INDEPENDENT ARTICLES, CLEAR INSIGHTS, STRAIGHTFORWARD ADVICE FOR INFORMED PROPERTY DECISIONS.

Foundation design is one of the areas where party wall questions become technical very quickly. Owners often ask: “Can my foundations project under my neighbour’s land if I’m building on the boundary?” The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 does provide a limited right to...

Neighbour disagreements about building work can escalate quickly—especially when the work is close to a shared wall, a boundary, or the neighbour’s foundations. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 exists to reduce that risk by setting out a clear, step-by-step procedure for...

Home improvement and redevelopment projects often take place right up against neighbouring land—extensions, loft conversions, rear additions, new foundations, garden walls, and structural alterations. If your proposed works are close enough to a shared wall or a...

This FAQ is written for both Building Owners (the person doing the works) and Adjoining Owners (the neighbour affected by the works). It explains the most common Party Wall topics in plain language and focuses on the practical outcomes you’re likely to face. Q1) What...

Serving a Party Wall Notice doesn’t have to be daunting, but it does need to be done correctly. The key is understanding when the Act applies, who must be notified, what the notice must contain, and what happens next depending on how your neighbour responds. This...

When a Party Wall Notice is served under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, many owners assume there are only two outcomes: “agree” or “disagree”. In reality, the choice between consenting to a notice and proceeding under a Party Wall Award is a decision about how much...

If you own property—especially if you’re building a portfolio—there’s a strong chance that at some point you’ll receive a Party Wall Notice from a neighbour. The notice will set out building works they intend to carry out, and it’s been served because those works...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a statute that sets out a clear process for carrying out certain building works close to, on, or affecting neighbouring properties. Its main aim is to reduce conflict and provide a structured route to agreement when construction could...

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, when each owner appoints their own surveyor, the two surveyors must select a Third Surveyor. The Third Surveyor is not appointed because everyone expects a problem. They are appointed as part of the statutory structure under Section...