Professional Party Wall advice for property owners
Building work involving shared walls, boundaries or excavation near neighbouring buildings can create understandable concerns for everyone involved.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides a statutory framework for certain types of work, but understanding when it applies – and what should happen next – is not always straightforward.
Tytherleigh-West provides independent professional advice to Building Owners and Adjoining Owners, helping each party understand the process, their responsibilities and the practical implications of the proposed works.
Party Wall Advice
If you are planning construction work, we can review the proposed project and advise whether it is likely to fall within the provisions of the Act.
Typical projects can include:
- Extensions
- Loft conversions involving relevant structural work
- Alterations to party structures
- Works at or close to boundaries
- Certain excavation and foundation works near neighbouring properties
- Other qualifying structural alterations
Obtaining advice at an early stage can provide sufficient time to deal properly with the statutory process before construction begins.
Party Wall Notices
Where the Act applies, the correct notice must be prepared and served upon the relevant Adjoining Owner.
We can assist with reviewing the proposed works, identifying the appropriate procedure and preparing and serving the relevant Party Wall Notice. Proper preparation at this stage can help reduce misunderstandings later in the process.
Acting for Building Owners
If you are proposing the work, we can guide you through your responsibilities under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Our role can include reviewing the proposed works, advising on notices, dealing professionally with appointed surveyors and preparing the necessary documentation where a Party Wall Award is required. The objective is to help the project move forward while ensuring that the statutory process is properly addressed.
Acting for Adjoining Owners
Receiving a Party Wall Notice can be unfamiliar, particularly if you have concerns about how a neighbour’s proposed construction work might affect your property.
We can review the notice and proposed works, explain your position and act as your appointed surveyor where appropriate. Our role is professional and independent, with attention given to protecting the property while allowing legitimate building works to proceed within the framework provided by the Act.
Schedules of Condition
A Schedule of Condition provides a written and photographic record of the relevant parts of a neighbouring property before construction work begins.
Existing cracks, finishes, defects and other relevant observations can be recorded to establish a clear point of reference. This can be valuable for both owners because it provides contemporaneous evidence of the property’s pre-construction condition should concerns subsequently arise.
Party Wall Awards
Where the statutory process results in a dispute, appointed surveyors can determine the relevant matters and record them within a Party Wall Award.
Depending upon the circumstances, an Award can address matters including the nature and timing of works, access, protective measures and other relevant provisions.
Tytherleigh-West approaches this process with the technical understanding of an engineer and surveyor together with extensive experience of construction contracts and property matters.