There are many different alterations that may be made to an existing property that entail a party wall, which is a wall that is shared with the property of your neighbour. Have you just moved into a new home and discovered that your neighbour has served you with a notice under the Party Wall Act? Or, are you aware that your neighbour may have plans to make alterations to the shared wall between your two properties and are curious as to how these alterations may impact you and your property?

Party Wall Surveyor Richmond

Disputes Regarding Party Walls

Anyone who intends to do work on a party wall, construct a wall on a boundary, or excavate in close proximity to a neighbouring building is required to provide advance notice of their activities to the neighbours who are immediately next to them. It is imperative that this be done in compliance with the Party Wall etc. Act of 1996.

Your next-door neighbour is required to get a party wall agreement, often known as a "award," prior to beginning any construction. This guarantees that the suggested work will be carried out correctly and that your property will be given careful consideration throughout the process. Read on for more information on party wall agreements. Investigate the topic of territorial disputes more thoroughly.

Notice of the Party Wall Act

In the event that your neighbour is thinking about carrying out work, they will most likely initiate the conversation with a verbal exchange with you in the beginning. It is a good idea to think about how the work will impact you and your property at this point so that you will be able to consult a lawyer if you have any concerns about the matter.

After that, your next-door neighbour is obligated to provide you with written notice of the work that they want to carry out, specifying how extensive the work will be and when precisely they intend to carry it out. Issuing a "Party Wall Act Notice" refers to the process of informing someone formally and in writing in this manner. They should complete this task in the two months prior to the scheduled beginning of the job. If your neighbour wishes to do any excavation activities near your property, they are required to provide you with a notice of at least one month's duration in advance in certain situations. After then, you will have 14 days to react, during which you may either accept or disagree with the terms. After this period of time, you are considered to be in a party wall dispute if no resolution has been reached.

Wimbledon Party Wall Agreement

Process for reaching an agreement on party walls

It is essential to begin by defining precisely what is meant by the term "party wall." When contemplating the work that your neighbour is suggesting, it is imperative that you have a thorough understanding of the many legal meanings of a party wall, since there are numerous. If the planned work is going to be done on a party structure, the individual arranging the work may additionally need a party wall agreement. Typical activities associated with this kind of employment include the following:

•       Taking chimney breasts out of a party wall and removing them
•       Altering the height, width, or depth of an existing party wall.
•       Constructing a new building along the border between two properties, such as a shed or garage; this may include both of the properties.
•       Converting an attic space into a living space.
•       Working in a capacity that requires the installation of RSJs (steel joists)
•       Making alterations to a floor that separates rooms.

You have the right to take legal action if your neighbour fails to provide you with written notification of any intended alterations to your shared wall that are covered by the Party Wall Act.

The consent of surrounding neighbours is not required in order to make alterations to party walls. These alterations may include the installation of wall plugs, the performance of electrical work, or the re-plastering of walls.

Reaching an Agreement Regarding Party Walls

If you and your neighbour do decide to join a party wall dispute, you will both be required to engage a surveyor that the two of you have already agreed upon in order to assess what kinds of work may legitimately be done on the party wall. It is feasible to engage two surveyors who will negotiate the party wall issue if you are unable to come to an agreement on which surveyor is the finest.

An award or party wall agreement will be drafted by the surveyor. This document will outline the precise parameters of the work to be done as well as the procedures that will be used to monitor its progress until it is finished. It is essential to keep in mind that a party wall agreement does not negate the requirement for obtaining planning permission or ensuring compliance with construction laws. This is another crucial point to keep in mind.