Party Wall Agreements Explained for London Homeowners

Many London homes share walls, boundaries or foundations with a neighbour. When building work affects those shared elements, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out a process for notifying your neighbour and agreeing how the work will be carried out. This guide is general information, so for a specific property you should take advice from a party wall surveyor.

When the Act may apply

• Cutting into or building on a shared wall, for example inserting steel beams for a loft or rear extension

• Building a new wall on or at the boundary line

• Excavating close to a neighbouring building, such as digging new foundations deeper than theirs

The main types of notice

• Party structure notice, normally served at least two months before work begins

• Adjacent excavation notice, normally served at least one month before work begins

• Line of junction notice for building new walls at the boundary, also normally served one month beforehand

What happens after notice is served

Your neighbour can consent in writing, or they can dissent. If they do not respond within 14 days, a dispute is treated as having arisen. In that case, surveyors are appointed to agree a party wall award, which sets out how the work will be done, when it can be done and how the neighbouring property will be protected.

Who pays

The person carrying out the work normally pays for the reasonable costs of the surveyors involved. It helps to allow time and budget for this in the overall project plan.

Separate from planning

Party wall matters are separate from planning permission and Building Regulations. Having one does not remove the need for the others. Serving notices early and talking to neighbours before the formal paperwork arrives usually makes the process smoother.

If you are planning an extension or loft conversion, we can explain when party wall notices are likely to be needed and when to involve a surveyor. See our house extensions service.

Thinking about a project in London? Get in touch with Tota Design & Build to talk it through.