Serving London, Essex, Suffolk & Kent: Your trusted experts for party wall matters, building surveys & homebuyer reports
The Party Wall Act Protects neighbours when owners decide to do certain works
that may impact their property
​If your neighbour is doing any of the works above near your property, it may be covered by the Party Wall Act of 1996. The person doing the work must formally notify you before starting.
Once you receive the notice, you have a few options...
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Have your say and Appoint your own surveyor to represent your interests,
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Agree to share a surveyor with the person doing the work, and get a Party Wall Award
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Decide that you don’t need a surveyor at all, usually for small jobs like installing lead flashing.
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Do Nothing - your neighbour must appoint your own independent Surveyor for you
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What is a Party Wall Award?
A Party Wall Award is a legal document created when you or your neighbour plans building work that might affect a shared wall, boundary, or structure between your properties. It’s part of the Party Wall Act 1996, which requires proper notice and consultation before any such work begins. The award protects both parties by setting clear terms for the work, ensuring it’s carried out safely without causing damage to either property. For you as a homeowner, having a Party Wall Award in place not only prevents disputes but can also make your property more appealing to future buyers, as it shows that any past or potential building work has been handled legally and professionally. This can be especially reassuring when selling, as it demonstrates that all legal requirements have been met and reduces the risk of future claims or complications. It’s a way of protecting your home’s value and maintaining positive neighbourly relations, all while keeping everything above board and legally sound.
Who Pays?
The Party Wall Act is designed to ensure freedom of choice for Adjoining Owners; therefore, regardless of which option you choose, the party doing the work typically pays for the surveyors' fees and any associated costs, so it’s worth getting the right advice and ensuring everything is covered properly.
Adjoining Owners - Appoint us to Act for You
The Benefits..........
We will:
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Request copies of the notices and technical drawings from your neighbours to confirm the validity or inform them of the legal requirement to serve notice under the Party Wall Act.
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Notify your neighbour and their representative (if applicable) that we have been appointed and that we act in all matters. Documentation should be forwarded to us.​
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Schedule a visit to your residence at your convenience to conduct a thorough review of the proposed plans, including a Schedule of Condition Survey, examination of drawings, and assessment of any risk to structural integrity.
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When We Act as Agreed Surveyors
The Benefits........
The Party Wall Act etc. 1996 provides and facilitate the use of agreed Surveyors in Party Wall matters where possible. This is where both the Building Owner and Adjoining Owner use the same surveyor to handle party wall matters.
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We recognise that not all party wall matters are disagreements or disputes; neighbours can actually be friends. Our surveyors are highly skilled and trained in mitigating amenable agreements and will always seek to provide unbiased advice to ensure a fair outcome for both parties.
Our RICS qualified Surveyors specialise in protecting property owners' rights under the Party Wall Act 1996. We are knowledgeable, experienced, diligent, and pragmatic in dealing with Party Wall matters.
