Party Wall etc. Act 1996 Party Wall Structure

 

Party Wall Expert Surveyors 

Text 07764 589 804   24 x 7 days a week for assistance.

Site Map 

Request Quotation Form 

Covering London & All of the South East 

The difference between us and the average Party Wall Surveyor is we are qualified Structural Engineers too so can check loadings, calculations and underpinning etc for your protection. This gives us a substantial advantage, and all included in our fixed price package. 

For a fast Party Wall quote normally within minutes, but always the same day simply email us at info@partywall-expert.com please include:

Your name. Mobile number. Postcode, and type of service required example Party wall services for two adjoining owner's for a rear extension.

Or fill out the Request Quotation Form 

Or text the information above to Duty Surveyor 07764 589804 

Or call the Party Wall Office on 0207 1180 039 or 0207 118 4331

Principle Party Wall Surveyors Darren Adams BSc (Hons) BEng 

and Adam Power BSc (Hons) with over 35 Years Experience each.  

Massive Savings email Darren now on:

Darren.Adams@partywall-expert.com 

 

Either Working as:

1. The Adjoining Owner's Party Wall Surveyor free of charge.

2. Or Working as the Building Owner's Party Wall Surveyor fixed prices below.

3. Or Working as the Agreed Party Wall Surveyor Low fixed price packages below.  

 

 

Considering Party Wall Surveyor services at a fair cost?

Party Wall Expert can help you avoid or resolve any disputes or disagreements with your neighbours when carrying out renovations, alterations or making structural changes to your home.

We cover all of London, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and most of the other home counties.

Benefits of appointing Party Wall Experts

Instructing a party wall surveyor will allow you to:

Prevent costly legal disputes

Avoid delays to the development

Receive expert party wall advice

Record the property’s condition prior to the works

Common projects that require party wall matters to be evoked:

Excavating Rear and Side Extensions

Loft Conversions involving steel beam insertions

Basement Extensions and underpinning

Internal and external Wall Removals

Internal Structural Alterations

Subsidence and Underpinning

 

Party Wall Surveyor Costs

Most London Party Wall Surveyors will charge a fixed hourly rate for all tasks related to the party wall. This is usually between £150-£270.

The price you pay depends on the time it takes to carry out the work relating to the party wall survey. On average, the cost is around £1500.

However, are packages start at just £695.00 + VAT to include Notice, Survey and Award making Party Wall Expert highly competitive indeed.

Factors that will affect this price. This includes:

Size of the property being developed

Completeness of architectural and structural designs

The complexity of the project

Number of surveyors hours needed

Risk of damage to the neighbouring property

Your postcode

It’s important to know that the person issuing the party wall notice (the building owner) will be liable for fees if the adjoining owner decides to appoint their own party wall surveyor.

However, the building owner’s party wall surveyor will be able to decide whether these costs are reasonable, based on a variety of factors such as complexity of works, the distance between the site and the office, the quality of the design team’s drawings, and so on and of course examining the adjoining owners party wall surveyors time sheet. We will not accept over charging of party wall fees in any situation.

If a third building surveyor is appointed, their fees will usually be divided between the building owner and adjoining owner as per the decision of the third surveyor.

This is not the same as having an ‘Agreed Surveyor’, which is where there is just one surveyor who acts for both parties.

The ‘Agreed Surveyor’ route is substantially more cost effective and provides a faster outcome. There is no need to appoint a second party wall surveyor if we are involved, we have all the necessary skills and knowledge to complete any party wall task.

Party Wall Surveyor Services in London 

When deciding to carry out work on your property, you should first speak to your neighbour and discuss proposed works in more detail, explaining exactly what will be involved in the process and share drawings and other technical material.  

If they agree and are happy to proceed, you may not need a Party Wall Surveyor.

However, disputes can often arise, even if it appears that an agreement has been reached. For this reason, both building owners should check the condition of the property before construction commences.

Recording a schedule of condition and taking photographic evidence that could be used for future reference, if required.

To simplify the process, Party Wall Expert recommends that you appoint a party wall surveyor who can deliver a party wall notice and provide peace of mind.

