Party Wall

Wren Chartered Surveyors have dealt with numerous Party Wall cases over the years and are therefore well placed to help either the Building Owner or Adjoining Owner with their Party Wall issue, all at our reasonable upfront prices.

The Party Wall Act 1996 gives a property owner the right to carry out works to a shared (party) wall or structure, it also provides a framework to settle disputes between the Building Owner (the one carrying out the work) and the Adjoining Owner (the neighbour).
Some further guidance of the Party Wall Act can be found on the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/party-wall-etc-act-1996-guidance

If you plan to carry out works that fall under the Party Wall Act then you will need to serve notice to your affected neighbours (Adjoining Owner), as described in the guidance provided on the link above, but largely include any excavations within 3 meters of a party wall or any cutting in to a party wall.

Typical works that fall under the Party Wall Act include Loft Extension, Rear Extension or removal of a Chimneybreast.

Your neighbours can either consent to the work or dissent to these planned works. If they dissent or they do not reply, in which case they have automatically dissented under the Act, then you will need to instruct a Surveyor to prepare a Party Wall Award for you, this is where Wren Chartered Surveyors can help.

If you would like to discuss your options in relation to the Party Wall Act, please do not hesitate to get in touch either by calling us or emailing.

If you have been served a notice under the Party Wall Act by a neighbour or you are aware that a neighbour is undertaking works that you suspect may affect your party wall, then you should consider appointing a Surveyor to act on your behalf to afford you the best protection.

A Party Wall Award is the most affective method of providing a method of recourse in the event of your neighbours works causing any damage or inconvenience to your day to day life or your property.

Without a Party Wall Award in place it can be very difficult to prove that any damage has resulted from a neighbours works, and for that reason a Party Wall Award should always be produced before the works commence.

If you are unsure of your position or just would like to speak to someone about your options in relation to the Party Wall Act, please do not hesitate to get in touch either by calling us or emailing.