The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 imposes a legal requirement on building owners proposing to carry out building work on or near walls separating a property from an adjoining property and owners of property adjacent to proposed building work to serve party wall notices to adjoining owners of your intentions to carry out any work which may affect their property.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 covers
- Alterations to a shared party wall
- The construction of new walls
- Excavation work close to adjoining properties
If your project falls under any of these categories, you are legally obligated to serve notice on the adjoining neighbours to obtain their consent.
Our party wall surveyors can identify the party wall and adjoining owners and determine if the proposed work falls under the Party Wall Act. If the work falls under the Party Wall Act, our party wall surveyors can correctly notify all affected neighbours by sending a Party Wall Notice.
Notices that may be served are 6-metre notices, 3-metre notices, line of junction, and party structure notices. If the adjoining owner does not give their consent, under the Act, a dispute has arisen. A surveyor will then need to act on their behalf and draw up a party wall award; this will set out what can and cannot be done in accordance with the Act.
We can provide a comprehensive party wall surveying service from initial assessment at the design stage, including technical advice on Party Structure works, to agreement of any Awards. We have two trained party wall surveyors, both being members of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors.
As independent surveying specialists, we can monitor the works on site for compliance with the Act and any Awards. This can be undertaken in conjunction with our contract administration service, thus assisting in minimising disruptions and delays to any design and project programme.
- Help you identify which neighbouring properties fall within the Act
- Serve (and respond to) party wall notices
- Prepare and agree a party wall award
- Produce and agree a schedules of condition
- Monitor works to ensure compliance with the Party Wall Act