The cost is usually borne by the ‘Building Owner’(the one having the works done).

If a dispute does arise, you will need a party wall surveyor to reach a resolution.

Regardless of your intentions, it’s extremely helpful to have an informal discussion with any other building owners who might be affected before you deliver a Party Wall Notice. This helps keep communication open and helps ensure that all parties will be satisfied with the outcome.

When do I need to initial the Party Wall Notice

Party Wall Notices is a formal notification to inform your neighbours of the building works that you intend to carry out.

They’re written documents that explain key pieces of information relating to your proposed words and are best prepared by a party wall surveyor. Its not a task that the building owner should consider attempting himself.

They include key information such as:

Name and address of the building owner

Location where the work is will be carried out

A full description of your proposed work along with a drawing set

Proposed start dates in relation to the Act itself

The options that the property adjoining owner has concerning the proposed work

The Party Wall Notice must be served at least two months before building work is planned to start and must be served to the legal owner of the property. Legal ownership can be found at the Land registry Party Wall Expert has an account with them.

Even if the adjoining property isn’t occupied by the owner, they must always be contacted, as well as the tenant.

All information required in the Party Wall Act must be included in the notice.

You can serve the notice up to a year in advance and don’t need planning permission in place beforehand.

You’ll have up to a year to start work once the notice has been delivered.

The adjoining owner will then have 14 days in which to respond to the Party Wall Notice and instruct their own surveyor if required.

If this time has passed and the owners have not accepted or disputed the proposal, your surveyor can provide a further 10-day section 10 notice.

Why do I need to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you must notify adjoining owners of certain proposed works to and in the vicinity of party walls.

Party Wall Expert can prepare all the required documents with pinpoint accuracy, removing a bureaucratic nightmare from the building owner.

Our London Party Wall Surveyors can work for you, the adjoining owner or both parties as to the agreed surveyor.

Get in touch for more information on why appointing expert surveyors for party wall matters is a necessity.

If you are served with a Party Wallnotice, you should consult an experienced Party Wall Surveyor immediately to resolve any issues developing between neighbours. At this early stage its crucial to ensuring the process runs smoothly, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (the Act) provides a framework to achieve this goal.

Approximately 50% of Party Wall Surveyors are practising without degree level education never having attended University, but instead have undertaken a three day training course offered by trade associations.

Indeed, many without professional Indemnity Insurance being unable to secure such cover due to absence of qualifications. 

If you appoint us as your Party Wall Surveyor, we will:

1. Accept the appointment and under no circumstances will we charge you a fee working as the Adjoining Owner's Party Wall Surveyor. 

2. As qualified Structural Surveyors we will check all drawings and calculations in detail. This is a substantial saving as most Party Wall Surveyors have little understanding of Structural calculations we specialise in their understanding making a big difference when a Blding Owner is considering options. 

3. Deal with your neighbours Party Wall Surveyor firmly so no advantage is taken from you, this is essential as many Party Wall Surveyors try to short cut complex matters simply due to inexperience. 

4. Ensure the Party Wall Award is drafted for your protection to include defined working hours and methodology, safely and insurance elements and full accountability.  

5. Require the Building Owner's contractor to carry out the development is a safe and approved manner.

6. Ensure your neighbour does not try to project foundations on your land or over sail your land in any way to include soffits and facias. There are so often over looked by inexperienced Party Wall Surveyors. 

7. Only charge the Building Owner a reasonable fee thus maintaining neighbourly relationships. Many Party Wall Surveyors see an Adjoining Owner's appointment as an opportunity to over charge and many Party Wall "ambulance chasers" do just that. 

8. Attend site as required to safeguard your interests. 

9. Provide full support during the building stages of the development.

10. Always be available when required providing the individual Party Wall Surveyors mobile contact details to contact as required free of charge. 

If you wish to appoint us as your Party Wall Surveyor (Adjoining Owner's Surveyor) free of any charge just complete:

Request Quotation Form  

 

Working as the Building Owner's Party Wall Surveyor

 

As Party Wall surveyors are ready to guide you through the ins and outs of the Party Wall Act.

We specialise in the Act, and are on hand to offer clear impartial advice and guidance specific to your needs.

