Party Wall compliance doesn’t have to be slow, mysterious, or expensive. A Simple Party Wall Agreement (Award) is a clear, proportionate document that authorises the notifiable parts of your project under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, sets practical conditions so the works can proceed, and keeps everyone’s expectations aligned—without endless back-and-forth.
Below we explain what a “simple” approach looks like, when you need it, how we keep costs down, and the fastest way to get from notice to award.
What makes a Party Wall Agreement “simple”?
- Correct notices, first time. The right section(s) of the Act—Section 1 (new walls at/astride the boundary), Section 2 (works to party structures), Section 6 (adjacent excavation)—served on the right owners (freeholders/long-leaseholders/management companies) with valid content and timing.
- Clear responses and routes. Consent, dissent with an Agreed Surveyor, dissent with two surveyors, or non-response managed via Section 10(4)—no confusion, no drift.
- Proportionate Award. A concise, enforceable document that matches the actual risk and scope of the works. No bloated clauses that delay you.
- Momentum. Digital-first drafting and service (where permitted by the Act), tidy records, quick turnarounds, and focused escalation only when necessary.
Result: your project stays on programme and on budget.
When you’ll need one
You’ll generally require a Party Wall Agreement if a neighbour dissents to your valid notice or doesn’t reply (which creates a deemed dispute). Typical triggers:
- Building a wall up to or proposing to build astride the boundary (Section 1).
- Cutting into, raising, demolishing/rebuilding, or otherwise altering a party wall or party fence wall (Section 2).
- Excavating within 3m of a neighbour (deeper than their foundations) or within 6m for deeper works like piles (Section 6).
If a neighbour consents in writing, an Award is usually not required for the notifiable elements.
Our “Simple” process
- Scope & ownership check – Which sections of the Act apply and who must be notified.
- Serve valid notices – Correct forms, content, and timing.
- Manage responses – Consent, dissent, or non-response (including the Section 10(4) pathway).
- Draft & serve the Award – Practical, proportionate conditions and access arrangements so the works can proceed legally.
- Keep things moving – If a Third Surveyor referral is unavoidable, we keep it narrow and cost-controlled.
Transparent, fixed pricing
- Party Wall Notice service: £25 per adjoining ownership (multi-notice bundles discounted).
- Act administration as Agreed Surveyor (single surveyor): typically £300 fixed-fee, depending on complexity and number of notices/owners.
- Two-surveyor route (we act for the Building Owner): fixed-fee proposals from £325 for our side. (The Adjoining Owner’s surveyor often bills hourly; we work to keep those costs reasonable and contained.)
- Complex works (deep excavations, multi-owner blocks): we’ll still offer the fixed pricing as above!
- No surprises, no creeping extras. You’ll know the number before we start.
Who pays? Under the Act, the Building Owner typically pays the reasonable costs of administering the procedures (including, where relevant, the Adjoining Owner’s surveyor).
Why our agreements stay simple (and cheap)
- Neighbour-ready comms. Plain-English cover notes reduce knee-jerk dissents.
- Proportionate drafting. Awards aligned to the actual works—nothing more, nothing less.
- Digital by default. Where permissible, we serve and exchange electronically to cut admin time (and fees).
- Focused escalation. If a referral to a Third Surveyor is needed, we keep the question laser-specific to avoid runaway costs.
FAQs
Is a Party Wall Agreement the same as planning permission?
No. It’s a separate legal process under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. You may need planning and building control in parallel.
Do I always need an Agreement?
Only if a neighbour dissents (or doesn’t respond and a dispute is deemed to have arisen). With consent, an Award is usually not required for the notifiable elements.
What if my neighbour ignores the notice?
After 14 days with no reply, a further 10-day request is served. If there’s still no response, a dispute is deemed to have arisen and a surveyor can be appointed on their behalf under Section 10(4) so the process can continue.
Can you act as the Agreed Surveyor?
Yes—if both owners are comfortable. It’s typically the quickest, cheapest route to a compliant Award.
How fast can you produce an Award?
Once statutory notice periods have run (1–2 months depending on section) and we have a dissent or deemed dispute, we progress drafting promptly. Our digital workflows keep momentum.
Do you cover flats and mixed ownership buildings?
Yes. We map freeholders, long leaseholders, and management companies so notices and Awards are valid.
Can costs spiral if the other side appoints a surveyor?
They can if unmanaged. We keep issues clear and narrow, push for proportionate terms, and avoid unnecessary referrals—minimising total spend.
The bottom line
A Simple Party Wall Agreement should be work-enabling, not project-derailing. With Simple Survey you get valid notices, proportionate Awards, swift progress—and fixed, transparent pricing.
Get a fixed, like-for-like Party Wall quote today.
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk and we’ll reply promptly with a clear scope and a fixed figure.
Simple Survey — fast, compliant, low-cost Party Wall paperwork.