CHIGWELL
THE PARTY WALL PEOPLE
We focus of implementing the Party Wall Etc. Act 1996 in the Chigwell area. We prepare and serve notices,
undertake schedules of condition and if required, produce and serve party wall agreements/awards.
Our 100% 5-star rating on Google will show you how others appreciate our professional, personal and expert service
We hold membership with the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors (FPWS) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
We carry Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
The Party Wall People are based in Chelmsford, Essex and travel all over the southeast of England.
If you have any questions about the party wall act, please feel free to contact us for a free, no obligation, discussion.
The most often asked question people in Chigwell asks us is - What is a party wall?
A ‘party’ wall is one that separates adjoining properties - which owners on either side have a legal interest. If one of the owners carries out works to the wall without the consent of their neighbour, then this is considered a trespass.
Another question we are asked is - What is the party wall act?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is an important piece of legislation for property owners to be aware of because it establishes a straight-forward legal framework. The act is sometimes called an enabling act as it is not there to stop works proceeding, but rather it enables construction works affecting properties on or near to shared boundaries.
By requiring prior notification and agreement between neighbours, ‘the Act’ helps prevent disputes and promotes cooperation during building projects. This protects both the rights of property owners undertaking construction and the rights of neighboring property owners, ensuring that any potential issues are addressed in a fair and transparent manner. Being aware of and complying with the act can save time, money, and potential conflicts between neighbours.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
COULD I JUST START WITHOUT A PARTY WALL AWARD?
You can’t start any of the notifiable works without a consent from your neighbour or until a Party Wall Award has been served. However, you may be able to do some works related to the project which have been approved by planning approval for example. Lots of people serve the notices and even get an award in place before planning is approved to save time.
WHO WILL PAY THE FEES?
Most of the time, the Surveyors fees are covered by the Building Owner. The cost of two different surveyors will usually be higher than that of an Agreed Surveyor. It is worth knowing that the time to agree the Party Wall Award might also be longer.
CAN I JUST SERVE MY OWN PARTY WALL NOTICE?
Yes, you are able to produce and serve your own notices… But if they are served incorrectly they are invalid, and you will need to start all over again which could delay the start of your project. Having this done early on by a Party Wall Surveyor will deal with this potential risk.
DO I NEED TO INFORM MY NEIGHBOUR IF I WANT TO PUT UP A SHELF OR MOVE AN ELECTRICAL SOCKET?
This sort of work would be considered to be minor and such works would not need to be notified under the Act.
IS A TIMBER FENCE A PARTY WALL?
No, although references are sometimes made to shared or 'party fences'. These do not fall under the Act..
WHEN IS IT BEST TO NOTIFY MY NEIGHBOURS?
Timing is really important, so reviewing your project with a Party Wall Surveyor to run through your project and check if any elements will require serving notice removes stress from the project early on, allowing you to concentrate on the rest of the job. We would recommend getting in touch as soon as a planning application has been submitted, if you intend to begin works promptly.
CAN MY NEIGHBOUR STOP MY PROJECT?
Your neighbour can’t stop you carrying out the project by not responding within the required timeframe. If this happens then the Act allows you to appoint another Surveyor on their behalf so that a Party Wall Award can be served. You can’t have an Agreed Surveyor in this scenario.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS IF I DON’T SERVE A NOTICE?
It is illegal to begin any notifiable works without a notice. Your neighbour has the right to serve an injunction and stop the work.
If you have done some work which might hinder your neighbour’s ability to have a project of their own, without serving the correct notice, you will be liable to compensate for any remediation or damages caused under common law. You will have to cover the cost for undoing this work and any related design fees.
CAN THE ACT BE USED TO RESOLVE A BOUNDARY DISPUTE?
No, The Act is not the tool to resolve boundary disputes and party wall surveyors have no powers to do so… The Act cannot be applied until a boundary dispute is resolved. In the case of a section 6 notice, which deals with excavations within a certain distance of the adjoining owner's property, the boundary location is irrelevant.