Party Wall Surveys - What You Need to Know

The Act was introduced to help certain building works proceed without hindrance to the Building Owner or unnecessary inconvenience to the Adjoining Owner.

Disputes between neighbours can continue for years and end up costing tens of thousands of pounds in legal costs. The Party Wall Act is there to ensure that such situations do not arise in the first place.

If you intend to carry out relevant building work, you are required by law to issue a Party Wall Notice to any affected neighbours.

This issue is often not properly understood, as the range of work affected is wider than suggested by the title of the act.

Basically, the Act is applicable when undertaking any of the following works:

Building on the 'line of junction' (boundary) where it is not already built on.

Carrying out work to an existing party wall or boundary wall such as drilling, rebuilding, underpinning, inserting flashing or inserting steel beams.

Digging excavations for foundations within a certain distance and depth from a neighbouring property. The excavations do not need to be on the boundary.

The cost of a Party Wall survey and the preparation of a Party Wall Award are the responsibility of the Building Owner (the person(s) carrying out the work). However, the cost is a fraction of the amount that could be incurred by a lengthy legal dispute.

It is difficult to quote exact costs because all projects are different. However, the following is a rough guide for a simple ground floor extension affecting one neighbour:

Serving Notices - £50 per neighbour

Preparation of Party Wall Award - £450

Schedule of Condition of the  Adjoining Owner's property - £195