What the Act says
s.10(13) provides that the reasonable costs incurred in making or obtaining an Award, in reasonable inspections of the work, and in any other matter arising out of the dispute “shall be paid by such of the parties as the surveyor or surveyors making the award determine”. The government explanatory booklet states the usual outcome: where works are solely for the building owner’s benefit, the building owner will usually pay all the costs of drawing up the Award, including the adjoining owner’s surveyor’s fees.
Who pays what
| Cost | Normally paid by | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing and serving notices | Building owner | Their obligation under s.1, s.3, s.6 |
| Schedule of Condition | Building owner | Standard practice; part of Award costs if disputed |
| Agreed Surveyor’s fees for the Award | Building owner | s.10(13) |
| Adjoining owner’s own surveyor’s reasonable fees | Building owner | s.10(13) |
| Third surveyor (if called upon) | As the third surveyor determines | s.10(13), s.10(15) |
| Inspections during and after the work | Building owner | s.10(13)(b) |
| Making good damage caused by the works | Building owner | s.2, s.7(2), s.11(8) |
| Protection (hoarding, shoring) where premises are laid open | Building owner | s.7(3) |
| Security for expenses, if required | Building owner provides; returned if not needed | s.12(1) |
When the neighbour may contribute
- Shared defects. Where work is needed because of defect or want of repair of a shared wall, costs are split by reference to each owner’s use and responsibility for the defect (s.11(4), s.11(5)).
- Works at their request. Extra works requested by the neighbour, for example in a counter-notice under s.4, are at their expense (s.11(9)). The building owner can ask for security first (s.12(2)).
- Later use. If the neighbour later uses work paid for by the building owner, such as building onto a raised wall, they pay a due proportion (s.11(11)).
- Maintaining a wall’s height. If the neighbour requires a wall to be kept at its existing height under s.11(7), they pay a proportion of its cost above the thresholds in that subsection.
- Unreasonable conduct. Surveyors can allocate costs caused by an owner acting unreasonably.
Where a neighbour must pay a share of the cost of work, the building owner serves an account within two months of completion, and the neighbour has one month to object (s.13).
Keeping costs down as a building owner
- Talk to neighbours first. Consent, or consent subject to a Schedule of Condition, avoids Award costs altogether.
- Propose an Agreed Surveyor. One surveyor means one set of fees.
- Provide complete drawings and engineer’s details with the notice, so surveyors are not chasing information.
- Avoid design changes after the Award, which can require addendum Awards.
- Ask for a fee estimate from the neighbour’s surveyor early. Fees must be reasonable and can be challenged.
A building owner plans a rear extension with s.6 foundations, affecting two neighbours. Neighbour 1 consents subject to a Schedule of Condition; the building owner pays for the Schedule. Neighbour 2 appoints their own surveyor; the Award directs the building owner to pay that surveyor’s reasonable fees under s.10(13). During the work, the old shared garden wall is found to be unstable and is rebuilt; because both owners use the wall and neither caused the defect, the surveyors apportion the rebuild cost equally under s.11(5), and the building owner serves an account under s.13 after completion.
This is an illustrative scenario to show how the Act works in practice. It is not a real case, and the outcome on any real project depends on its own facts.
What the building owner pays with us
| Service | Fee + VAT | inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Party wall notices (all your neighbours) | £150 | £180 |
| Notices + one Schedule of Condition | £499 | £598.80 |
| Each extra Schedule of Condition | £399 | £478.80 |
| Standalone Schedule of Condition | £450 | £540 |
| Party Wall Award | £400 | £480 |
| Full package (notices, Schedule, Award) | £899 | £1,078.80 |
| Full package, London | £999 | £1,198.80 |
| Agreed Surveyor supplement | £0 |
Domestic extensions and loft conversions. Fixed fees, invoiced on completion; we take enquiries only, with no online payment. If your neighbour appoints their own surveyor, the building owner normally pays that surveyor’s reasonable fees as well (s.10(13)), and those are set by that surveyor, not by us.
Our fees are fixed, plus VAT: notices £150; notices plus a Schedule of Condition £499 (each extra Schedule £399); a standalone Schedule of Condition £450; an Award £400; a full package £899 (£999 in London). If both owners appoint us as Agreed Surveyor, the add-on is normally £50 and is currently waived. If your neighbour chooses their own surveyor, that surveyor sets their own fees, which must be reasonable, and you would normally pay them in addition. See how much a party wall agreement costs.
For the detail of section 10(13), see who pays party wall surveyor fees. If you are the neighbour, see who pays for your surveyor.
If you are the neighbour
If you have received a notice, you can respond in any of the four ways described in FPWS guidance: consent; consent subject to a Schedule of Condition (recommended for straightforward works and the most popular choice); dissent and concur in an Agreed Surveyor; or dissent and appoint your own surveyor, which is best for complex or contentious works. In each case, the building owner normally pays the reasonable professional costs. Before appointing your own surveyor, ask them to confirm in writing that they will seek their fees from the building owner under s.10(13), and check whether any part of their work could fall outside the dispute and be charged to you.
Common misunderstandings
- “We split the costs 50/50.” Not for work solely for the building owner’s benefit. Sharing applies to defects, requested works and later use, under s.11.
- “The neighbour chose their own surveyor, so they should pay.” The neighbour is entitled to appoint their own surveyor under s.10(1)(b), and the reasonable cost normally falls on the building owner.
- “Fees are payable only if there is damage.” Award costs are payable whether or not damage occurs.
- “Unpaid fees cannot be enforced.” Sums payable under the Act are recoverable summarily as a civil debt (s.17).
Budgeting checklist for building owners
- Your own notices and, if needed, your surveyor’s Award fee.
- A Schedule of Condition for each neighbour.
- A neighbour’s own surveyor’s reasonable fees, per neighbour who appoints one.
- Inspections during and after the work.
- Making good any damage.
- Possible security for expenses on higher-risk works.
- Engineer’s drawings and calculations, which surveyors will need.
Who pays if the Award is appealed?
On an appeal to the county court, the court can make “such order as to costs as the court thinks fit” (s.10(17)(b)). Those legal costs are separate from the surveyors’ fees under s.10(13), and can be significant. This is another reason to resolve fee disagreements between surveyors, or through the third surveyor, rather than in court.
Fees when works are abandoned
If the building owner serves notice and then abandons the project, costs already reasonably incurred in a dispute, such as a surveyor’s inspection and Schedule of Condition, are still normally the building owner’s. Speak to the surveyors early if plans change, so further costs are not run up.
How we can help
We have handled party wall matters on more than 750 projects. Our qualified surveyors prepare valid notices, Schedules of Condition and Awards on fixed fees, and we can act as Agreed Surveyor for both owners where the neighbour agrees. Call free on 08000 487897, take the 1-minute check or see our fixed fees.
- Party wall notices for building owners
- Fixed fees: party wall agreement cost
- Do I need a party wall agreement? (1-minute check)
Areas we cover include Party Wall Agreement East Midlands · Party Wall Agreement London · Party Wall Agreement Essex and more.
Sources: Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (legislation.gov.uk) · The Party Wall etc. Act 1996: explanatory booklet (GOV.UK). Last reviewed 27 October 2026. General guidance on the law in England and Wales, not legal advice.