Category: Party Wall Surveyors
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Damage Caused by Party Wall Works
The key sections of the Act in terms of damage caused by party wall works are 7(2) and 11(8); section 7(2) confirms that an owner is responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the works (which should not be a surprise) and section 11(8) goes on to state that, depending upon the type of…
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Access to Undertake Party Wall Works
Section 8 of the Party Wall Act confirms a right of access over a neighour’s land although it comes with 2 important qualifiers; the work being undertake must be ‘in pursuance of the Act’ and the access must be necessary. ‘In pursuance of the Act’ simply means that it must be one of the types…
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How to have a Party Wall Dispute
A dispute in the Party Wall sense of the word needn’t be much of a dispute at all; even if the Act says it is. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, if an adjoining owner doesn’t consent within 14 days of receiving notice of the proposed works then the parties are deemed to be “in…
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Party Wall Notices
Often, the first time that an adjoining owner becomes aware of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is when a notice drops through their door. There are 3 types of notice that a building owner may have to serve upon an adjoining owner to make them aware that he or she intends to carry out…
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What is a Party Wall Agreement?
A Party Wall Agreement (technically called an “award“) is the document produced by the two party wall surveyors (or the “agreed surveyor”) which resolves the dispute that was triggered when the party wall notice was not consented to. It will usually consist of three parts: The award will normally be based upon a draft document,…
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Do I need a Party Wall Award?
The document that is produced by the two appointed party wall surveyors (or the single “agreed surveyor”) is known as a Party Wall Award (or Party Wall Agreement) but even if you are entitled to one do you really need one? Let’s take a look at who benefits from the Act. For the building owner…
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Are my Proposed Works Covered by The Party Wall Act?
We thought it would be useful to have a single article summarising all works which come within the scope of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 and therefore require a notice to be served. The focus of this article is alterations and extensions to residential properties. Notifiable works will fall in to one of three…
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What is a Party Wall?
In simple terms, a party wall divides the buildings of two owners with the boundary between ownerships usually, but not always, positioned at the centre of the wall. Section 20 of the The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 recognises two different types of party wall: Type A A wall that stands astride the boundary of…
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The Role of the Party Wall Surveyor
The term “surveyor” is defined in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 as any person who is not a party to the works. That rules out the possibility of an owner acting for themselves but anyone else is permitted to take an appointment. That includes whoever is overseeing the works on the owner’s behalf, be…