Appointing a party wall surveyor is not like appointing most other professionals you’ll deal with in your project.
When you instruct an architect, engineer or contractor, you are the client and they act on your instructions. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, it works differently. Once appointed under Section 10 of the Act, a party wall surveyor’s duty is to the Act first, not to you personally.
You become their “appointing owner”, not their “client” in the conventional sense. Their job is to administer the Act impartially, resolve the statutory “dispute”, and protect both properties – not simply to “fight your corner”.
Add to that:
- You cannot simply fire a party wall surveyor once properly appointed in writing; and
- Anyone can call themselves a “party wall surveyor” – there is no statutory requirement for qualifications, insurance or experience
…and it becomes crystal clear: choosing the right surveyor at the start is absolutely critical.
Below are the key tell-tale signs to look for when appointing a party wall surveyor – whether you’re a building owner or an adjoining owner.
1. Professional qualifications – are they genuinely qualified?
The Act’s definition of a “surveyor” is astonishingly light. It simply says a surveyor is:
“any person not being a party to the matter appointed or selected under section 10…”
That’s it. No minimum standard. No formal qualification requirement. No obligation to be insured.
So you must create the standard.
Look for surveyors who are members of recognised professional institutions such as:
- RICS – Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
- CIOB – Chartered Institute of Building
- CABE – Chartered Association of Building Engineers
- CIArb – Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
These bodies require:
- Formal training and/or academic qualifications
- Demonstrable experience
- Codes of conduct and professional ethics
- Complaints and disciplinary processes
- Continuing professional development (CPD)
Be careful not to confuse professional memberships with professional clubs. For example:
- FPWS – Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors
- PTS / P&T – Pyramus & Thisbe Society
These bodies can be very useful for CPD and networking, but membership alone is not a professional qualification and should not be treated as equivalent to RICS, CIOB, CABE or similar.
2. Real party wall experience – do they know how to apply the Act in practice?
Qualifications are the starting point. Experience is where things really count.
A good party wall surveyor should be able to demonstrate solid experience across:
- A range of project types
- Loft conversions
- Chimney breast removals
- Rear / side / wraparound extensions
- Basements and underpinning
- Structural alterations and steel insertions
- A mix of property types
- Terraced and semi-detached houses
- Detached properties close to boundaries
- Purpose-built and converted flats
- Commercial or mixed-use buildings
And beyond that, they should be comfortable with the more complex edges of the Act:
- Section 6 adjacent excavations and 3m/6m rules
- Underpinning and high-risk works
- Special foundations and basement schemes
- Section 11(11) “use” / enclosure payments
- Section 12 security for expenses
- Defective or neglected party walls and shared liabilities
- Third Surveyor referrals and case law
Good questions to ask:
- “How many party wall awards have you agreed in the last year?”
- “Do you regularly deal with basements or just simple domestic work?”
- “Have you been involved in any third surveyor referrals – and what did you learn from them?”
You’re looking for calm, confident, practical answers, not vague generalities.
3. Measured, not militant – what is their attitude?
Because surveyors must act impartially, the last thing you want is someone who is:
- Looking for a fight
- Over-inflating issues
- Keen to “teach the other side a lesson”
That approach almost always leads to:
- Delays in agreeing the award
- Heightened tensions between neighbours
- Increased risk of third surveyor referrals
- Escalating costs – often for everyone
A good party wall surveyor will:
- Focus on problem-solving, not point-scoring
- Communicate clearly with both owners
- Use the Act as an enabling framework, not a weapon
- Be open about costs and what is “reasonable”
- Do everything they reasonably can to avoid third surveyor referrals and appeals
Ask yourself:
“Does this surveyor sound like someone who will calm the situation and move things forward – or someone who might inflame it?”
If the answer leans toward conflict, think very carefully before appointing.
Simple Survey – how we can help
At Simple Survey, we:
- Are RICS qualified and fully insured
- Work nationwide on all typical party wall work types
- Focus on clear explanations, practical advice and keeping things amicable
- Keep our pricing simple, transparent and fixed
If you’d like us to review your plans, explain whether the Act applies, or handle your notices and awards from start to finish, drop us an email at team@simplesurvey.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
Simple Survey — Fixed Nationwide Cost Chart (Guide)
| Service | What’s Included | Fixed Fee (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Party Wall Notice (per Adjoining Owner) | Compliance check, drafting, service & response tracking | £25 |
| Agreed Surveyor Award | Single impartial surveyor acting for both owners | £300 |
| Building Owner’s Surveyor Award | Acting for Building Owner in a two-surveyor route | £300 |
FAQ – Choosing a Party Wall Surveyor
Q1. Do I really need a “party wall specialist”?
Not necessarily, but you do need someone who understands the Act, construction and building pathology. A chartered surveyor with regular party wall experience is ideal.
Q2. Can I change surveyor if I fall out with them?
In almost all cases, no. Once appointed in writing under the Act, the appointment cannot be rescinded by you. A surveyor only ceases to act if they die or deem themselves incapable of acting.
Q3. Should building owner and adjoining owner use the same surveyor?
An Agreed Surveyor can work very well on straightforward, lower-risk projects where both parties are comfortable with one impartial surveyor. For complex or high-risk works, two surveyors may be more appropriate.
Q4. Who usually pays the surveyor’s fees?
Almost always the building owner, provided the fees are “reasonable” under the Act. There are limited exceptions (e.g. works due to defect or disrepair, or some third surveyor referrals).
Q5. What’s the biggest mistake owners make when appointing a surveyor?
Rushing the decision. Take time to check qualifications, experience, attitude and fee structure. Once appointed, you’re very likely to be working with that surveyor until the award is agreed.