What is a Party Wall Notice?
A Party Wall Notice is a formal written notification sent to the adjoining owner(s) (your neighbour(s)) when your planned works fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It’s usually the first legal step in the party wall process and is designed to make sure neighbours are informed, have the opportunity to respond, and—if needed—can have protections put in place before work begins.
When do you need to serve a notice?
You normally need to serve notice before starting notifiable works such as:
- Building a new wall at the boundary (up to the line of junction or astride it)
- Altering, cutting into, repairing, raising, underpinning, or rebuilding an existing party wall/party structure
- Excavating near a neighbour’s foundations where the excavation falls within the Act’s prescribed distance/depth rules (commonly relevant for extensions, basements, and underpinning)
If your project includes structural changes, steel beams, loft conversions, extensions, or significant groundwork, it’s worth checking early whether notice is required.
What should the notice include?
A compliant notice should be clear, specific, and easy for the adjoining owner to understand. It should typically include:
- Your name and address (the building owner)
- The address of the property where work is planned (if different)
- A description of the proposed works (the nature and extent)
- Where the works will take place (e.g., “to the party wall between No. 10 and No. 12”)
- Proposed start date (and where possible, an estimated programme/duration)
- Supporting information such as drawings, sketches, structural details, or method notes (strongly recommended, even if not always strictly required)
- A request for the adjoining owner’s response and confirmation of the 14-day response window
The clearer your notice is, the more likely you are to get a quick response and avoid delays.
How can you serve the notice?
A Party Wall Notice can usually be served by:
- Hand delivery
- Post (recorded delivery is commonly used to help evidence service)
- Email, but only if the neighbour has agreed to receive notices electronically
Whatever method you use, it’s important to keep proof of service—for example, a certificate of posting, delivery confirmation, or a signed acknowledgement.
What happens after you serve notice?
Adjoining owners have 14 days to reply. They can:
- Consent: They agree to the works going ahead.
- Dissent: They do not consent and want surveyor involvement (this starts the dispute resolution procedure under the Act).
- Do nothing: If they don’t respond within 14 days, this is treated as a dissent under the Act, and surveyor(s) may need to be appointed.
If there’s a dissent (or no response), the next stage is usually the appointment of either one Agreed Surveyor (for both parties) or two surveyors (one each), who may then agree a Party Wall Award setting out how the works must be carried out.
Why serving notice correctly matters
Getting the notice right helps you:
- Protect your right to proceed lawfully with notifiable works
- Reduce the risk of injunctions, disputes, and delays
- Create a proper paper trail if issues arise later
- Maintain better neighbour relations by showing transparency and professionalism
Need help drafting or serving a Party Wall Notice?
If you want support identifying which notice you need, preparing the wording, or managing neighbour responses, email mail@howorth.uk with your address, a summary of the works, your intended start date, and any drawings/plans you have.