Party Wall
Notices
Once you have served a party wall notice upon your neighbour
he has 14 days in which to respond in writing. If he dissents
from the party wall notice or does not respond to you within
the 14 days then a difference is deemed to have arisen between
the parties. This means that both you and your neighbour
must appoint party wall surveyors under section 10 of the
Party Wall Act. You can either jointly agree upon a single
party wall surveyor or you can each appoint different party
wall surveyors.
Party Wall Award
The party wall surveyors will prepare a fair and impartial
party wall award which will
deal with the right to execute the party wall works, the
time and manner of executing any party wall work, and any
other matter that arises between the parties connected to
the party wall works. In all normal circumstances the party
wall surveyors will prepare a report, called a “schedule
of condition”, of the neighbouring property before
works start in order to protect the interests of both parties
in the event of a later claim for damages.
Party Wall Costs
Usually the building owner proposing the works will pay
all party wall costs associated with drawing up the party
wall award if the works are solely for his benefit. Where
a difference is deemed to have arisen, and before the party
wall surveyors produce the party wall award, both parties
may jointly agree to settle any outstanding matters between
them without the need for an award. In this case the building
owner will usually still be liable for all reasonable party
wall costs incurred up to the date where the parties notify
the party wall surveyors of their intentions.
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