You’ve been on great terms with your neighbour for years. You mention the extension is finally happening; there’ll be a bit of noise, but it’ll be over in a few weeks. Then—halfway through the job—they knock on your door about a “new” crack in their hallway. Tempers flare, phrases like “legal advice” and “injunction” appear, and your stress levels go through the roof.
Most of this drama is avoidable. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 exists to keep projects moving and relationships intact—if you follow it. The very first step is serving a valid Party Wall Notice.
Why the notice matters
If your works affect a shared wall/structure, sit on or near a boundary, or involve excavations close to a neighbour’s foundations, the Act says you must notify the adjoining owner before you start. That notice is not box-ticking; it’s your project’s safety valve.
First, it sets expectations. Your neighbour gets clear information about what you’ll do, when noisy stages will happen, and whether access might be needed. People are far more tolerant when they aren’t being surprised.
Second, it creates a clean, legal route. Your neighbour can consent or dissent. A dissent doesn’t stop your project; it simply moves things into the Act’s dispute-resolution framework so impartial surveyor(s) can agree sensible safeguards and publish a binding Party Wall Award that sets out how and when the work proceeds.
Finally, it removes “your word vs mine.” With the Act engaged and the Award in place, there’s a defined process for handling issues and liability during the works. You’re not relying on memories or WhatsApp messages; you’ve got a neutral, lawful framework.
Skip the notice and the risks multiply
Starting notifiable works without serving notice hands your neighbour strong options. They can apply for an injunction to shut your site until you comply, and you could be on the hook for legal costs. Your contractor can’t work, your programme slips, tempers rise—and a small paperwork shortcut becomes the most expensive part of your build.
Even in friendly situations, goodwill evaporates quickly once dust, noise and access needs kick in. A Party Wall Notice keeps that goodwill intact by formalising the conversation and giving your neighbour a voice without inviting a court fight.
Access and a better finish
Many extensions need short, sensible access from next door to build and finish a flank wall neatly. With the Party Wall process underway, access can be agreed safely and fairly. The result? A quicker programme, a safer site and a properly finished wall your neighbour is happy to look at for decades.
The biggest DIY mistake: invalid notices
We see it all the time: well-meaning owners pull a template from the internet, change a few words and think it’s done. Common pitfalls include serving the wrong type of notice, naming the wrong owners (or missing leaseholders), using the wrong lead-in periods, or forgetting to attach mandatory excavation drawings. An invalid notice wastes weeks and gives your neighbour easy grounds to challenge you.
If you want the low-stress route, get the paperwork right the first time.
Simple Survey makes it painless (and affordable)
We keep the process clear, friendly and compliant—so your build stays on track and your neighbour stays onside.
- We prepare and serve valid notices on every affected owner with the correct sections, descriptions and timings.
- We handle neighbour comms in plain English to answer questions early and keep things amicable.
- If there’s a dissent, we coordinate next steps and progress a fair, robust Party Wall Award quickly.
Transparent, low pricing
- Party Wall Notice service: £25 per adjoining ownership (multi-notice bundles discounted)
- Act administration as Agreed Surveyor (single surveyor): typically £300 fixed-fee (depends on complexity and number of notices/owners)
- Two-surveyor route (we act for the building owner): fixed-fee proposals from £325 for our side (we work to keep your neighbour’s surveyor’s hourly fees reasonable and contained)
We’re RICS-qualified, efficient, and proudly cost-effective across England & Wales.
Why Us…
Serving a Party Wall Notice isn’t red tape for the sake of it. It’s the simplest way to protect your budget, your timeline and your relationship with the people next door. Do it properly and you’ll swap potential stand-offs for a smooth, legally sound build.
Planning works that might be notifiable?
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk and we’ll get your notices out—correctly and quickly—so you can focus on the build, not a bust-up.