Party Wall Surveyor
If you're doing building work near a party wall or adjoining boundary, there's a legal procedure that you might have to go through, one which isn't usually tackled until things go wrong. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 outlines your responsibilities if building work could impact the stability of an existing party wall or neighbouring property.
Whether you are a homeowner undertaking an extension, a developer on a new project, or an architect designing a residential development, the involvement of an experienced Party Wall Surveyor is key to safeguarding both you and your neighbour's interests.
At Anderton Gables, our experienced Building Surveying team offers a professional Party Wall Surveyor service to guide you through this process. We ensure compliance with the law, minimise the risk of dispute, and safeguard the progress of your building works with impartial advice at every step.
Paul Cartwright
Associate Director
Andrew Rogerson
Associate Director
Why Anderton Gables as Your Party Wall Surveyor?
Learn about our Practical and Proactive Service
With significant experience in a wide variety of residential and commercial projects, our Anderton Gables team appreciates that party wall issues are more than just a legal box-ticking exercise. They're about preserving relationships, minimising risk, and allowing projects to move forward with confidence and certainty. Our surveyors offer a practical, proactive service that takes the uncertainty out of what can so easily become a contentious area.
We start by going over your intended works and recommending whether the Act is applicable. If it is, we deal with the serving and preparation of notices, coordination with adjoining owners, and administration of the entire award process. We carry out condition surveys with excellent photographic record evidence and comprehensive reports, so you are well protected against unwarranted claims of disturbance or damage.
In the event of disputes, we do our utmost to settle them quickly, using our technical knowledge and experience in keeping your project on schedule. We believe in open communication, legally compliant documentation, and always doing what is best for the process, not one side or the other. Clients often find our service extremely helpful in navigating these often overlooked legal requirements.
The Role of a Party Wall Surveyor
If consent is not given or is withheld, a dispute is said to have arisen. A Party Wall Surveyor is then appointed to draw up a Party Wall Award, a legally binding document that outlines the terms of the work, how it will proceed, and what protection there is for the two parties.
Surveyors can be appointed separately by either party, or both owners can choose to appoint one joint surveyor. In both instances, the surveyor is accountable to the Act, not the party who appoints them, in order to maintain neutrality and impartiality.
Their duties usually include verifying plans, inspecting the adjoining owner's property, conducting condition surveys, and preparing documents which will be accepted in legal proceedings in case of a future disagreement.
A Party Wall Surveyor is neither a contractor, nor an architect, nor a project manager. They are a separate professional whose function is legally described: to manage the provisions of the Party Wall Act and act impartially for all parties. Wherever a building owner suggests work that will have an impact on a party wall, party structure, boundary or building adjoining a neighbour's property, the neighbour should be informed.
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When Do You Need a Party Wall Surveyor?
You will probably have to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor if your development includes any construction on a shared (party) wall, building at or close to the boundary line, or excavating adjacent to a neighbouring building.
Typical examples are loft conversions where steel beams are to be placed in a party wall, basement excavations where the excavation extends below adjacent foundations, or side and rear extensions that are close to or over the boundary.
The majority of homeowners presume party wall issues just concern terraced houses or semi-detached homes, but in fact, the Party Wall Act applies to all domestic, commercial, and mixed-use property. Even a minor domestic project, like the removal of a chimney breast that adjoins a neighbour's wall, can invoke the requirement for formal notices and surveyor appointments. The sooner you bring in your own surveyor, the easier the process will be.
How the Party Wall Process Works in Practice
The procedure starts with the service of a Party Wall Notice. This is a formal notice in writing that has to be served on all such neighbours who are going to be affected, one to two months prior to the commencement of work, depending on the nature of the work proposed. This has to expressly state the nature and scope of the proposed work with enough technical detail so that the neighbour may realise how his or her property is likely to be affected.
Once notice has been served, the adjoining owner has 14 days to respond. If they consent, the work can generally go ahead without issue. If they object or fail to respond, a dispute is said to have arisen. Surveyors are then appointed to review the proposal and agree on terms via the Party Wall Award.
One of the most important aspects of this process is the Schedule of Condition, which is a comprehensive photographic and written record of the adjoining owner's property prior to work commencing. This is used as proof in case damage is noted once the project has been finished.
The Party Wall Award then sets out how and when the work is to be carried out, access arrangements, working hours, protection measures, and any requirement for extra monitoring or site visits. The party wall agreement, once served, is legally binding.
Common Misconceptions & Conflicts in Party Wall Surveying
Most owners are unaware of their Party Wall Act responsibilities until a neighbour objects. Others are caught out by last-minute requests for notices and awards, which delay work or incur unnecessary legal costs. Common causes of disagreement are matters of noise, access, structural risk, or simply poor communication.
Not only is it our job as building owners' surveyors to resolve these conflicts, but also to prevent them. By involving us early on, you are most likely to have your project continue uninterrupted. We negotiate with all concerned, advise in plain terms, and have your obligations met professionally and harmoniously.
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Planning Building Work?
Whether you are building an extension to your home, converting, digging a basement, or managing a commercial building project, it pays to know your needs before you start digging. Anderton Gables offers a full Party Wall Surveyor service across the UK, enabling clients to secure legal compliance, avoid unnecessary disputes, and safeguard the future value of their property, keeping you covered.
We can help with notice service, condition surveys, Party Wall Awards, and neighbour liaison. Contact us today for a free consultation and no-nonsense advice specific to your scheme.