Understanding Party Wall Agreements
Need to make alterations to a party wall you share?
If you plan to build, amend, take out or extend a party wall, which tends to refer to a wall shared between two locations, or carry out certain excavations - you'll need a party wall surveyor to provide expert and impartial advice.
What’s A Party Wall?
In simple terms, a party wall divides the buildings of two owners with the boundary between ownerships usually, but not always, positioned at the centre of the wall. Section 20 of The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 recognises two different types of party walls:
Type A
A wall standing between the boundaries of land between two different owners, Type A party walls are usually found in walls separating terraced/semi-detached houses or walls that form the boundary between two gardens.
Type B
Type B party walls stand wholly on one owner’s land but are actually owned by at least two owners in order to separate their buildings from each other. Examples of this include where one neighbour has a building that relies structurally on a party wall that is owned by the other neighbour.
Do I Need One?
The following works require you to obtain a Party Wall Agreement:
● Any work to shared walls between semi-detached and terraced houses.
● Work involving shared party structures, such as floors between flats.
● Work to garden boundary walls.
● Excavation works close to, (within 3-6m), the party wall.
● Loft conversions that cut into a party wall.
● Inserting a damp proof course into a party wall.
● Making party walls thicker or higher.
● Building a second-storey extension above a shared wall.
● Building a new wall up to or off the party wall.
The Benefits
There are several benefits to negotiating a party wall agreement:
Prevent Delays
Obtaining the permission you need to get to work on your party wall alteration as quickly as possible will prevent any delays from occurring during the initial agreement process and moving forward.
Avoid Costly Legal Disputes
It's not uncommon for adjoining owners to raise issues relating to party wall matters, but a party wall agreement can help you reach an amicable compromise and prevent the need to go to court.
Understand Your Property's Condition
You don't need to risk causing damage to other aspects of your property when altering party walls because party wall surveyors can accurately assess your home's structural condition beforehand.
Simon Levy Associates are members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors as well as of the Academy of Experts. We’re a highly experienced party wall consultant who has provided administration and expert witness services in a range of highly complex party wall disputes where a certain skill set and knowledge is required. We pride ourselves on giving clients consistently excellent service wherever and whenever they need it. If you need professional help to reach a construction dispute resolution in Barnet, Watford or Borehamwood and the Home Counties as quickly as possible, we'll gladly arrange a consultation at a time that works with your busy schedule. Contact us today.