If you are planning to carry out works you must serve a Party Wall notice upon your neighbours, we will help you through the process from start to finish.

We will make sure you are equipped with the right knowledge to move on to the next step.

If you have received a Party Wall notice from a neighbour and need some advice, our expert team can answer any questions you may have related to the Act, what your rights are and where you stand. It is important to have professional advice when you need it most.

A Party Wall Award is a legally binding document drafted by a Party Wall Surveyor. A Building Owner cannot act as his own Party Wall Surveyor even if he has suitable qualifications the Act does not allow that involvement. The Award sets out the rights and responsibilities of the Building Owner instigating the development works.

The Party Wall Surveyor can act as an “Agreed” Party Wall Surveyor for all parties or as the Building Owners Party Wall Surveyor working with the Adjoining Owner's Party Wall Surveyor to jointly agreed the Party Wall Award. The Party Wal Award describes the works to be carried out that relate to notifiable works under the Act.

The Party Wall Award sets out the timing and manner of the proposed works and can include drawings, method statements, structural calculations, details of loadings or excavations.

The Act provides, the Building Owner is responsible to make good any damage caused by his contractors to the Adjoining Owner's property. This can be a sum of money determined by the Party Wall Surveyor of being allowed to make good the damage himself.

Although not even mentioned in the Act it is best practice to include a Party Wall schedule of condition of the Adjoining Owner's property in the Party Wall Award. This document describes the current condition of the Party Wall before works commence and is accompanied by digital images of any relevant areas. 

The schedule of condition then acts as a point of reference if notifiable works cause damage to the Adjoining Owners property.

Because the Party Wall Award is a legal document, we recommend the Party Wall Award is stored in a safe place ideally with the title Deeds of the property. The Party Wall Award is both a useful reference to the works undertaken, and some Party Wall Awards provide permission for future works to be financially accountable as well as identifying which ownership instigated them.   

A retrospective Party Wall Award can only be served if no notices for notifiable Party Wall works have been served under the Act and in the event damage has been caused to the Adjoining Owner's property.

Transparent Pricing

Our unbeatable fees for Party Wall Surveyor appointments are from:

£49.00 + VAT Per Party Wall Notice. 

£400.00 + VAT Per Schedule of Condition (alone, discounts for packages).

£395.00 + VAT Per Party Wall Award. Without a Schedule of Condition. 

 

For a written formal quotation normally in minutes Click Here.   

 

Working as the "Agreed Party Wall Surveyor" our fees are from:

To include Notice, Schedule of condition and Award. 

One Adjoining Owner     From  £695.00 + VAT 

Two Adjoining Owners              £995.00 + VAT 

Three Adjoining Owners           £1195.00 + VAT 

Four Adjoining Owners             £1495.00 + VAT 

These prices are for any project large or small and include all Party Wall Notices, Surveys and Awards.

There are no extras. But exclude basements.

All undertaken by professionally qualified and insured Party Wall Surveyors.

Dissents to notices are costed at £200.00 + VAT Each.  

Terms:

50% Deposit by bank transfer.

50% on completion by bank transfer only. 

 

Request Quotation Form 

 

Party Wall Guidance   Party Wall Notice   Party Wall Dispute   Schedule of Condition   Party Fence Wall   Party Wall Award    3 Metre Excavations  Failure to Serve Notice   Can Neighbour Refuse a Notice   Shared Chimney Stack    Party Wall Matters   Damage to Adjoining Owners Property  Licence to alter  

 

 

Party Wall Expert Surveyors London & South East 

Text 07764 589 804   24 Hours x 7 days a week for assistance.  

Request Quotation Form

Site Map 

Party Wall Expert SSES ( London) Ltd are the leading Party Wall Surveyors in London and South East. The difference between us and the average Party Wall Surveyor is we are qualified Structural Engineers too so can check loadings, calculations and underpinning etc for your protection. This gives us a substantial advantage, and all included in our fixed price package.

We are the only Party Wall Surveying practice approved by six London Councils and Act as their Party Wall Surveyors. 

