Party Wall Awards London & Home Counties
Whether you are planning to carry out works to your property which may affect your neighbours, or you have been served a Party Wall Award notice by your neighbours, we are here to help. We provide free no-obligation advice in both cases and can advise you of your rights and obligations under the Party Wall Etc Act 1996.
As the Building Owners’ Party Wall Surveyor, we will arrange to carry out a schedule of conditions of the adjoining owner’s property and deal. all matters under the Party Wall Etc Act 1996 in forming and serving the Party Wall awards. Once the works are complete we will then agree to any damages to the adjoining owner’s properties and close out the awards.
As the Adjoining Owners’ Surveyor once appointed to act for you, we will ensure that the Party Wall Awards London process is formed and served correctly, advising you of your rights under the act, the implications of the works next door and how this will impact you. Once works are complete we will re-inspect your property, and agree on any damages on your behalf. Ensuring they are either made good or agree to compensation and payment instead of the work required.
The Toynbee team of Party Wall Awards London and Sussex-based will be on hand to help you through the process. Simply fill in our enquiry form or call the office at +44 (0) 1903 641 517 outside of London, or +44 (0) 20 8622 5302 within the capital, and we can get to work for you.
Party wall surveyors specialise in resolving disputes and ensuring compliance with the Party Wall Etc Act 1996. Their primary role is to oversee the Party Wall Award process from serving notices to negotiating and serving the Party Wall Awards London. They assess the proposed construction work, document the condition of the affected areas, and establish the rights and obligations of both parties involved.
Should a dispute arise, the surveyor acts on your behalf resolving disputes, providing recommendations and helping to find resolutions that protect the interests of both property owners’ rights
What does a Party Wall Surveyor do?
Party wall surveyors specialise in resolving disputes and ensuring compliance with the Party Wall Etc Act 1996. Their primary role is to oversee the Party Wall Award process from serving notices to negotiating and serving the Party Wall Award. They assess the proposed construction work, document the condition of the affected areas, and establish the rights and obligations of both parties involved.
Should a dispute arise, the surveyor acts on your behalf resolving disputes, providing recommendations and helping to find resolutions that protect the interests of both property owners’ rights.
Can I do a Party Wall Award myself?
Anyone with a legal interest in the Building Owners or Adjoining Owners’ property can not act as the Party Wall surveyor for the works. The Building Owner/s can serve notice themselves for the works. The notices must be drafted correctly, cover the right notifiable works and area addressed and served on the correct people.
Typically it would be best to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor to provide this service for you.
This ensures the notices and any awards comply with legal requirements of the Party Wall Etc Act 1996. Any errors or badly served notices or awards could invalidate the work you have carried out or prevent you from starting on-site without going back to the start of the process. In addition to helping you navigate the process more smoothly, hiring a professional will help prevent future disputes or complications with your neighbours, reduce stress and more importantly help preserve your neighbourly relationship with the people who live next to you.
When do you need a party wall awards London agreement?
You need a Party Wall Agreement when planning to carry out construction work that might affect a shared wall, boundary, or structure between your property and your neighbour’s. Typical projects include building a new wall, extending an existing one, or excavating near a neighbour’s property or boundary.
The purpose of this agreement is to outline the rights and responsibilities of both parties and to prevent unnecessary disputes between owners and any damage that might be caused as a result of work covered by the Party Wall Act
How much does a Party Wall Surveyor cost?
Hiring a Party Wall surveyor can vary, depending on various factors such as the project’s complexity, the surveyor’s experience, and your location. Usually, the party who initiates the construction work bears reasonable fees for a Party Wall surveyor. The cost can range from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds.
Can my neighbour refuse a Party Wall Agreement?
Your neighbour does have the right to “dissent” to notices served for works covered by the Party Wall Act. This does not always mean they are against the works, the word “dissent” is rather strong, but in most cases, it simply means that your neighbour would like someone more experienced than them to review the process and represent their rights under the Party Wall Act.
The owners may have concerns over the works and this can often lead to disagreements between owners for items that are valid under the Act and those that are not. The Act enables the Building Owner/s to carry out works that they are lawfully entitled to do under the Party Wall Act and that have planning or permitted development approval.
The Act enables the Building Owners to do these works in such a way as to not inconvenience the Adjoining Owners or prejudice their ability to do similar works at a later date.
The Adjoining Owners can object or dissent to the works, the Act is not a vehicle for preventing the Building Owner/s from carrying out works that they are lawfully permitted to do. The Adjoining Owner/s objections should be based on legitimate concerns covered by the Act, and disputes can be resolved through the Party Wall Surveyors appointed.
To minimise potential conflicts and delays we would suggest the following:
- Maintain open communication and cooperation with your neighbour throughout the process.
- If you are the Building Owner/s then advise your neighbours that you are aware that your works are covered by the Act and that you will be dealing with your responsibilities appropriately.
- Advise the adjoining Owners when notices will be served to cover the Act.
- If you are the Adjoining Owners then engage with your neighbours that are proposing the works and discuss any concerns. Speaking to a Party Wall Surveyor to understand your rights under the Act prior to this, is a good idea.
The Toynbee team will be on hand to help you through the process. If you need help with party wall awards in London Simply fill in our enquiry form or call the office at +44 (0) 1903 641 517 outside of London, or +44 (0) 20 8622 5302 choose the party wall surveyors Fulham, and we can get to work for you.
