ROMFORD
THE PARTY WALL PEOPLE
We are experts in implementing the Party Wall Etc. Act 1996 in Romford. We can prepare and serve party wall notices,
we undertake schedules of condition and if required, produce and serve party wall awards.
Our 100% 5-star rating on Google speaks to 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 to client’s premises 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.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 covers specific aspects of construction work; changes to an existing party structures (shared walls for example), the construction of new walls at (or next to) the boundary and excavation within 3 or 6 metres of a shared or adjoining structure. An owner proposing to undertake any such work (referred to in the act as the building owner) is required to notify in writing their neighbours.
If the owner of the neighbouring property (known as the adjoining owner) does not respond to or consent to the notice, a dispute arises and both parties must appoint a surveyor. They can also appoint a single ‘agreed’ surveyor. The surveyors produce a document called a party wall award sometimes referred to as a party wall agreement.
The award confirms the building owner’s right to undertake the work but only in a way that minimises the risk of damage and ensures that the occupants of the adjoining owner’s property do not suffer unnecessary inconvenience. As part of the process, the existing condition of the adjoining owner’s property is recorded so that if damage is reported either during or following the works, there is a prior record to check it against.
If you need help with any of the above, we can provide you with a fee proposal that is bespoke to your project - CONTACT US
PEOPLE IN ROMFORD 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.