Building Owners
Do you need a Party Wall Surveyor?
The Party Wall Act is separate from planning permission and building regulations. If your project is:
- A rear or side extension
- A loft conversion
- Chimney breast or stack removal
- Basement works
then it is likely you will need a Party Wall Surveyor. This means that you have an obligation to serve a Party Wall Notice on any adjoining owner. The process is very straightforward, but failure to comply can cause delays to your project and may have financial repercussions.
Squarepoint Chartered Surveyors assist and advise Building Owners on all party wall matters. We can act as your appointed Party Wall Surveyor.
We can also act as an Agreed Surveyor if the Adjoining Owner agrees to our appointment.
Acting for Building Owner where a Party Wall Award is Required
STEP 1 – Sign and date a letter of appointment we send to you so we can formally act on your behalf.
STEP 2 –Having reviewed your drawings and any structural engineer calculations we will serve the notices.
STEP 3 –Upon receiving a response to the notices, we will carry out a schedule of condition at the Adjoining Owner’s property.
STEP 4 –We will prepare the Party Wall Award and finalise it with the Adjoining Owner’s surveyor. When finalised we will issue the Award and schedule of condition to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When do you need a Party Wall Surveyor?
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If you’re going to carry out building or construction work on a party wall the Act will apply:
- Where you will build along the boundary between two properties.
- Where you will excavate within a prescribed distance of a shared or adjoining structure.
- Where you will alter a party structure.
- Whose duty is it serve a notice on an adjoining owner?
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The building owner. Or you can appoint a surveyor to do this on your behalf.
- What happens if you do not serve a notice as required under the Act?
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The Act carries no fines or penalties, but it is possible that your adjoining owner may apply to court for an injunction ordering you to stop work.
- Who is responsible for paying the costs of the Party Wall Surveyor?
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The building owner.
- What is an Agreed Surveyor?
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An Agreed Surveyor is where you and your neighbour are happy to agree to using the same surveyor who acts on an impartial basis. Using an Agreed Surveyor means the Building Owner is only responsible for one surveyor’s fees.
