Party Wall Surveyors and Matters

Instructing a party wall surveyor will allow you to:

• Prevent legal disputes with adjoining owners
• Avoid possible project delays
• Receive the all-important expert advice
• Record your neighbour’s property’s condition prior to the works

Notifiable Services for projects that require party wall matters:

• Rear and Side Extensions
• Terrace of semi-detached Loft Conversions
• Basement excavations or Extensions
• Property new builds and refurbishments
• Internal Wall Removals
• Internal and structural Alterations
• Subsidence repairs and Underpinning

Party Wall Surveyor Costs

Typical 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, we offer fixed price tariffs at substantially reduced rates.

There are a variety of additional factors that will affect this price. This includes:

• Property Size and scope
• Completeness of architectural designs
• Understanding and complexity of the project
• Number of additional surveyors needed
• Where you live and access to the property

It’s important to know that the Surveyor issuing the party wall notice (the building owner) will be liable for fees if the adjoining owner decides to hire their own building surveying team.

However, the building owner’s 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. There are exceptions with simple developments where we can force the adjoining owner to pay their own fees should they wish to appoint their own Surveyor.

A third building surveyor can be 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.

Party Wall Services in London

When you first decide 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. If they agree and are happy to proceed, you may not need a Party Wall Surveyor this is referred to as consenting.

Disputes can often arise, even if it appears that an agreement has been reached. For this reason, both the building owner and adjoining owner should check the condition of the property before construction commences. A Surveyor would take photographic evidence that could be used for future reference, if required, or damage was claimed.

It’s highly recommended that you appoint a party wall surveyor who can draft and serve 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.

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.

Party Wall Surveyor in London

What are Party Wall Surveyors?

The process is governed by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 and applies if you are planning:

• To work on shared walls (called party walls)
• Building work involving shared ‘party structures’ (walls or floors between flats for example)
• Modifications or upgrades to garden boundary walls
• Underpinning and excavation work within 3-6 metres of party walls depending on foundation type
• Loft conversations that involve changing party walls or inserting steel beams
• Changing party walls by thickening, raising or inserting a damp-proof course
• Building an extension above a party wall

Alterations such as extensions can increase a property’s value and aesthetic appeal but works to and around the party walls may require you to notify adjoining owners to comply with the law.

Conflicts, delays and mistakes are far from uncommon during party wall matters, costing thousands of pounds. We can provide you with a professional Party Wall Surveyor in London or South East, guiding you and your project through the party wall process.

We can draft and prepare Service of Notices, Schedules of Conditions, Party Wall Agreement and legally binding Party Wall Awards.

When do I need to serve a Party Wall Notice?

Party Wall Notices formally inform your neighbours of the building works that you intend to carry out and under which section of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.

These are professionally drafted written documents that explain key pieces of information relating to your proposed words and are best prepared by a party wall surveyor.

They include key information such as:

• Building owner’s names and address
• The site the work will be carried out
• A detailed description of your proposed work
• Intended start dates under the Act
• The options that the property adjoining owner has concerning the proposed work

The Party Wall Notice must be served at least one or two months before building work is planned to start depending on type of intended work.

They must be served to the legal owner of the property. 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 notice. If these notices receive no reply a Surveyor can be appointed under section 10(4)(b) of the Act.

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