Improve your home &
reduce party wall costs.
Our fair, unbiased administration of the Party Wall Act helps bring neighbours on-side, so you can minimise stress and costs.
How it works.
We make complying with the Party Wall Act simple.
Start with free advice.
Have queries? Not sure how to proceed? Get in touch for free initial advice and a quote.
Appoint us as surveyor.
If you’re happy with your quote the next step is to appoint us as Party Wall Surveyor.
Sit back and relax.
Once appointed we take care of everything. From notices to awards, we’re with you all the way.
Start with free advice.
Have queries? Not sure how to proceed? Get in touch for free initial advice and a quote.
Appoint us as surveyor.
If you’re happy with your quote the next step is to appoint us as Party Wall Surveyor.
Sit back and relax.
Once appointed we take care of everything. From notices to awards, we’re with you all the way.
Considering Party Wall works?
We know it can be expensive and stressful for you.
Finding the best approach is difficult and time confusing. Rogue surveyors and a confusing process can mean strained relations with your neighbours and high party wall costs.
We’re here to help.
We don’t escalate disputes to increase our fees. Instead we give frank, impartial information to help everyone know where they stand.
By being upfront and communicating clear, unbiased info about the protection The Act gives, neighbours are more likely to be sympathetic to your works.
This reduces your risk of high costs and disagreements, meaning you can get on with improving your home.
“Most adjoining owners don’t mind their neighbours doing work, they just want to be clearly informed and protected if things go wrong.”
“Most adjoining owners don’t mind their neighbours doing work, they just want to be clearly informed and protected if things go wrong.”
The best outcome for everyone.
Sensible administration of the Party Wall Act means you get to complete your project and neighbours are reassured and protected.
Agreement Is Easier
A position of mutual respect combined with sensible administration of the party wall act helps bring everyone on board.
Work Can Start
You get the right to safely build. Neighbours are reassured and protected against damage – all without an expensive legal process.
Everyone Wins
The Party Wall Act is there to enable & protect. If approached correctly everyone wins. We simply help both parties understand this.
Agreement Is Easier
A position of mutual respect combined with sensible administration of the party wall act helps bring everyone on board.
Work Can Start
You get the right to safely build. Neighbours are reassured and protected against damage – all without an expensive legal process.
Everyone Wins
The Party Wall Act is there to enable & protect. If approached correctly everyone wins. We simply help both parties understand this.
Frequently Asked Questions: Building Owners
FAQ : Building Owners
What is the Party Wall Act?
The Party Wall 1996 etc. Act is legislation designed to enable you to work on, and close to, party walls while keeping neighbours protected. It sets out what happens when your proposed works may have an effect on your neighbours property.
Works covered by The Act include:
- Building on a boundary that is not built on (e.g a new wall for a rear extension etc)
- Works to shared walls and structures (e.g. inserting steel beams, removing chimney breasts etc)
- Excavations close to a neighbour’s property (e.g foundations, basements etc).
I'm doing work, do I have to use The Act?
Yes – If your proposed works come under the Party Wall etc. 1996 Act you are legally required to use it. Failure to do so can mean an injunction, delays and expensive legal costs!
The Party Wall Act is separate from planning permission or building regulations.
How do I comply with The Act?
Before you can start work The Act requires that you request your neighbours’ consent by serving them ‘notice’ of your intended works.
The ‘notice’ needs to be in a certain format and there are timescales that both you and your neighbour must to stick to. You can serve notice yourself, but if done incorrectly the whole process can become invalid so most people prefer us to do it for them.
You could also be serving notice when you don’t need to. Often a few small changes to your proposed works can make a big difference.
When does a Party Wall Surveyor get involved?
Legally a party wall surveyor only needs to be appointed if a ‘dispute’ arises (e.g if your neighbour does not consent to your works or they do not respond to your notice). Most people involve us from the start to take care of serving notices for them.
If you neighbour doesn’t consent it does not stop your works proceeding. Instead party wall surveyor(s) need to be appointed to resolve things by drawing up a party wall agreement (called an ‘Award’). This takes into account your neighbours rights alongside conditions that enable your works to proceed.
Both parties either agree to appoint a single joint surveyor (which can be quicker and cost you less), or you each appoint your own surveyor.
How can the process be made as affordable as possible?
If administered correctly, the Party Wall Act provides a much more affordable option than the alternative of resorting to Common Law and lawyers.
The lowest cost way to proceed is if your neighbour consents to your work. The next cheapest option is for you to both appoint a single agreed surveyor to resolve matters.
Consent may be the most affordable option, but in reality most neighbours will be reluctant to agree to your party wall notice if its something they know little about (especially if you pop up with a DIY notice asking for consent!).
We help by being a trusted, independent authority; we can inform neighbours on how the act protects them ( e.g not many know that it gives them a right to compensation for damage you may cause, or that it’s possible to consent and still have all the protection The Act provides available) and advise you on the best way to approach neighbours for a positive outcome.
If both parties are reasonable most simple projects like loft conversions or rear extensions can be dealt with by consent or a single agreed surveyor.
What is the best way to get neighbours on board?
We believe most adjoining owners don’t mind their neighbours doing work. They just want to be clearly informed and protected if things go wrong.
If you are honest, reasonable and provide clear information most neighbours will see this and respond positively.
The same can be said for the surveyor you appoint. The way your surveyor acts and presents themselves can be the deciding factor of your neighbour agreeing to a joint surveyor or not.
By working with these principles you have much better chance of getting neighbours on board. Both parties have mutual respect and the adjoining owner is more likely to consent to your works or agree a joint surveyor.
Is there anything to look out for when appointing a surveyor?
Choose carefully, once appointed a party wall surveyor can’t be dismissed.
One group to ask your neighbours to avoid are “ambulance chasers”. They trawl planning applications, sending unsolicited letters designed to scare neighbours into appointing them. They then charge extortionate hourly rates – with you expected to pick up the tab!
Keep an eye out for exceptionally high fees, do you really think party wall costs for a simple project should be more than the actual cost of doing the work?
The same applies for low fixed fees, you may find the level of interest in your project rapidly diminishes if it takes anymore than the minimum amount of time.
It was direct experience of these problems that led to WellStructured Party Wall Surveyors being founded. We want to give you your best chance of being able to improve your home with reassured neighbours and minimal stress.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help please drop us a line.
