Party Wall Surveyors

Party Wall etc Act 1996.

The purpose of this Act is to facilitate construction operations in the vicinity of boundaries. It provides a procedural framework, which ensures that neighbouring owners are notified of impending construction works.

This Act, applies throughout England and Wales to anyone wishing to undertake constructional works in three distinct situations. They are: -

1. Line of junction works;
2. Works to party walls (and certain boundary structures)
3. Works involving adjacent excavations.

The Act requires the person wishing to undertake constructional works (known as the ‘building owner) to serve the appropriate notice on their adjoining neighbour(s) (known as the ‘adjoining owner) of their intention to carry such works.

The adjoining owner(s) can on receipt of the building owner’s notice either agree or dissent to the Notice. If the adjoining owner(s) dissent’s then both the building owner and adjoining owner(s) are required under the Act to appoint a surveyor to act on their behalf. Neither the building owner nor the adjoining owner(s) can act as a surveyor under the Act.

The Surveyor.
As an appointed surveyor we will seek to conclude an award that fairly sets outs the rights and obligations of both owners, ensuring that the works specified in the award are permissible under the Act. The award when agreed should enable the building owner to carry out the work proposed in such a way that unnecessary inconvenience is not caused to adjoining owners or occupiers.

Line of Junction Works
A ‘line of junction notice’ is required to be served by the building own on the adjoining building owner(s) when the building owner intends to build one of the following structures along the line of junction: -

• A party wall;
• A party fence wall;
• A wall on his or her own land up to the line of junction.

Party Walls	Party Fence Walls

Party Structure Notice
A ‘party structure notice’ is required to be served by the building owner on the adjoining building owner(s) where the building owner intends to undertake works to a party wall, party fence wall and party structures.

Adjacent Excavations
Two types of notices are specified under the Act.

1. Excavations within 3m of a building or structure to a lower level than the bottom of the foundations of such building or structure.
2. Excavations within 6m of a building or structure that will cut a line drawn downwards at 45 deg from the bottom of the existing foundation.
3 metre notice 6 metre notice

3 metre notice	6 metre notice

Please contact us should you require further information