For a fast Party Wall quote normally within minutes, but always the same day simply email us at info@partywall-expert.com

Please include:

Your name. Mobile number. Postcode, and type of service required example Party wall services for two adjoining owner's for a rear extension.

Or fill out the Request Quotation Form 

Or text the information above to 07764 589804

Or call the Party Wall Office on 0207 1180 039 or 0207 118 4331 

Principle Party Wall Surveyors Darren Adams BSc (Hons) BEng

and Adam Power BSc (Hons) both with over 35 Years experience each in Party Wall matters. 

Party Wall Guidance   Party Wall Notice   Party Wall Dispute   Schedule of Condition   Party Fence Wall   Party Wall Award    3 Metre Excavations  Failure to Serve Notice   Can Neighbour Refuse a Notice   Party Wall Matters   Damage to Adjoining Owners Property  Licence to alter  

 

About Party Wall Expert 

 

We are SSES (London) Ltd Company registration number 10913091 VAT registration number 182 1069 22 trading as Party Wall Expert. Our core business being all matters pertaining to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

We have filed six years of accounts at Companies House with a substantial balance sheet exceeding £300,000. Every Party Wall Survey we conduct is insured for £500,000 for professional indemnity and £2,000,000 for liability.

We have a signed Certificate of good standing from Companies House showing exceptional Party Wall trading and accountability since 2018. Copies of all certificates are provided with every written quotation. 

Conducting due diligence when dealing with a financially committing project such as a Party Wall extension or basement conversion is so important. To assist this, we have provided proof below from the Government and Companies House. We are experts in Basement Party Wall developments including underpinning and structural works.  

There are plenty of uninsured and unqualified Party Wall Surveyors (having completed a three day course) operating in this industry who are not even VAT registered- they are not Party Wall Surveyors at all. They disappear if a problem develops ask for visible proof of professionalism as provided below:

Company Accountability, Insurance Certificates and Proof of Credibility 

See our GDPR Policy Here. 

We cover the whole of London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire with a team of dedicated specialist full time Party Wall Surveyors. 

A competitive Party Wall quotation can be obtained in minutes by Clicking Here.

We accept appointments both as the Building Owners Surveyor and Adjoining Owners Surveyor or as the “Agreed Surveyor” for all parties.

All our Party Wall Surveyors are vastly experienced in Party Wall matters, all having at least ten year's experience pursuant of the Party Wall Act and all holding a minimum of a University degree in Building Surveying.

Collectively our Party Wall Surveyors have published over 30,000 Awards being regularly appointed by many local Councils and retained Architects.  

The Building Owner’s property is always their principal asset, and when it comes to structural changes things can go wrong. So, protecting your asset by appointing a Party Wall expert is fundamental.

Some straightforward advice and correct documentation provides all parties with clarity and understanding of what is a complicated piece of legislation the Party Wall Act can be.

If you or your neighbour are considering excavation works or indeed making structural modifications at the Party Wall you must serve a formal notice under the Act and employing a Party Wall expert to undertake the service of notice or indeed to deal with any Party Wall notice received from your neighbour could not be more important. 

Request Quotation Form 

 

What’s your situation?

Whether you are the Building Owner (the person carrying out the works) or the Adjoining Owner (the neighbour affected by the works) you can simply contact us here to receive a formal Party Wall quotation. If you are the Adjoining Owner there is no fee, and our fee will be paid by the Building Owner as in accordance to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

“I am planning the building works”

Essential steps:

Notify your neighbours

The Act requires you as the Building Owner to formally serve the Adjoining Owner notice of the intended Party Wall works. There is specific information that you need to include within the notice. If you incorrectly serve a notice it will be deeded invalid and the process will have to be recommenced. This will cause delay. The simplest way to achieve the correct documentation is to contact us for a discussion or a formal quotation.

We serve Party Wall notices from £49.00 + VAT. 

When to serve notice upon your neighbour 

We recommend that formal notification is served eight weeks before the proposed works are due to commence. Once served the neighbours have 14 days in Law to respond. They can:

A) Consent. In most cases this is unlikely.

B) Dissent and agree to the appointment of a shared “Agreed Surveyor”. This is the most popular option as it keeps the Building Owners costs to a minimum. This is of course especially important as you live next to each other.

