"An Act to make provision in respect of party walls, and excavation and construction in proximity to certain buildings or structures; and for connected purposes; and includes a framework for the resolution of disputes."

Planning building work?

If you are a property owner in England or Wales who wants to undertake a construction project (a Building Owner), we offer pre-notification advice and guidance and can draft and serve the required notices under the Act on your behalf as your agent.

Received a notice?

If you are an Adjoining Owner who has been notified, we can help you assess the validity of the notice, the potential effects of the planned works, and highlight other aspects for you to consider to enable you to make a informed response. We can also act a your agent and respond to the notice on your behalf.

In the event of a dispute arising under the Act:

Our principal, Andrew McAllister, can act as Building Owner's Appointed Surveyor, Adjoining Owner's Appointed Surveyor or as an Agreed Surveyor under section 10(1) of the Act.

Andrew is an experienced party wall practitioner and is regularly selected by other surveyors to act as a Third Surveyor in accordance with section 10(1)(b). 

Type of work covered by the Act:

The Act covers three distinct types of work; new building on the line of junction between properties; alterations to party structures (usually walls but may also be floors); and excavations close to neighbouring properties.

Typical examples include:

• Building a new wall on the boundary;
• Cutting into a party wall for the purposes of installing beams or flashings/weatherings;
• Cutting away projections from a party wall such as chimney breasts or internal walls;
• Underpinning a party wall;
• Raising a party wall (i.e. to form a dormer roof extension);
• Excavating for and construction of foundations within 3m or 6m of a neighbouring building or structure and at certain relative levels specified by the Act.

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