Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a party wall?
A Party Wall is a wall either on or at the edge of a property. Walls and foundations (as well as any other excavations) near the edge of a property are dealt with by the same set of rules as party walls.
A party wall can exist in various forms:
- Perhaps most typical is a party wall that stands on the boundary between the neighbours’ land but forms part of the building owner’s property alone.
- A party wall may also stand on the boundary between the neighbours’ land and form part of both owners’ property.
- Alternatively, a party wall may stand entirely on the land of one owner, but the adjoining owner’s property is enclosed by that wall.
Party fence wall
A party fence wall is a wall that stands on the boundary between the building owner’s land and the adjoining owner’s land but has no buildings attached to it. An example is a garden wall, although it should be noted that wooden fences are not party fence walls.
Party structure
A party structure is a catch-all term referring to both horizontal and vertical structures. Examples of horizontal structures are floors and ceilings between adjoining flats.
The boundary line dividing what is owned by adjoining property owners often runs either through the middle of a wall or at the edge of it. However, the line can be at any point through the wall. Regardless of which precise bits of the wall belong to which owner it is often most helpful when trying to understand the law that applies to party walls to think of the entire party wall as being the mutual property of both owners.
Projecting foundations
When building a new wall, it will be important to consider whether there will be projecting foundations. Projecting foundations are foundations for a building on the building owner’s land that cross over the boundary line into adjoining owner’s land. For example, if you were building a party wall entirely on your land but at the boundary and needed to put in foundations that would go under your neighbour’s land they would be projecting foundations.
Surveys cost £380.00 + VAT to £480.00 + VAT depending on location. For a quotation please complete this form by Clicking Here For more information call or text, the head Surveyor on 07764 589804
2. Are my Proposed Works Covered by The Party Wall Act?
We thought it would be useful to have a single article summarising all works which come within the scope of the Party Wall Act 1996 and therefore require a notice to be served. The focus of this article is alterations and extensions to residential properties.
Notifiable works will fall in to one of three categories.
- Work which has a direct consequence on a party wall or other party structure
- Excavation or pilling close to an Adjoining Owner’s Building
- The construction of a new wall at the line of junction between two properties
1. Work which has a direct consequence on a party wall or other party structure.
The list of works which a Building Owner has the right to undertake which have a direct effect on a party wall are given under section 2(2). We have listed them below with some common examples:
(a) ‘To underpin, thicken or raise a party structure, a party fence wall, or an external wall which belongs to the building owner and is built against a party structure or party fence wall’ - This section allows a Building Owner to increase the height of a party wall, say, as part of a loft conversion or to add an extra floor to a building or to underpin the whole width of a party wall which has suffered from subsidence.
(b) ‘To make good, repair, or demolish and rebuild, a party structure or party fence wall in a case where such work is necessary because of defect or want of repair of the structure or wall’ - Where a party wall has become defective either owner can take the initiative and serve notice to have it repaired or re-built. The costs of the work are split according to the use that the owners make of the wall and responsibility for the defect or lack of repair.
Sub-sections (d) & (e) can be ignored for works to residential properties.
(f) ‘To demolish a party structure which is of insufficient strength or height for the purposes of any intended building of the building owner and to rebuild it of sufficient strength or height for the said purposes (including rebuilding to a lesser height or thickness where the rebuilt structure is of sufficient strength and height for the purposes of any adjoining owner)’ - This right would only be exercised as a last resort as the costs would be considerable; including the payment of compensation to the Adjoining Owner for disturbance and inconvenience. Most designers/engineers would explore alternative options first.
(f) ‘To cut into a party structure for any purpose (which may be or include the purpose of inserting a damp proof course)’ - This right is most commonly exercised by a Building Owner cutting pockets in to a party wall to insert beams, either as part of loft conversion works or when internal walls are to be removed. It also covers the insertion of flashings and damp-proofing works which involve drilling or cutting in to the party wall.
(g) ‘To cut away from a party wall, party fence wall, external wall or boundary wall any footing or any projecting chimney breast, jamb or flue, or other projection on or over the land of the building owner in order to erect, raise or underpin any such wall or for any other purpose’ - This section covers the demolition of chimney breasts which are attached to a party wall but also gives the Building Owner the right to cut away other projections from the party wall, such as footings, if they are impeding his building work.
