What is the Party Wall Act?

The party wall act, formally known as the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a piece of legislation that controls how you deal with neighbours when undertaking building works.

The act was written mainly to allow a party wall surveyor to deal with most neighbourly matters to avoid the need to use more expensive lawyers to deal with damage, for example.

There is a formal process that needs to be followed and at least 1 month before beginning works (2 months if you adjoin your neighbours house) a notice needs to be served. The neighbours can then choose to agree to the works or have a party wall surveyor review them before they begin.

The surveyor will undertake an inspection of the neighbours house, normally before and after the works and will check for damage.

A party wall surveyor doesn’t control the works however and only some of the works come under the remit of the party wall act.

Feel free to give us a call to discuss yours or your neighbour’s project.