Party Wall Surveys

The Party Wall Act etc 1996

The Act was introduced to ensure that Building Owners (persons carrying out the work) can carry out work without interference and Adjoining Owners (neighbours) do not suffer unnecessary inconvenience. Work affected by the Act includes:

Section 1 - Line of Junction Works

Building on the line of junction (boundary) where it was not previously built on.

Section 2 - Works to Party Wall

Work on an existing Party Wall including knocking down, rebuilding, cutting in flashing, inserting a DPC, underpinning, inserting steel beams, removing a chimney or making structural repairs.

Section 6 - Excavation work

Excavating for foundations within 3 metres of an adjoining building or structure and to a depth lower than the lowest part of the Adjoining Owner's foundation.

Building Owner or Adjoining Owner?

If you are the Building Owner intending to carry out works affected by the Act, you must by law serve a Party Wall Notice on your neighbour(s). Failing to do so could result in your work being halted by an injunction in some cases. As a minimum, it will help to maintain friendly neighbourly relations.

If you are the Adjoining Owner and you have been served a Party Wall Notice, you have several options. You can just agree to the work, in which case your neighbour can simply proceed with the work, or you can appoint your own Party Wall Surveyor or agree to the appointment of an Agreed Surveyor with the Building Owner. The Surveyor's costs are covered by the Building Owner. To make an enquiry or obtain a quote, just click the relevant button below.

Find out more about the Party Wall Act etc 1996 from the government website:

https://www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works

Get more information about Party Wall surveying from the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors (FPWS):

https://fpws.org.uk/