(h) ‘To cut away or demolish parts of any wall or building of an adjoining owner overhanging the land of the building owner or overhanging a party wall, to the extent that it is necessary to cut away or demolish the parts to enable a vertical wall to be erected or raised against the wall or building of the adjoining owner’ - In practice it will be items such as rainwater goods, soffits and fascia’s or coping stones which will be in the way of a Building Owner raising wanting to raise his wall . The Building Owner has a duty to make good any damage.
(j) ‘To cut into the wall of an adjoining owner’s building to insert a flashing or other weather-proofing of a wall erected against that wall’ - If a Building Owner constructs an extension alongside an Adjoining Owner’s existing extension it is likely that a small gap will remain. It would normally be in the interests of both owners to waterproof the gap with a flashing, if that flashing must be cut in to the Adjoining Owner’s wall this section gives the Building Owner the right to do just that.
(k) ‘To execute any other necessary works incidental to the connection of a party structure with the premises adjoining it’ - In practical terms this section is only likely to be used in residential situations where a Building Owner wants to re-build his property but leave the party wall in place, it may then be necessary to form a more permanent connection between the party wall and the Adjoining Structure and to attach the new building to the existing party wall.
(l) ‘To raise a party fence wall, or to raise such a wall for use as a party wall, and to demolish a party fence wall and rebuild it as a party fence wall or as a party wall’ - A party fence wall is effectively a garden wall which is in shared ownership – they are commonly found between period properties; particularly those with back additions which have windows to the side. This section gives either owner the right to raise or re-built such a wall as part of their new building.
(m) ‘Subject to the provisions of section 11(7), to reduce, or to demolish and rebuild, a party wall or party fence wall to -
(i) a height of not less than two metres where the wall is not used by an adjoining owner
(ii) to any greater extent than a boundary wall; or a height currently enclosed upon by the building of an adjoining owner
This section allows a Building Owner to reduce the height of a party wall or a shared garden wall down to a height of no less than 2 metres so long as it doesn’t compromise the Adjoining Owner’s building. If both owners agree a wall can be removed altogether.
(n) ‘To expose a party wall or party structure hitherto enclosed subject to providing adequate weathering’ - The purpose of this section is really to protect an Adjoining Owner where a Building Owner plans to remove part or all his structure and as a result expose the party wall. It may be necessary to protect the newly exposed wall with felt and battens if the exposure is temporary or if it is to be permanent exposed a more permanent solution, such as rendering or re-pointing may be required.
The notice period for works under section 2 of the Act is 2 calendar months.
2. Excavation close to an Adjoining Owner’s Building.
It surprises many Building Owners that they must serve a notice on their neighbour even though the hole they plan to dig will be entirely on their own land. The reason of course is that excavating close to any structure carries a risk that the foundations to that structure will be compromised and movement will occur.
This type of work is covered by section 6 of the Act and can be divided in to two parts. Below I have given the relevant text from the act together with a sketch which I hope will clarify the description.
Section 6(1), where -
(a) a building owner proposes to excavate, or excavate for and erect a building or structure, within three metres measured horizontally from any part of a building or structure of an adjoining owner; and
(b) any part of the proposed excavation, building or structure will within those three metres extend to a lower level than the level of the bottom of the foundations of the building or structure of the adjoining owner.
Section 6(2), where -
(a) a building owner proposes to excavate, or excavate for and erect a building or structure, within six metres measured horizontally from any part of a building or structure of an adjoining owner; and
(b) any part of the proposed excavation, building or structure will within those six metres meet a plane drawn downwards in the direction of the excavation, building or structure of the building owner at an angle of forty-five degrees to the horizontal from the line formed by the intersection of the plane of the level of the bottom of the foundations of the building or structure of the adjoining owner with the plane of the external face of the external wall of the building or structure of the adjoining owner.
The notice period for excavation work which comes within the scope of the Act is 1 calendar month.
3. The construction of a new wall at the line of junction between two properties.
This category covers the construction of new walls at the line of junction i.e. the boundary line between two properties in different ownership. The new wall may be built up to the boundary line but wholly on the land of the Building Owner or astride the boundary line i.e. with part of it on each owner’s side. If the Adjoining Owner refuses consent, then the wall must be built wholly on the Building Owner’s side. The construction of new wall at the line of junction are covered under section 1 of the Act.
