The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 was introduced to prevent and resolve disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings. Canham Consulting specialise in all Party Wall matters and are highly skilled in providing expert advice in this area.
If you are a building owner proposing to start work on your property, you must give adjoining property owners notice of your intentions. We recommend that your plans are checked over by one of our experienced party wall surveyors to confirm whether the works come within the scope of the Act. If necessary, we can draft the required notice(s) to ensure correct and lawful notices are served.
Often an adjoining property owner only becomes aware of their neighbour’s plans to carry out work under the Act upon receipt of a Party Wall notice. They have the option to either consent or dissent to the works specified. If no response is made within 14 days, the parties are deemed to be in dispute under the Act. Where a dispute arises,
Canham Consulting can be appointed as a Party Wall Surveyor or act as the Agreed Party Wall Surveyor for both property owners allowing for the Party Wall Award to be resolved in accordance with section 10 of the Act.
Our team of surveyors have experience in a diverse range of Party Wall issues and can assist you with:
- Serving Party Wall Notices
- Undertaking detailed Schedule of Condition Reports
- Preparing and serving Legally agreed Party Wall Awards ensuring all Owners rights are protected in accordance with the Act
The Party Wall ETC. Act 1996
Since the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 came into force, homeowners in England and Wales have a legal obligation to follow the Party Wall Act procedures when building work has an effect on a Party Wall or Party Structure.
All semi-detached and terraced houses have Party Walls and flats have a Party Structures. A Party Wall or Structure separates you and your neighbour’s property.
The Party Wall Act covers three distinct types of work. These being alterations and remedial works to a shared Party Wall or Party Fence wall, the construction of new walls on the boundary and excavation work to level which is at a deeper level than your neighbour’s foundations. A Party Wall matter will also arise if the neighbouring property is within 3 metres (or in some cases 6 metres) of the Party Wall or Party Structure.
Works which commonly affect the Party Wall include, but are not limited to:
- Building extensions
- Damp proofing works
- Internal or external structural alterations (e.g. removing walls and inserting structural steel beams to the Party Wall, loft conversions alterations to roof structure and covering)
- Excavating for foundations and constructing basements
- Internal alterations to party wall/party fence wall
In addition to the examples above, we consider ourselves adept at challenging projects, and would welcome new and innovative schemes for us to test our skills! Should any of our services be of interest, please contact us via any of the methods available on our