If you don't know what a Party Wall Notice is, one dropping through your letter box can seem daunting. Simply put, it's a notice served under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a notice from the owner of a neighbouring property describing works they are about to carry out that may have an impact on you as the adjoining property owner. This could be anything from the complete redevelopment of the property to digging out a basement or loft extension works.

Once notice has been received, you then have 14 days to respond in one of three ways:

• You can consent to the work completely.
• You can dissent to the work being carried out and appoint your own surveyor to review the works taking place.
• You can dissent to the work and appoint the same surveyor as your neighbour. This surveyor is legally required to act impartially.

If a surveyor is appointed, they will review the work proposals and create a document called an ‘Award’. The Award will take into consideration how your property may be affected by the works, how long it will take to complete and the manner in which it will be carried out.

The Award will also contain a record of the condition that your property is in before the works take place, so if there is any damage caused as a result, it can easily be identified. It may also deal with the issue of access, which can include entry on to or over your property to facilitate the works.

The Award may also determine who pays the surveyors’ fees and, in certain circumstances, who will pay for the works. However, payment for every job is different, and when calculating fees it often depends on a number of factors to determine what the final bill will be. In most cases though, the owner serving the notice will pay all expenses.

So with the correct knowledge and some expert advice, a Party Wall Notice can usually be resolved simply and quickly, with a good outcome for both you and your neighbour.

Further information

Read more about Savills Neighbourly Matters.