There are two practical reasons why a Building Owner might want to carry out work detailed under this section of the Act:
1. To maximise the width of a rear extension.
If the flank walls of a new extension can be built astride the boundary then a few extra square feet of internal floor space will be gained. It should be noted that new walls built astride the boundary under this section of the Act will be defined as party walls and may be enclosed upon by the Adjoining Owner at a later stage (subject to serving notice and contributing towards the cost of building the wall).
2. To replace an existing boundary wall, fence or hedge with a party wall or party fence wall.
This is less common, and the motivation will generally be to provide additional privacy or to overcome the maintenance that is required with fences and hedges.
The notice period for building a new wall at the line of junction is 1 calendar month. Procedures differ from works under sections 2 & 6 of the Act in that there is no automatic dissent to a notice after 14 days. If the wall which the Building Owner wishes to construct is wholly on his own land and he has had no response to his notice after 1 calendar month has passed he is free to proceed.
3. What is a Party Wall Notice?
A Party Wall Notice is a legal document that is prepared by a building owner or his/her representatives regarding works that he/she intends to carry out in close vicinity to a neighbouring structure or to the boundary line. The Notice is intended to inform neighbouring owners (which can include long term leaseholder etc) of the implications of their proposals on the neighbours. There are 3 types of notices, Line of Junction, Party Structure and Notice of Adjacent Excavation.
In many situations more than one type of notice is required, and it is essential that you ensure all notices required under the Act are given.
4. When does a party wall notice need to be served?
Party Wall Notices should be served at the earliest opportunity to ensure that there is enough time for the notice to run and for negotiations, if a dispute arises, to be undertaken. However, notices are only valid for 12 months, so caution should be given so as not to serve the notice too early either as they may then expire before works commence. This is not usually an issue with smaller domestic scenarios but should be factored into larger, longer term projects.
Party Structure Notices are Required to be served 2 calendar months prior to the commencement of works and Line of Junction and Notice of Adjacent Excavation 1 calendar month prior to the commencement of works.
Our Party Wall Notice templates can be used to assist you in producing any type of party wall notices which you may need to serve if your proposed work comes within the scope of the Party Wall etc Act 1996.
The templates will also include the relevant letter of acknowledgement for the Adjoining Owner to complete and return to you or your surveyor.
It is of vast importance that notices have the correct information included in them as this will concede their validity under the Act. Any mistakes may invalidate the notice(s) and any award or agreement made thereafter.
5. What happens after the Notice has been served?
The Adjoining Owner(s) should be given the opportunity to reply to the notice served. They will either consent or dissent from the notice served. If they consent all paperwork should be retained for future reference but no further action under the Act is required. It is however recommended that a Schedule of Condition is offered to the Adjoining Owner as this will ensure that the condition of the areas in close vicinity to the works is recorded prior to the commencement of works. This will ensure that no historic damage can be brought into question on completion of the works but equally that any damage genuinely incurred by the works can be identified.
If the neighbour dissents from the notice a surveyor or surveyors must be appointed. In normal circumstances all fees incurred by any such appointments will be payable by the building owner, however this must be agreed and awarded.
6. What happens if my neighbours don't respond?
If 14 days after service of a notice no reply has been received a dispute will be considered to have occurred, except where notice was given to build to the line of junction solely on the land of the building owner.
If a dispute arises due to a lack of response to a notice served the adjoining owner(s) must be given 10 days in which to agree to the appointment of the building owner’s surveyor or confirmation of who they intend to appoint. A failure to respond to this further notice will result in the building owner’s surveyor making an appointment on behalf of the adjoining owner so as matters can proceed.
All Surveyors are qualified to either FRICS, RICS, BSc, MSc, MOCIB or FOCIB
We are Pyramus & Thisbe Club Members
All Surveyors hold Professional Indemnity Insurance and liability to £1,000,000.
Fixed fee of £695.00 + VAT for Notices, Schedule of condition and publishing the Award all undertaken by a skilled and qualified professional Chartered Building Consultants.
This is compared to other companies who may try and charge you up to £2000 for exactly the same service.
Home About Us Request Quotation Party Wall Act Explained Frequently Asked Questions Contact Us Function of a Party Wall Surveyor Blog Locations Company Credability
Print 