MALDON
THE PARTY WALL PEOPLE
Please get in touch if you are in Maldon and need help withe the Party Wall Etc. Act 1996 .
On your behalf we can prepare and serve party wall notices for you,
we can also undertake schedules of condition and if needed, serve party wall awards.
Our rating on Google demonstrates our expert service
We hold membership with the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors (FPWS) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
We hold both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurances.
The Party Wall People 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 consultation.
MY PROJECT IN MALDON IS SIMPLE
- DO I NEED A PARTY WALL AWARD?
A Party Wall Award is a legal document created under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 in England and Wales. When building works covered by the act may impact a shared wall or boundary and an agreement cannot be reached between the property owners, surveyors are appointed to settle the dispute and create the Party Wall Award.
A Party Wall Award typically includes:
Scope of Work
Details of the proposed building works that are notifiable under the act.
Rights and Responsibilities
Outlines the rights and responsibilities of each party involved in the construction project in Maldon.
Work Procedures
Specifies how the work will be carried out, including any necessary safeguards to protect the adjoining property.
Surveyors' Details
Identifies the appointed surveyors or a single agreed surveyor who will work through the process.
Timeframe
Sets a timeframe for the commencement and completion of the works in Maldon.
Access Arrangements
Addresses arrangements for access to the neighbouring property during the construction process.
Other Relevant Conditions
May include additional conditions and agreements as deemed necessary.
A Party Wall Award is a legally binding document, and both parties involved must adhere to its terms. It aims to ensure that the rights of all parties are protected and that the construction work proceeds with minimal disruption and risk of disputes.
If you would like to discuss your project with The Party Wall People today, please give us a call or email us now.
RESIDENTS OF MALDON HAVE ASKED US
CAN I 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 PERMISSION 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.
WHAT ABOUT A TIMBER FENCE - IS THAT A PARTY WALL?
No, although references are sometimes made to shared or 'party fences'. These do not fall under the Act..
WHEN DO I NEED 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 LOCATE A BOUNDARY?
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.