Party Wall Solicitors

A party wall is any structure that straddles the boundary between two properties. It can be: 

• Vertical, as in the wall between semi-detached houses 
• Horizontal, such as the floor of a flat
• A standalone boundary structure that separates land from the adjoining property

Any work that you or your neighbour carries out to a party wall can potentially lead to a party wall dispute. For example, you would not be happy if your neighbour did shoddy work that affected the structural integrity of your home. 

The most common type of dispute occurs when someone does work to a shared wall without their neighbour’s permission, or a neighbour refuses to give consent to the proposed building work. The procedure for resolving these disputes is set out in the Party Wall Act 1996. 

The Party Wall Act 1996 is a legal framework for minimising party wall disputes. It enables someone to make adjustments to the full thickness of a party wall without trespassing on their neighbour’s property. 

The Act does a number of things:  

• Sets out what type of building work can and cannot take place regarding a party wall
• Requires the person carrying out renovations to give neighbours two months’ notice in writing of their plans
• Permits the adjacent owner to consent or object to the renovations within 14 days of receiving the notice
• Sets out a dispute resolution procedure where an independent surveyor will make an award regarding the details of the works, timescales and protective measures needed for adjacent properties – rather like a judge would if the matter went to court.

The Act is a complicated piece of legislation. There are different types of notice that require different time periods for when the work can begin. Our team can provide expert advice about party walls and make sure you’re following the correct procedure from both sides of the fence.

Changes to a property which might fall under the Party Wall Act include:

• Demolishing a party wall or any part of it
• Cutting into a party wall
• Changing the structural support beams, such as putting in RSJs
• Constructing a new building at the boundary of two properties, including a garage or shed
• Carrying out a loft conversion.
• Digging beneath the foundations of a party wall, such as creating a basement
• Damp proof installation

Permission is not normally required for routine changes to a party wall such as changing an electrical socket, unless the work involves removing a section of the wall.

Before doing any work that affects a party wall, you must check whether your project is covered by the Party Wall Act. Your local planning or building control departments will not tell you, so it is essential to take legal advice from a specialist party wall solicitor.

In some party wall disputes, if work has already started, you may have to ask the court for an injunction. This will stop the work temporarily while you agree what needs to be done to protect your property.  

The cost of obtaining a party wall injunction can usually be recovered from your neighbour if the judge grants you the injunction.

A party wall Award is  made by an independent surveyor in a party wall dispute. It defines what work can be done with a timeline for completion. It will also contain a “schedule of condition” which describes the condition of the property prior to work commencing to make sure there is no damage.

Party Wall Awards can be fairly complex documents, and sometimes the surveyor’s award is not what you were hoping for. There’s only a very short time to challenge an award you don’t agree with so you must be ready to lodge an appeal within just a few days. 

As party wall specialists, we understand the specific technical requirements for appeals. See how our leading property litigation lawyers can help by giving us a call today.