Party Wall
Party Wall Matters
A party wall is a structure which separates adjoining buildings, or a free-standing wall which sits astride the boundary of two adjoining properties. The Party Wall etc Act 1996 was created to minimise potential disputes between neighbours. It allows homeowners to carry out work on or next to a shared wall, whilst also protecting the interests of anyone else who might be affected by that work.
Work covered by the Act includes:
- New building works at or astride the boundary between two properties.
- Structural work affecting an existing party wall, including repairs, alterations, damp proofing and underpinning.
- Excavating or constructing foundations within three or six metres of an adjoining property.
If you propose to carry out work covered by the Act, you must obtain the agreement of the adjoining owner(s). A Party Wall Surveyor can issue statutory notice(s) to the adjoining owner(s) on your behalf. If agreement cannot be reached between the owners, both parties each appoint their own Surveyor or jointly appoint an “Agreed Surveyor”, to determine a fair and impartial Award.
The owner who is carrying out the works normally pays the fees of the Surveyor(s).
Our Surveyors can act as Party Wall Surveyors for either the Building Owner or the Adjoining Owner(s) or as an Agreed Surveyor for both parties.