BRAINTREE
THE PARTY WALL PEOPLE
We focus on implementing the Party Wall Etc. Act 1996 in the Braintree area. We can produce and serve party wall notices,
undertake schedules of condition and if required, produce and serve party wall awards (party wall agreements).
Our 100% 5-star rating on Google speaks to our professional, personal and expert service
​We hold memberships 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 to client’s premises all over the southeast of England.
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If you have any questions about the party wall act, please feel free to contact us for a free discussion.
The Party Wall Etc. Act 1996 sets out to protect property owners' interests when a project is required, while at the same time ensuring that the project can continue in a timely manner.
The Act requires that when an owner of a property carries out certain works such as digging a foundation within 3m of their neighbour's property, removing a chimney from a party wall, cutting into a party wall for steelwork or building a new wall on the boundary (line of junction), they inform all affected neighbours of their intention by serving the correct notices.
BRAINTREE: A SURVEYOR'S VIEW
Braintree’s residential landscape is a fascinating mix of medieval timber-framed heritage in the town centre and expansive 20th-century developments like Great Notley. When working on older properties near the High Street, we often find that party walls aren't just boundaries—they are integral structural components of "jettied" buildings.
For homeowners in the modern, newer estates, the challenge is often the uniform nature of the housing; a single extension can have a significant visual and structural impact on a direct neighbour, making a clear Schedule of Condition vital to prevent disputes over minor settlement cracks.
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The ground in Braintree is primarily composed of Lowestoft Formation (Chalky Till). While this provides a generally stable base for construction, it is often interspersed with pockets of sand and gravel. This can lead to "variable" ground conditions across a single building plot. As surveyors, we pay close attention to foundation designs here, ensuring that the proposed depth is sufficient to bypass any loose surface deposits, thereby protecting the integrity of the adjoining owner’s property.
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Feel free to get in touch for free, straightforward advice on party wall matters.
