Do I Need a Party Wall Agreement?

The party wall act controls some but not all types of building works near neighbouring houses. The first and most obvious example of when the party wall act is triggered is when you share a wall with a neighbour such as in a terrace or semi-detached house. This shared wall is called a party wall.

A loft conversion where you join a neighbours house almost always triggers the act because you will be cutting steel beams into the party wall. You will need to serve a notice on your neighbours 2 months before you begin the work.

The next example is a rear extension where you will be digging a foundation. The party wall act is triggered when you excavate next to or within 3m of a neighbours house (if you are digging deeper than their foundations). A 3m notice (also called an adjacent excavation notice) only needs to be served 1 month before works begin.

There are other works that trigger the act but it is safer to assume that if you adjoin a neighbour and are undertaking significant extension or alteration work, you will need to deal with the act.

For further advice, feel free to give us call and discuss your options.