C) Dissent and appoint their own Surveyor at the Building Owners cost. This option is normally use in aggravated situations such as keen opposition to the development itself.

What you should Expect

Scenario one: The Adjoining Owner Consents.

In our experience, if the nature or scope of the works is simple, your neighbour may consent. Such simple works could be re-pointing a chimney stack. 

Scenario two: The Adjoining Owner consents with conditions.

If the situation is more complex such as foundation excavations or inserting steel beams into a shared Party Wall the neighbour may consent but request a schedule of condition of his property undertaken by a professional Party Wall Surveyor. 

The Party Wall Surveyor will conduct a physical survey of all relevant areas to the intended works and record digital images. In most situation the cost will be meet by the Building Owner. 

Scenario three: The Adjoining Owner dissents and requests an Award.

If the Adjoining Owner fails to provide unconditional consent according to the Act this situation is deemed as a “dispute” requiring Party Wall Surveyors to be appointed under section 10 (1) of the Act.

This situation is nothing more than a conditional consent requiring a Party Wall Award to be produced. An experienced Party Wall Surveyor will advise to the nature of content they can expect to be included within the Award. Typically, the Part Wall Award will include the scope of the intended works and detailing conditions such as noise, security, timescales, access, details of compensation in the event the Building Owner damages the Adjoining Owners property undertaking the intended works. 

There are of course complex Party Wall situations such as basement excavations and more often the Adjoining Owners Surveyor will make a request for Security for expenses under section 12 (1) of the Act. The sum requested is often large and typically between £10,000 and £100,000 depending on location and size of the project.

Avoiding Delays

When undertaking lesser complex projects, delays can be avoided by both parties agreeing to the appointment of an independent specialist Party Wall Surveyor as the “Agreed Surveyor” under section 10 (1) (a) of the Act. 

On more complex projects both the Building Owner and Adjoining Owner will need to appoint their own Party Wall Surveyors under section 10 (1) (b). The Building Owners Surveyor will need the facility of a Structural Engineer and the Adjoining Owners will appoint a checking Engineer. We have our own in house Structural Engineer for these situations keeping the Building Owners costs to a minimum. There are very few Party Wall Surveyors who offer this vital facility. This could save the Building Owner thousands in fees.  

Working together

Our function in straightforward situations is to act as an impartial Party Wall Surveyors referred to as the “Agreed Surveyor” under the Act. We ensure all the fundamental design elements of the project are complete and in place. We also undertake the pre-work Party Wall schedule of condition.

Finally, we will draft the Party Wall Award with common sense conditions to avoid damage and unreasonable disruption whilst maintaining security and privacy for the Adjoining Owner during the duration of the indented development works.  

“The Building Owner is to commence building works”

Expect to be served with formal Party Wall notice 

At this stage you should have received a formal Party Wall Notice from the building Owner. The notices will detail the scope of works within the boundary between the two properties. You will receive any excavation notice under section 1 or 6 of the Act at least one month before the intending works commence. The notice period for structural modifications under section 2 of the Act is two months before works are due to commence.

Appoint a specialist Party Wall Surveyor

The Party Wall Act is there to protect your property from potential damage and regardless of your relationship with your neighbour, there is risk involved with any development they undertake. They are employing a builder you have no relationship with and these situations can be tricky.

In these situations, it’s prudent you always appoint your own experienced Party Wall Surveyor to protect your interests. Our Party Wall services in this situation are free of any charge. Our fees in most cases are covered by the Building Owner.

Consent and Dispute explained

The Act requires you to respond to any formal Party Wall notices within 14 days of its service. You may consent but this gives away all your legal rights under the Act leaving you without any protection. We recommend you never consent but appoint a specialist Party Wall Surveyor upon receipt of any Party Wall Notice. 

You can contact us by telephone on 0207 1180 039 

Request Quotation Form 

Obtain a Formal Written Quotation The Same day Guaranteed Simply Submit your Request Below 

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Need more support?

We recognise that this process can be stressful. Let us help uncomplicate things for you. Call us today for more information 0207 1180 039 or Text 07764 589804 

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