London Party Wall Surveyor

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If you are proposing building works in London you may need to serve a notice.

For advice on what is notifiable or a quote please contact us now on 0208 092 0768 or 0800 311 2077 or email project details to enquiries@pwssurveyors.co.uk

  • Efficient and Specialist handling of party wall matters in London to ensure that you comply with the Act and avoid delays.
  • We can quckly advise whether or not the Act applies to your project.
  • Fixed fee quotations ensuring financial control and trust in our services.

Have you been served with a Party Wall Notice in London?

For unbiased advice on the options available to you on how to respond to a party wall notice please contact us now on0208 092 0768 or 0800 311 2077 or email enquiries@pwssurveyors.co.uk

  • Unbiased Specialist advice on the options of how to respond to a party wall notice.
  • If you have not been served with a notice? Please speak with one of our party wall surveyors in London who will advise you on what to do.
  • Our reasonable fees will be met by the party benefitting from the proposed building works.

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What is the Party Wall Etc Act 1996?

If a dispute arises this may lead to a formal appointment under Section 10 of the Act. In this instance we will encourage the building owner to have a schedule of condition of the adjoining owners property undertaken in order to ensure that the condition of the property is agreed prior to works commencing and thereby safeguarding their interests. We would then draft and serve a Party Wall Award. We may also be appointed as an Agreed Surveyor where by both parties mutually agreed our appointment to act impartially

Am I the building owner or the adjoining owner?

A ‘building owner’ is the person who intends to undertake work that is subject to the Act. It is the building owner who has responsibility to serve notice where necessary and may appoint a professional to serve notice on his behalf.

An ‘adjoining owner’ owns or occupies, with an interest greater than a one year tenancy, land, buildings, storeys or rooms that are in close vicinity of the proposed works.

I’ve been served with a notice, what should I do?

We recommend that you contact one of our surveyors who will offer advice specific to your case. You can either consent or dissent from the notice. When dissenting from the notice your party wall surveyor fees will be paid by the building owner, except in exceptional circumstances which will be discussed from the outset. Dissenting from the notice does not prevent the building owner from going ahead with the works instead simply invokes the Party Wall Act and gives you the protection that the Act affords.

My neighbour has started work but I have not received a notice, what can I do?

It is important that you seek advice in order to confirm if the works are notifiable. If notifiable works commence without a notice having been served we would initially recommend you speak to your neighbour and ask them to stop works whilst the matter is considered. One of our team will be able to assist you in this, free of charge. If your neighbour refuses to stop work or consider the act you can seek a court injunction to stop the works.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Party Wall and how is the Party Wall Act implemented?

In simple terms, a wall that divides two properties in separate ownership. A Party Wall may be built astride the boundary, and therefore in the joint ownership of two or more neighbours, this includes horizontal and vertical boundaries within multiple occupancy structures (Type ‘A’); or it may be built solely on the land of one owner but provides a boundary between them (Type ‘B’). It is worthy of note that the ‘etc’ element of the Act deals with structures in close proximity to each other which are not specifically party walls. This means that certain works, which are considered likely to affect the neighbouring structure, are deemed to be ‘notifiable’ under the Act and the Building Owner is required to serve notice upon the adjoining owner(s) prior to commencing works on site

The Act details the specific notice periods applicable in each situation. If a dispute under the Act arises the parties must either each appoint their own Surveyor, or concur in the appointment of an Agreed Surveyor in accordance with Section 10 of the Act. The purpose of this appointment is the resolution of the dispute by way of a Party Wall Award.

What is a Party Wall Award?

A Party Wall Award, (sometimes incorrectly called a Party Wall Agreement), is a legally binding document drafted and served by the appointed Surveyors, or Agreed Surveyor, to resolve the dispute that has arisen between the parties so as to enable the works to proceed. An Award will set out the nature of the proposed works and the methods in which the works are to be carried out, it will further detail who is responsible for the cost of the works and associated fees, which in normal circumstances will be the Building Owner. In most circumstances the Award will include a schedule of condition in order to safeguard the interests of both parties and to provide a record of the condition so as to make it easier to determine if damage has been caused by the works and the extend of the damage caused.

Party Wall Services provides expertise in this complex area of law in both residential and commercial property. For more information about Party Wall Services or if you have any queries relating to the Act please contact us.

What is a Schedule of Condition and why is it recommended to be included within an Award?

A Schedule of Condition is a report recording the current condition of a property. The Schedule of Condition will often include a photographs record. We will encourage the building owners to have a Schedule of Condition of the adjoining owners property undertake prior to the commencement of works in order to ensure that the condition of the property is agreed.  This will thereby safeguard the interests of both parties.

A schedule of condition can be referred to should damage later occur as a direct result of the works. The Schedule of Condition, if undertaken will become a part of the Award and therefore a legal record of the condition for later referral and can aid both parties in resolving any dispute.

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If you would benefit from instant advice directly from a party wall expert then please contact one of our team on 0800 311 2077 or fill in our contact form, where asurveyor or technical advisor will be able to assist you
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