and unnecessary extra surveyor appointments.
As the building owner:
- You are responsible for paying your own surveyor’s fees
- You must also cover the reasonable costs of any surveyors appointed by your neighbours
- If surveyors cannot agree on fees, a Third Surveyor can be appointed to make a final decision
Larger and More Complex Projects
For significant works such as basement extensions, an independent Checking Engineer may need to be appointed, and you might be required to provide security for expenses (a sum of money held until the works are safely completed).
Our experienced surveyors at Simple Survey can guide you through these more complex requirements, helping you keep both timescales and costs under control.
✅ Tip: The earlier you involve a party wall surveyor, the smoother your project will run.