Party Wall Surveyors Richmond

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We provide a complete party wall services, ensuring your obligations under the Act are met.

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What works are covered by the Party Wall Act?

The are three primary categories of works which are ‘notifiable’ under the Party Wall Act. Each has its own section under the Act, and these are detailed below, including how much notice must be given before the proposed works can start.

Work to a party wall or structure:

Below details notifiable works relating to party structures. Note that not all notifiable works have been included, but the most common works have been.

Section of Act	Notifiable Work	Notice Period
Section 2(a)	Underpin, thicken or raise a party wall. For example, to underpin or raise a parapet wall.	2 Months
Section 2(b)	Where a wall is defective, carry out repairs, or demolish and rebuild it.	2 Months
Section 2(e)	Demolish a party wall that is not sufficiently strong, or high enough, for the intended new building or extension.	2 Months
Section 2(f)	Cut into a party wall for any purpose, including inserting a damp proof course or steel beam.	2 Months
Section 2(g)	To cut away projections from a wall that over hang your land. Such as removing a chimney breast.	2 Months
Section 2(h)	Cut away projections over your land to the extent necessary to erect a wall.	2 Months
Section 2(j)	To cut into the wall of an adjoining property, which is not a shared wall, in order to insert a flashing.	2 Months
Section 2(n)	To expose a section of a party wall or structure that was previously enclosed.	2 Months

The below table details the notifiable works that are covered by the Act in connection with building new walls on the line of junction with another property.

Section of Act	Notifiable Work	Notice Period
Section 1(2)	To construct a new wall on the boundary line with another property, which is partly on both owners' lands.	1 Month
Section 1(5)	To construct a new wall on the boundary line with another property, which is wholly on your own land.	1 Month

New walls on the boundary line:

Excavating near a neighbour's property:

The table below details where excavation works are notifiable under the Party Wall Act.

Section of Act	Notifiable Work	Notice Period
Section 6(1)	To excavate within 3m of an adjoining property of structure and to a deeper depth than its foundations.	1 Month
Section 6(2)	To excavate within 6m of an adjoining property or structure and to a depth that would intersect with a 45 degree line drawn downwards from the bottom of its foundations. Typically this only applies to piled foundations.	1 Month

What is the party wall process & how long does it take?

The Party Wall Act outlines the framework, processes, and timescales for dealing with party wall matters. The timeline below gives an outline of the critical party wall process.

Time required: 1 - 2 Days

1. Service of Notices

It is a requirement of the Act that the Building Owner serves compliant party wall notices on affected Adjoining Owners. Due to the complexity of identifying all notifiable work correctly, party wall surveyors are usually appointed to prepare and serve the notices, however anyone can serve the notice. Notice periods are 2 months for party structure works, and 1 month of line of junction and adjacent excavation works.

Time required: 1 - 2 Days

Time required: 14 - 24 Days

2. Response to notice

Once your neighbour has received the notice, they have 14 days to respond to it. The three options open to them in responding are:

Consent: In this case the works can proceed and nothing further is required under the Act. With that said, it is still advisable to have a schedule of condition undertaken of their property.
Dissent and appoint their own surveyor: In this case both the Building Owner's and Adjoining Owner's surveyors will act together to agree a party wall award. The surveyors must act impartially, despite being appointed by an individual owner. The notifiable works cannot start until the award have been served on the owners by the surveyors.
Dissent and agree to share a single agreed surveyor: In this case a single 'Agreed Surveyor' will act impartially on behalf of both the owners to prepare a party wall award. This option is recommended only where the works are of a relatively simple nature.

Note that if no response is received from the adjoining owner after 14 days, then they are deemed to have automatically dissented. In such case, a letter will typically be sent to them giving them 10 days to appoint a surveyor, otherwise the Building Owner can appoint one for them.

Time required: 14 - 24 Days

Time required: Typically 5 - 10 days following notice response.

3. Schedule of Condition

Once the surveyors have been appointed, they will undertake a schedule of condition of the adjoining property. This will act as a record of its condition before the works start so that in the event of any damage occurring, there is a clear written and photographic record

Time required: Typically 5 - 10 days following notice response.

Time required: Typically 3 - 6 weeks.

4. Party Wall Award

The appointed surveyors will then prepare a Party Wall Award. The award will determine any matters in dispute, and will also stipulate the timings and manner that the notifiable works must take place. It will also set out any rights to compensation and for access on to adjoining land.

Once the surveyor(s) has agreed the content of the award, they will sign it, and it will then be served on the owners. If they have any problem with the content of the award, they can appeal it in the County Court within 14 days, after which point the award becomes legally binding on both parties.

Subject to there being no contests in the County Court, the Building Owner can start the works covered in the award.

Time required: Typically 3 - 6 weeks.

Understanding Party Walls

Understanding party wall matters can be a complex and bewildering task. To shed light on this intricate subject, we recommend watching this informative video produced by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. This video offers valuable insights into party wall matters, providing clarity and enhancing your comprehension of this important aspect of many construction projects.

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