Why do I need party wall services?

Party Wall Surveyor in Plymouth and the surrounding areas

Do I need to serve a party wall notice on a neighbour for the building works I wish to undertake?
Are you a building owner who needs to serve appropriate notice(s) of intended building works on a neighbour under The Party Wall etc. Act 1996?
Have you just received a party wall notice outlining intended building works affecting your property from your neighbour or a surveyor acting on their behalf?
Has your neighbour’s building contractors started building works and you are worried about the effect they may have on your property?

Gemstock’s Party Wall Services

A building owner proposing to start work covered by the Act must give adjoining owners notice of their intentions in the way set down in the Act.

Notices are needed for:

Section 1 notice: For building works along or astride the boundary line of junction.
Section 3 notice: For building works to a party wall, a party structure or a party fence wall or affected wall of an adjoining owner.
Section 6 notice: For excavation within 3m and deeper than adjoining owners building or structure (or if within distance of 6m when exceeding a 45-degree angle from base of adjoining building or structure).

Adjoining owners can agree or disagree with what is proposed. Where they disagree, the Act provides a mechanism for resolving disputes.

The Act is separate from obtaining planning permission or building regulations approval.

Gemstock are experienced in acting for either the building owner or adjoining owner or as the ‘agreed surveyor’ under The Party Wall etc Act 1996. Normally a Party Wall Award (PWA) will be drawn up prior to works commencing. The PWA will include a schedule of condition to record the structure and finishes before construction work starts. The condition can then be checked if any damage is known or thought to have arisen and if necessary appropriate works or damages can be determined by the party wall surveyor specialist(s).

Party wall services are necessary for several reasons, primarily related to legal, safety, and neighbourly considerations when undertaking building work that might affect shared or adjacent structures. Here are the key reasons why you might need party wall services:

Statutory/legal requirements
Time effective method leaving complicated procedure in safe hands of experienced practitioner
Enabling building owners’ rights to undertake construction
Affording adjoining owners’ rights of protection and/or mitigating against unnecessary inconvenience and / or compensation issues in certain circumstances
Dispute resolution mechanisms built into party wall awards
Professional advice prevents problems

Party wall services and proper procedures are essential for ensuring legal compliance, protecting properties, and managing risks and resolving disputes effectively before, during, or after construction projects that affect shared buildings or are close to adjacent buildings and/or structures.

When might I need party wall services?

Here are the key reasons why you might need party wall services:

Preliminary party wall advice to understand possibilities and potential problems and/or solutions to party wall matters prior to designing building alterations.
To serve or respond to party wall notice(s) for building astride or up to the line of junction (boundary).
To serve or respond to party wall notice(s) for building an extension or structural alteration that affects the party wall or structure.
To serve or respond to party wall notice(s) for demolishing and rebuilding a party wall or structure.
To serve or respond to notice(s) for carrying out loft conversions that involve cutting into the party wall.
To serve or respond to party wall notice(s) for tasks like cutting into or cutting away from the party wall or structure.
To serve or respond to party wall notice(s) for excavating near a neighbouring building or structure
Party wall advice to understand and appropriately deal with party wall notice(s) just received from your neighbour or a surveyor acting on their behalf.
Party wall advice to understand and appropriately deal with your neighbours building works that have just started if of concern to you especially if the works have commenced without any prior notice.