The Party Wall Helpline

Here’s a super helpful flowchart showing the Party Wall process from beginning to end.  Some fine detail is left out such as special foundations and addendum awards to make it easier to follow but it represents an excellent graphical representation of where the Building Owners Surveyor, Adjoining Owners Surveyor, Third Surveyor, Party Wall Notices and [...]

It depends, and it depends largely on whether you get in with your neighbour, whether your neighbour is co-operative and whether you have a fully designed piece of work and how slick and efficient your surveyor can be.  This is where your neighbour can insist on the full two surveyor procedure and put your work [...]

Section 1 of the Act provides a building owner with the right to place foundations on his neighbour’s land.  There is no right, however, to place what are known as special foundations (foundations incorporating metal reinforcement) on your neighbour’s land without their prior written agreement.

Loft conversions can vary in their structure.  In many cases, however, steelwork spans onto a party wall and, because it will be necessary to cut a pocket in the wall and to place a load upon the wall, a Party Structure Notice will be necessary.

The Award will set out the provisions for such payment.  You should be aware that an Award is a personal document between the building owner and the adjoining owner and the responsibility will usually rest with the building owner.