Are you an Adjoining Owner?
Under the Party Wall Act 1996, an Adjoining Owner is a property owner who adjoins a Building Owner’s premises.
The Building Owner is required to notify an Adjoining Owner through a formal Party Wall Notice before proceeding with any of the specified construction works:
- excavating within 3-6 metres of your property
- cutting into a shared party wall
- removing a chimney breast
- increasing or decreasing the height of a party wall
In case of excavation work, the Act includes neighbouring buildings that lie within either 3 metres or 6 metres range depending on the foundations being created. For the former, these are standard foundations; for the latter, these are piled foundations.
Received a Party Wall Notice?
When your neighbour delivers a Party Wall Notice about upcoming works that are notifiable under the Act, your response to the notice needs to happen within 14 days. Neglecting to do so will result in your neighbour appointing a surveyor to handle the matter without requiring your involvement.
Your inspector will help you properly respond to the Notice along with validating its accuracy regarding service requirements. Our team helps you understand the rights agreed by the Party Wall Act so your property stays protected during construction works.
Neighbour planning Party Wall works?
Many people discover Party Wall the first time when their neighbours send unexpected notices. Finding good information about your rights can be difficult and your desire to protect yourself stands alongside your wish to keep good relationships with neighbours.
You need to determine what is a proper decision in this scenario. We’re here to help.
The Party Wall Act becomes a simple method for safeguarding your interests when handled in the right manner. Our panel of party wall surveyors in London supplies truthful objective guidance so you obtain sound advice for your options.
Introducing fair protective measures will lead to reasonable treatment of neighbouring property owners. Your position improves with the just enforcement of rights while keeping your community relationships amicable.
Building owners prefer to keep their neighbours free from problems and willingly apply Party Wall Act regulations, which provides both parties with protection as well as quality construction.
Resolve Disputes & Protect Your Home
Our mission is to help you achieve unbiased administration of the Party Wall Act that protects your home while minimising conflicts through proper structure.
Begin with free advice.
Received a London Party Wall Notice and not sure how to respond? Get in touch with us. The first consultation comes without charge.
Appoint an inspector through us.
After obtaining satisfactory advice, the next step should be your appointment of your commercial or residential Party Wall Surveyor London inspector.
Allow the work to take care of itself.
All necessary steps and procedures will be handled after your inspector’s appointment. Your inspector will provide complete support to you throughout all phases from notice to award and even post-completion where needed.
Contact Party Wall Surveyor London Today
We assist Adjoining Owners who have received Party Wall Notices. Send us your documents (notices, acknowledgement forms, drawings, etc.) by email to review the circumstances. You will receive free initial advice. Thereafter, if you appoint an inspector, you should not need to pay any fees if you are an adjoining owner. Contact us today so that our team can get you the help you need.
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FAQs for Adjoining Owners
Does my neighbour need to follow the Act?
If they are conducting excavations nearby, building a wall close to you or working on a party wall, then yes.
The Party Wall Act operates exclusive to both planning permission and building regulations. Any works falling under the Party Wall etc. 1996 Act must follow its requirements by law. A failure to follow the proper process under the Act may result in injunctions and delays and very expensive legal fees.
The Act becomes effective when your neighbour delivers to you a notice about their planned work.
What is a party wall notice?
As per the requirements of the Act, your neighbour must either give you notice and/or obtain your consent before starting planned works.
Your neighbour should provide the proposed works details together with their planned start date. Both parties need to adhere to specific deadlines according to the terms of the laws.
The protection afforded by the Act becomes active after a neighbour formally notifies you. Your neighbour must give you proper written notice before beginning any work according to the requirements of the Act. Without proper notice, the Act remains inactive.
Our service begins by organising your inspector for you. They will request that your neighbour sends you notice after which your inspector will contact them about organising a Schedule of Condition. Most building owners accept our fair and impartial assistance, which results in them appointing your inspector jointly to act for both sides as Agreed Surveyor if you wish.
What do I do if I receive party wall notice?
Do not ignore it.
Your silence with respect to a time period under the Act allows your neighbour to choose a commercial or residential party wall surveyor London professional to represent your interests if you do not respond.
You can either give consent, or dissent and appoint the same surveyor or appoint one for yourself only. So, if you object to the notice, you and the other property owner must respectively appoint an inspector to act on your behalf as required by law.
Contact us immediately after receiving the notice. Having a professional check the notice can allow you to understand your options better.
When should a London party wall surveyor become involved?
According to the Act, the appointment of a commercial or residential Party Wall Surveyor London specialist happens when any dispute emerges between neighbouring parties (such as refusal to accept neighbourhood building operations or failure to respond to the notice).
Your neighbours are allowed to carry out their works even if you refuse consent under the Act. London Party Wall Surveyors must become involved to produce an Award under agreement for solving issues, however.
Together with your rights, the Party Wall Agreement London document defines conditions that allow your neighbours to execute their work. The award would normally contain a provision guaranteeing reimbursement for cost damages sustained from the notifiable construction activities logged.
Owners can choose to appoint one inspector to provide the service for both parties as Agreed Surveyor or they can each select their own separate professional for the process.
Who pays the party wall surveyor London specialist?
Any costs connected to Party Wall Surveyor London work usually stem from the neighbour performing construction activities.
The reasonable fees do not cover unnecessary works or overcharges that your appointed inspector demands. The inspectors on our panel do not extend jobs for the sake of maximising fees, as that would be unreasonable under the Act.
Your surveyor’s role is that of acting as an unbiased authority while offering recommendations for proper procedures to both you and your neighbour regarding your property concerns.
Most straightforward residential projects including loft conversions and extensions can receive solutions through mutual agreement which requires no costs from homeowners so long as parties act reasonably.
How should I communicate with the building owner?
Nearly all building owners seek safe construction without creating problems in their neighbourhood. As a neighbour, you need both convenience and safety protections from potential adverse situations.
The majority of building owners will recognise your honesty combined with reasonableness, thus showing positive reaction.
Appointing a Party Wall Surveyor London professional helps deliver favourable outcomes for both parties. Your inspector’s actions coupled with their presentation skills will help determine how amicable the communication will be.
