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Party Wall Services

Bursting at the seams? Looking to get a loft conversion?

Always dreamed of a bigger kitchen or want more entertaining space?
If you’re looking to do an extension to your home then it is likely you will need a Party Wall agreement.

What is a Party Wall?

A Party Wall is a dividing partition between two properties, the owners of which have a shared responsibility for the wall. If you are planning to do construction on or adjacent to a Party Wall then the adjoining landowners need to be legally notified. The act also applies to works where you are carrying out an excavation to form foundations within 3/6 metres of an adjoining property, subject to certain conditions.

Which Party Wall Notice Do I Need To Serve?

In accordance with the Party Wall etc Act 1996 there are three types of notices you may need to serve when carrying out alterations to your property. Justifiably these notices each have different statutory notice periods that must be followed before commencing notifiable works.

Types of Party Wall Notice Situation Statutory Notice Period
Line of Junction Notice Within this section this covers two separate constructions of a new wall:

  • Adjacent to a boundary
  • Astride – or ‘up against’ – a boundary
A minimum period of 1 month is required when serving this notice.
Party Structure Notice Should you be carrying out any of the following works a notice under this section is required:

  • Cut holes to insert beams and padstones. (Example loft conversion)
  • Cut in flashings
  • Remove a chimney projection
  • Insert a damp proof course
A minimum period of 2 months is required when serving this notice.
Notice of Adjacent Excavation There are two types of excavations covered under a Notice of Adjacent Excavation:

  • Excavating within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building, and to a depth lower than the foot of their foundations
  • Excavating within 6 metres of a neighbour’s building, if any part of that excavation cuts across a plane that is level with the face of their external wall, and drawn downwards at an angle of 45 degrees from the foot of their foundations
A minimum period of 1 month is required when serving this notice.
Types of Party Wall Notice Situation Statutory Notice Period
Line of Junction Notice Within this section this covers two separate constructions of a new wall:

  • Adjacent to a boundary
  • Astride – or ‘up against’ – a boundary
A minimum period of 1 month is required when serving this notice.
Party Structure Notice Should you be carrying out any of the following works a notice under this section is required:

  • Cut holes to insert beams and padstones. (Example loft conversion)
  • Cut in flashings
  • Remove a chimney projection
  • Insert a damp proof course
A minimum period of 2 months is required when serving this notice.
Notice of Adjacent Excavation There are two types of excavations covered under a Notice of Adjacent Excavation:

  • Excavating within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building, and to a depth lower than the foot of their foundations
  • Excavating within 6 metres of a neighbour’s building, if any part of that excavation cuts across a plane that is level with the face of their external wall, and drawn downwards at an angle of 45 degrees from the foot of their foundations
A minimum period of 1 month is required when serving this notice.

Party Structure Notice – Section 2/ Section 3

Should you be carrying out any of the following works a notice under this section is required:

  • Cut holes to insert beams and padstones. (Example loft conversion)
  • Cut in flashings
  • Remove a chimney projection
  • Insert a damp proof course

A minimum period of 2 months is required when serving this notice.

Notice of Adjacent Excavation – Section 6

There are two types of excavations covered under a Notice of Adjacent Excavation:

  • Excavating within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building, and to a depth lower than the foot of their foundations
  • Excavating within 6 metres of a neighbour’s building, if any part of that excavation cuts across a plane that is level with the face of their external wall, and drawn downwards at an angle of 45 degrees from the foot of their foundations

A minimum period of 1 month is required when serving this notice.

Line of Junction Notice – Section 1

Within this section this covers two separate constructions of a new wall:

  • Adjacent to a boundary
  • Astride – or ‘up against’ – a boundary

minimum period of 1 month is required when serving this notice.

Validity of notices

It should be noted that a notice will only be valid if it includes:

  • The correct name and address of the Building Owner(s)
  • Thorough details of the proposed work
  • An accompanying ‘cross-section’ foundation showing the depth of proposed excavation (to all notices served under Section 6 only).

Types of Party Wall Instruction

There are three types of Party Wall appointments that we can be instructed to partake in;

  • Building Owners Surveyor – Acting on behalf of the Owner(s) proposing to carry out the works
  • Adjoining Owners Surveyor – Acting on behalf of the neighbouring landowners
  • Agreed Surveyor – Acting on behalf of both parties

As part of our appointment, we would prepare an Award which describes how the Building Owners propose to undertake the works, what measures have been put in place and any structural
information is included. A fundamental aspect of the Award is the Schedule of Condition, capturing the condition of any adjoining property. In essence the Schedule of Condition is a photographic and written report which protects parties from mistaken claims subsequent to notifiable works.

Why Choose Us?

With collectively over 30 years’ experience Parallel Consultancy can provide you with comprehensive and independent advice in respect to Party Wall matters. You can have confidence in the fact that at Parallel Consultancy, we have experienced Surveyors and our specialists are also members of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors.

Get in touch to find out how we can help you

E: [email protected]
T: 0207 127 6834

Looking for a Building Surveyor?

Parallel Consultancy are a CIOB regulated company offering the highest standard of professionalism in all property related matters

0207 127 6834

Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm

[email protected]

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Checking Everything From The Ground Up

Checking everything from the ground up
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“If you start work without having first given notice in the proper way, Adjoining Owners may seek to stop your work through a court injunction or seek other legal redress”.
– Department for Communities and Local Government, May 2016