Adjoining Owner
Is your neighbour planning building works?
Is your neighbour planning to undertake:
- A rear or side extension
- A loft conversion
- Chimney breast or stack removal
- Basement works
If so, under the Party Wall Act your neighbour is obliged to serve a Party Wall Notice upon you prior to commencing any such works. The Act provides Adjoining Owners with protection if there has been any damage caused to a property which can be attributed to the Building Owner’s party wall works.
Squarepoint Chartered Surveyors assist and advise Adjoining Owners on all party wall matters. We can act as your appointed Party Wall Surveyor.
Acting for Adjoining Owner where a Party Wall Award is Required
STEP 1 – Send to us for review the notices received from the Building Owner
STEP 2 –Sign and date a letter of appointment we send to you so we can formally act on your behalf.
STEP 3 –We will meet with the Building Owner’s surveyor at your property to carry out a schedule of condition.
STEP 4 –We will agree the terms of the Party Wall Award with the Building Owner’s surveyor. When finalised we will issue the Award and schedule of condition to you along with the photographs taken at the time of the inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is an adjoining owner?
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A person whose building or property is affected by the party wall works.
- Can an adjoining owner prevent a building owner from doing work?
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No. They can only prevent a building owner from building astride the line of junction. A line of junction is the meeting point of lands belonging to two different owners.
- Who is responsible for paying the costs of the adjoining owner’s surveyor?
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The building owner.
- What is a schedule of condition?
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Before commencement of any building works, the appointed Party Wall Surveyor will attend at the adjoining owner’s property to prepare a Schedule of Condition. This report will identify all cracks and defects, if any. Photographs are taken at the time of the inspection and this report can then be used following completion of the works to identify any new cracks or defects.
- Can my surveyor act for myself and my neighbour?
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Yes. As an adjoining owner you can concur to the appointment of the building owner’s surveyor as a jointly appointed agreed surveyor, the cost of which will be met by the building owner.
