Surrey & London: 07834 761 411
Surrey & London: 07834 761 411
We have asked Simon Burrage every question we could think of as homeowners, and about what we need to know about Party Wall Matters.
If your neighbour has built an extension and you share a party wall, boundary, fence or structure, then you should have legally been served a party wall agreement.
If your neighbour has commenced works without serving notice, perhaps because they are unaware of their obligations, it’s best to begin by sending them a friendly letter from an experienced surveyor, who can help resolve the situation. At the same time, keep any records of the parts of your property that might be at risk from any proposed works just in case anything goes wrong.
“Whose wall is it?” is the most common question any Party Wall Surveyor is asked. Usually, property owners think of their property in terms of its legal boundaries. The Party Wall law works differently. More.
Party Wall Disputes Resources For Surrey. List of blogs, guides, and links for help and advice on all property law matters, including the Party Wall Act. More.
Neighbours will need to get consent and serve a party wall notice for cutting into, altering, rebuilding or knocking down a party wall.
Neighbours will not have to inform you of minor works such as plastering, installing shelves, or replacing wiring. However, you should seek consent to paint a wall that lies on the boundary line.
The fence might be owned by your neighbour if it’s situated on their property line, which means you’ll need their permission before attaching anything to the wall.
Adjoining owners can either consent to the works or refuse the party wall agreement. When a neighbour disagrees with your party wall agreement, they are responsible for issuing a counter-notice requesting changes to the plans. Surveyors may be necessary at this point to invoke a party wall award.
Learn more:
If any one of the neighbours would like to build up to boundary line, they will require written permission from the other party. You cannot move or make alterations to anything near the boundary line without consulting the neighbour or reaching a formal party wall award.
How close to a neighbour’s boundary can I build?
You can build up to 50mm from the neighbouring boundary with planning permission.
Unfortunately, building owners who fail to serve a party wall notice are not penalised, so if your neighbour has already commenced work, you can only apply to the courts for an interim injunction preventing them from continuing.
If you share a flank wall with a neighbouring property or if it is formed as part of an adjoining structure, any structural work, such as installing beams, removing a chimney breast, or building an extension, might require a Party Wall Agreement under the 1996 Act.
Who pays for the party wall surveyor? In typical scenarios, if you are the building owner carrying out the work, you’ll be responsible for covering the cost of the neighbour’s party wall surveyor if they decide to appoint one. However, if the neighbour agrees to use the same surveyor as you (the agreed surveyor), then you’ll only need to cover one set of costs. Are there any exceptions? If your neighbour appoints an unnecessary surveyor or the fees are unreasonable, you can dispute the costs. The other exception is that if your neighbour was the one to initiatete the work, then they become the one responsible for the fees.
What is party wall insulation? It refers to materials that reduce sound and improve efficiency between two properties that share a wall, like in semi-detached or terraced homes.
From a party wall surveyor’s perspective, installing party wall insulation typically requires an agreement, which involves altering or adding to a shared wall. So, if you’re thinking of installing insulation, then you must get an agreement in place with the neighbours to avoid disputes. A party wall surveyor, in this instance, can help guide the process and ensure legal compliance.
See our free Party Wall Resource page for useful websites and suppliers to save you time and money.
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We cover all of Surrey and London and are also available via WhatsApp. Alternatively, please call 07834 761 411 or email Simon directly.
Offer: We answer common Party Wall questions in plain English, including terminology breakdowns, diagrams/infographics, and clear next steps.
Process: We explain what to do when works need a notice/agreement, how to respond (consent/dissent/counter-notice), and what to do if a neighbour starts work without serving notice (including escalation options).
Scope: We cover typical scenarios: extensions near shared walls/boundaries, altering/removing parts of a party wall, building to the boundary, flank-wall works, ignored notices, who pays surveyor fees, and when “minor works” don’t need notice.
Areas: We support party wall matters across Surrey and London, and we also signpost additional resources for deeper guidance.
