When you’re planning building works near a boundary or shared structure, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 introduces a defined process—and with it, defined costs.
Budgeting early avoids cash-flow shocks, keeps your programme realistic, and prevents avoidable disputes. Below is a clear, professional guide to typical fee components, how they arise, and what a sensible allowance looks like for common domestic projects.
The cost drivers (and how to control them)
- Notice strategy and ownership complexity
More neighbours = more notices. Flats (freeholder + long leaseholders) and corner plots tend to increase paperwork. - Response route
- Consent in writing is the least costly.
- Agreed Surveyor (one impartial surveyor) is usually the fastest and cheapest dissent route.
- Two-surveyor route (each side appoints one) typically costs more.
- Scope clarity
Aligned descriptions, drawings, and method reduce queries, revisions, and hours—especially if the other side bills hourly. - Escalations
Security for expenses requests, complex excavation details, or third surveyor referrals can add cost. Good preparation keeps these contained and proportionate.
What to budget: realistic ranges
For straightforward domestic projects (loft steelwork, modest rear extension, standard trench fill foundations) with one neighbouring ownership:
Typical ranges seen in the market
- Notice service: £25–£250 per neighbour
- Agreed Surveyor route: £700–£1,500 total
- Two-surveyor route (your surveyor + neighbour’s surveyor): £1,400–£3,000+ combined
- Complex/ multi-owner cases: £2,000–£6,000+ combined (varies with depth, piling, number of titles)
Simple Survey’s transparent, fixed pricing
| Service | Our Fee |
|---|---|
| Party Wall Notice service (per adjoining ownership) | £25 (multi-notice bundles discounted) |
| Act administration as Agreed Surveyor (single surveyor) | Typically £300 fixed (depends on complexity & number of notices/owners) |
| Two-surveyor route (we act for the building owner) | Fixed proposals from £325 (we keep the other side’s hourly charges reasonable and contained) |
| Complex works (deep excavations, multi-owner blocks) | We still offer the fixed pricing above |
| Billing policy | No surprises, no creeping extras. You’ll know the number before we start. |
Why our totals are lower: tight scopes, proportionate awards, and fast turnaround reduce the other side’s billable time as well as yours.
Worked examples (to help you plan)
Example 1: Loft conversion inserting steels into a shared wall
- Neighbour: one freehold house
- Likely route: Agreed Surveyor
- Market allowance: £700–£1,200
- With Simple Survey: Notice £25 + Agreed Surveyor c. £300 → ~£325 total
Example 2: Single-storey rear extension within 3m of neighbour’s foundations
- Neighbour: one freehold house
- Likely route: two-surveyor (neighbour prefers their own)
- Market allowance: £1,500–£2,500 combined
- With Simple Survey: Our side from £325; other side often hourly—our proportionate approach typically keeps the combined below market median.
How to keep your budget tight
- Serve valid notices, first time. Defects cause re-service, delays, and duplication of effort.
- Invite the Agreed Surveyor route. One impartial surveyor means one set of documents and lower totals.
- Keep the scope stable. Major design changes often require re-notice and additional work.
- Be responsive. Fast answers prevent the other side clocking extra time.
- Choose a provider with fixed pricing. Open-ended hourly meters are where totals drift.
FAQs
Is the building owner always responsible for costs?
Generally yes—the party benefiting from the works pays the reasonable costs of administering the Act. Limited exceptions exist (e.g., where a neighbour requests works at their expense or costs are apportioned by an award).
Are your fees really the cheapest?
We’ve engineered our model to be the lowest total cost like-for-like across England & Wales.
Can my neighbour force me to use their surveyor?
No. Each owner chooses freely. You can mutually agree to one Agreed Surveyor, but it must be voluntary on both sides.
What if the neighbour ignores the notice?
The Act sets out a 14-day response period, then a 10-day request. If there’s still no reply, you can appoint a surveyor for them under Section 10(4) and proceed. We handle this pathway end-to-end.
How long should I allow in the programme?
Notices carry statutory periods (typically one or two months depending on section). If there’s a dissent, allow time for the award. Early engagement reduces duration and cost.
Do complex excavations always mean high fees?
Not automatically. Clarity of design, focused documents, and proportionate awards keep fees contained—even on deeper works.
The bottom line
A sensible Party Wall budget depends on neighbour numbers and the chosen route. With Simple Survey’s fixed fees and proportionate approach, most domestic projects land well below typical market totals. Plan early, serve valid notices, aim for the Agreed Surveyor route where appropriate, and keep scope stable—your costs will follow suit.
Get a fixed, written quote today
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk for a clear, itemised price.
Simple Survey — quick, compliant, and consistently the lowest total cost in England & Wales.