What is a party wall agreement?
If you plan building work on or near a shared wall, boundary or neighbouring foundations (such as an extension, a loft conversion or digging foundations close to next door), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 says you must serve a party wall notice on your neighbours first. A “party wall agreement” is the everyday name for what follows: either your neighbour’s written consent to the work, or, where needed, a Party Wall Award made by surveyors. The Act protects both neighbours, the owner doing the work and the owner next door.
What this site is for
Party wall matters can feel daunting, and they often cost more than they need to. This site gives free advice and guidance on the Act, our 1-minute checker, and guides to the works you are likely to come across, so that neighbours can reach the easiest, simplest and most cost-effective party wall agreement for their project. When you want help, our surveyors can serve the notices or act for you at a fixed fee.
Our approach
A party wall surveyor’s job is to resolve disputes, not to create them. In line with the approach of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors, we recommend the simplest route that properly protects you both:
- Notice and consent with a Schedule of Condition for most straightforward jobs where neighbours get on. Full legal cover under the Act and a clear record of condition, with no unnecessary cost.
- One Agreed Surveyor where an Award is wanted or needed, for example for extra clauses, access rights or exceptional items. Both neighbours appoint the same impartial surveyor, so there is only one surveyor’s fee.
- Two surveyors, one for each owner, only for contentious or technically complex jobs, where two heads are better than one.
Prefer to serve notices yourself?
If you wish to serve your own party wall notices, go to our sister site partywall-notices.co.uk.
Our surveyor panel
Between them, our surveyors have handled more than 750 party wall projects. They are members of professional bodies including RICS, the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors and the Pyramus & Thisbe Club, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the governing legislation they work under. Suitable professional indemnity insurance is held by the appointed surveyor/firm.
- John Greenan AssocRICS MFPWS ACABE: South East
- Carl Brady MFPWS MPTS: East and West Midlands, Hertfordshire and North London
- Kevin Redman BSc(Hons) MFPWS: Essex and East London
- James Metcalf AssocRICS MFPWS: Kent
See our Terms of Use, Complaints procedure and Legal Notice.
Ask a question or get a fixed-fee quote or call free on 08000 487897