Services
Our Services
We offer a complete range of party wall surveying services, including party wall notices, for building owners, adjoining owners, and developers — ensuring your project runs smoothly and stays compliant with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Party Wall Notices
If you are an adjoining owner who has received a party wall notice from your neighbour, we provide clear professional guidance on how the proposals are likely to affect you and your property, and what options you have with regards to responding to the notice. If, as the building owner, you are planning to undertake work which falls within the scope of the Party Wall Act, it is vitally important that the correct notice is served on adjoining owners. We provide clear professional guidance regarding your obligations under the Act and can complete the relevant notices on your behalf, so that you can be sure the first step taken to comply with the Act is the correct one.
Schedule of Condition Reports
A schedule of condition is a written and a photographic record of the condition of an adjoining owner’s property, undertaken prior to commencement of works. If the adjoining owner suspects damage has been caused by the building works, this is the single most important reference point to help establish the extent of the damage, or indeed, whether in fact the damage/defect was existing. Given that the vast majority of properties have some minor cracks and defects, some of which might not be obvious to the homeowner, a schedule of condition could prove invaluable if damage is suspected to have been caused by the works. Without a schedule of condition, a building owner could potentially find themselves compensating an adjoining owner for damage that wasn’t caused by the building work. Even in cases where an adjoining owner consents to a notice, we recommend that the building owner pays for a schedule of condition to the adjoining owners property. Its potential value cannot be overstated.
Party Wall Awards (Agreements)
The Act clearly states that a Party Wall Award is only prepared if a dispute arises between the adjoining owner and building owner. If there is no dispute and therefore no award, both owners still benefit from the rights afforded to them by the Act. An award simply means that their rights are laid out in a legal document, specific to that project and similar to a contract. It includes various details such as a description of the works, the rights of the relevant owners, and if necessary, specific clauses relating to the execution of the works. For example, the inclusion of specific details on how a contractor should go about cutting into the party wall to insert a steel beam, in a way that minimises the risk of damage to the adjoining owners property. A party wall award will invariably be accompanied by a schedule of condition. If an issue arises either during or after completion of the works, the details and conditions included within the award can be referred to.
Joint Representation
The role of party wall surveyor is one of statute, requiring surveyors to act impartially in accordance with the Party Wall Act. As such the Act states that the same surveyor can be appointed by both parties, as the “Agreed Surveyor”. If a dispute arises between both owners, we can Act as Agreed Surveyor, subject to the adjoining owner’s approval. Generally speaking, it’s a more cost-effective way of settling a dispute, given that the alternative is for a separate surveyor to be appointed by each party, with the potential for a third surveyor needing to become involved where the two surveyors cannot agree on how to settle disputed matters.
Building Owner Representation
For a homeowner wishing to carry out building work on their property, ensuring compliance with the Party Wall Act and maintaining positive neighbourly relations removes a considerable amount of worry associated with embarking on a renovation project. By advising you of your obligations under the Act and preparing the relevant notices, you can be sure that you have initiated the process on the right legal footing. If your neighbour consents to a notice, we still advise that a schedule of condition is undertaken to their property, which would be invaluable in the event that they suspect damage has been caused by the works. If they dissent to a notice, triggering the dispute resolution process, we can prepare a Party Wall Award to settle disputed matters, allowing you to progress with the work whilst providing your neighbour with additional peace of mind.
Adjoining Owner Representation
As adjoining owner, understandably, your primary concern will be how the proposals are going to impact you and your property. Once instructed, we will review your neighbours’ plans, advise on how the work is likely to affect you and draw up a Party Wall Award if required. An award is a legally binding document - to all intents and purposes a contract, which would include any measures we believe are necessary to safeguard your property and amenity. To reduce the likelihood of damage, there are various steps we might take, for example insisting that the building owner’s contractor provides additional information, such as a method statement; or by asking the architect or engineer to revise their design. Given that the Party Wall Act is an enabling Act, providing building owners with the right to undertake certain building work, our focus is on ensuring that the works are caried out in accordance with the Act, with the least possible inconvenience to the adjoining owner.
Project Consultation & Advice
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 doesn’t just apply to works affecting a party wall. It also relates to other works, for example excavation within a certain distance of a neighbour’s property. That’s where our consultation service helps. We offer clear, practical advice from the outset, assessing your project and explaining which duties apply. Early guidance can save you time, avoid unnecessary disputes, and ensure that the party wall process is handled correctly from the beginning. Whether you’re the owner undertaking building works, or the owner affected by them, we’re here to give you clarity
Whether you’re planning works or responding to a neighbour’s notice, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.