PARTY WALL MATTERS, SOUTH BERMONDSEY

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Party Wall South Bermondsey

Welcome to Blakeney Leigh Ltd, your trusted Chartered Building Surveyors in Greenwich SE10. We specialise in Party Wall services, ensuring a smooth and compliant process fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Whether you’re a property owner or adjoining neighbour, we simplify the complexities, providing professional expertise for seamless projects

Party Wall matters may arise in various scenarios, such as property renovations, extensions, or structural changes. If you’re planning construction work that involves shared walls or boundaries, or if your neighbour is initiating such projects, it’s crucial to understand and address Party Wall obligations. At Blakeney Leigh Ltd, we guide you through the process, ensuring compliance and fostering positive neighbourly relations.

At Blakeney Leigh Ltd, we navigate these sections with precision, ensuring compliance and a smooth process for all parties involved.

Meet Sam, MFPWS

At Blakeney Leigh, all our Surveyors are Members of The Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors, ensuring that a level of training and expertise is maintained. As a RICS regulated firm we also follow RICS Party Wall guidance. Sam Geoghegan, MFPWS, leads our team of Surveying Services. Sam has been a member of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors since 2016 and has carried out over 200 domestic and commercial Party Wall Awards. Get in contact with him should you wish to know anything further.

If you are carrying out any kind of extension including loft you will need to check if your works are Party Wall notifiable and serve your adjoining owners (neighbours) suitable notices. If you are unsure, we can provide a no obligation review of your plans to check what if any notices are required.

If so, the works may fall under the Party Wall Act and require them to serve you appropriate notices to protect the Party Wall. If you are unsure if the proposed works a notifiable, please email us a copy of the plans and we will carry out a free no obligation check.

 ‘Building Owner’ who plans to undertake work regulated by the Act is required to notify all ‘Adjoining Owners’ through a written notice.

While there is no prescribed format for this notice, it should encompass the following details:

  • The names and addresses of all owners (if there are joint owners, all must be included).
  • The address of the property where the work will be conducted (which may differ from the owner’s current address).
  • A comprehensive description of the intended work (including plans, if necessary, and any specifics regarding excavation).
  • The proposed commencement date for the work (this date must fall after the relevant notice period).
  • The notice should be dated, and it is recommended to include a clear indication that it serves as a notice under the Party Wall Act.

Typically, a minimum of two months’ notice must be provided prior to the intended start of work on the party wall. The notice remains valid for one year, thus it should not be issued too far in advance.

Adjoining owner(s) have a period of 14 days to respond. If they consent to the proposed work, such agreement must be documented in writing. Should an adjoining owner explicitly disagree or fail to respond within 14 days of receiving the notice, they are considered to have dissented, resulting in a statutory ‘dispute.’ Additionally, adjoining owners may issue a counter notice requesting further work to be included for their own benefit and at their own expense.

Each owner is required to appoint a party wall surveyor to represent them individually or to mutually agree on a single surveyor to act on behalf of both parties. If two surveyors are appointed to represent each owner, they must select a third surveyor. This third surveyor will be consulted if the two surveyors cannot reach an agreement or if either owner or surveyor requests the third surveyor to make an Award.

In this context, a surveyor refers to any individual other than the property owners themselves. It is advisable to select a qualified professional, such as a chartered construction expert, who possesses a thorough understanding of the relevant legislation. This individual may be a building surveyor, structural engineer, or architect with specialized expertise in party wall issues.

The surveyor (or surveyors) is responsible for resolving the dispute by issuing an ‘award’ (commonly referred to as a ‘party wall award’). This document outlines:

  • The specific work to be undertaken.
  • The schedule and methodology for the work, including restrictions on noisy activities.
  • Any additional measures required to prevent damage, such as protective precautions.
  • A record of the condition of the neighbouring property prior to the commencement of work, which is beneficial for identifying and attributing any potential damage to adjacent properties.
  • Provision for the surveyor to access the site during the work to ensure compliance with the award.

Typically, the Building Owner is responsible for all expenses related to the preparation of the award, including the fees of the adjoining owner’s surveyors, provided that the works are solely for the benefit of the Building Owner.

We do. We also look after Party Wall Matters in Bickley, Downham and Sundridge.

Section 1: Line of Junction

  • Involves building on or at the boundary line between two properties.
  • Relevant when constructing a new wall or making structural alterations to an existing shared wall.

Section 2: Building on the Line of Junction

  • Specifically addresses the construction of a Party Wall on the boundary line.
  • Outlines the process for building a new Party Wall directly on the boundary.

Section 6: Adjacent Excavation and Construction

  • Deals with construction work on an owner’s land that might affect an adjoining owner’s property.
  • Covers measures to prevent damage during construction, particularly relevant for deep excavations and foundations.

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