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If you’ve found us, you probably don’t really want to be here. Needing support with a Party Wall requirement can be confusing, stressful, difficult, inconvenient and worrying in equal measure. After all, all you want is for your project, your dream extension, loft conversion or building works to progress smoothly, to time and to budget. Suddenly discovering you need to get a Party Wall Agreement can be regarded as an expensive and time-consuming proverbial spanner in the works that no one really wants.
As Architects and Party Wall Surveyors, we understand your need for swift, expert support to get this part of the process underway and resolved as painlessly as possible, with a positive outcome that protects you, your project and your neighbours and doesn’t break the bank (or the works budget).
As a Party Wall Agreement is often seen as yet another costly hurdle to overcome, the temptation can be to cut corners. But the implications down the line can be far more costly if the Notice is not valid. Should a dispute ever arise, and the details of the Notice found invalid, there could be a significant risk of time, cost and stress. You can avoid this through seeking help from supportive experts now.
Bringing clarity to the confusion
If this is the first time you’ve embarked on a home building works, you may understandably have a lot of questions, starting with these;
What is the Party Wall Act?
The Party Wall Act is a piece of legislation designed to protect homeowners/developers and the properties of neighbours in the case of construction works which may impact on the border between them. The Act should protect the neighbouring party from the threat of damage caused by the works and protect those undertaking the building works from any unfounded claims of damage during the works.
The Agreement will incorporate assessing and recording pre-existing damage, the details and process of the construction works and implications/risks for the neighbour’s property and seek agreement from the neighbour that subject to a series of conditions, the work can go ahead.
The Party Wall Act is not an opportunity to re-air previous objections or matters raised during the Planning Permission process. It very specifically addresses matters relating to the border within a certain distance of the neighbouring property.
The ultimate purpose is to achieve a smoother construction process and avoid costly disputes down the line for both parties.
When will a Party Wall Service be needed?
Examples of work needing to comply with the Party Law Act may be;
✔ Work on a shared border/wall
✔ Excavating/digging foundations a certain distance from neighbouring properties
✔ Home extensions
✔ Loft conversions
✔ Removing a chimney breast
✔ New build development
What next?
The surveyor/s will assess the neighbour’s property fully and record any pre-existing damage or defects. These will be listed in a Schedule of Condition. In addition, your builders/architects will need to supply drawings and plans, and details around the construction process to demonstrate safety and care for your neighbour’s property including hours of work, noise and other considerations.
All pulled together and agreed, this will represent the Party Wall Award which lays down and binds the legal obligations agreed by all parties.
Following the completion of works, should there be any concerns raised by the neighbour around the process or damage to their property, a Party Wall Surveyor will return and make an assessment based on the Award and an additional survey.
How long does the process take?
The process for getting the agreed Party Wall Agreement in place can take up to three months, due to the notice periods, unless there is an agreement to start earlier. Clearly this isn’t going to sit well with anyone with a timeline in mind for their project. If you think you need to serve a notice, it’s important to get things underway as quickly as possible.
Read about the Act in more detail here.