Need a Party Wall Surveyor? 

Are you Building Owner proposing to carry out construction works to your Property?

Are you an Adjoining Owner who has received a Party Wall Notice?

Contact ABT Associates

Call 07817 373747 or Email aaron@abtassociates.co.uk

We can advise you and assist you through the process.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is an act of parliament which legally requires anyone proposing to carry out certain types of work to their property to formally notify (by way of a notice) the owners of the neighbouring properties before commencement. 

There are three types of work that are notifable under the Act.

1) Alterations to existing shared walls or structures called party walls or party structures (these are usually walls but may also be floors)

2) The construction of new walls upto the boundary or astride the boundary with the neighbours consent.

3) Excavation close to neighbouring properties.

Below are some typical examples of work that is likely to be covered by the Act:

Cutting beams in to a party wall or party structure
Underpinning, thickening or raising a party wall.
Removing chimney breasts that are attached to a party wall or party structure
Excavating for the foundations to a new extension within 3m of a neighbouring wall or a shared wall / structure.

Where work falls within the scope of the Act it is necessary for the Building Owner(s) or their authorised representives to serve the correct notice(s) and obtain written consent from Adjoining Owner’s effected by the proposed works, if that consent is not forthcoming for what ever reason then the parties are deemed to be ‘in dispute’ under the Act and at this point both the Building Owners and the Adjoining Owners have to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor to proceed with resolving the dispute.  This could be their own separate surveyors  or, by agreeing to a single surveyor, called the Agreed Surveyor. Once the Party Wall surveyor(s) are appointed the dispute can be resolved by way of a Party Wall Award or sometimes called a Party Wall Agreement this is the framework provided by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 which enables a resolution so that the Building Owners can undertake the proposed works whilst providing protection to both parties.