Structural Survey London

THE PARTY WALL etc. ACT 1996: Click here to download the PDF file. File size=597kb

Our skills as party wall surveyor
As well as party wall surveyor, we are also specialist in all aspects of building works such as structural calculation and detailing, building regulation, specification, detailing and structural surveys in London. So, as party wall surveyor, we will know if your builder or your neighbour’s builder is building to the rule and regulation and to the British standard. We will make sure that your building is well protected against any building work.

What is a Party Wall Agreement?
A Party Wall Agreement (technically called an “award”) is the document produced by the two party wall surveyors (or the “agreed surveyor”) acting for the respective owners.

The award usually consist of three parts:
1. The award itself i.e. a set of guidelines governing how the proposed works should progress
2. A “schedule of condition” of the adjoining property, often supported by a set of photographs
3. Drawing(s) showing the details of the proposed works

Other items covered in the award include:
• Brief details of the proposed works
• Working hours; normally 8am to 5.30pm weekdays only of residential work
• Assurances regarding the contractor’s public liability insurance
• Indemnities by the building owner in favour of the adjoining owner
• Access arrangement for the surveyors
• A time limit for commencement of the works, usually 12 months
• The adjoining owner’s surveyor’s fee
Once the award has been agreed between the two surveyors it is “published”. In practical terms this means that a signed and witnessed copy is sent to the two owners by their appointed surveyors. Although there is a 14 day right of appeal if either owner believes the award to have been improperly drawn up the award this is seldom observed.
An additional copy of the award is given to the building owner to be passed on to their contractor.

Who benefits from the Act
1- For the Building Owner:-
a) Ensures that damage to the adjoining owner’s property is properly attributed
b) Provides rights of access to the adjoining owner’s property to execute work in pursuance of the Act
2- For the Adjoining Owner:-
a) Limits the hours during which the notifiable work can be executed.
b) Includes provisions for making good damages without the need for a civil claim.
c) Provides assurances that their land or buildings will not be compromised during the course of the work.
d) Ensures that the Building Owner’s contractor has suitable public liability insurance

Although the adjoining owner receives the greater number of benefits those received by the building owner can be very important, particularly in protecting themselves from spurious claims. It is amazing how an adjoining owner will swear blind that the crack in their building never existed before all that banging started next door.

The only situations where the benefits gained from a party wall award do not outweigh the cost of preparing it would be with minor works. Examples include re-pointing, renewal of flashings or the insertion of a damp proof courses. These are all tasks where technically a party wall notice should be served but the likelihood of significant damage to a neighbour’s property is minimal.

Note: Payments can be made by credit cards.
Our structural calculation services are now available to customers throughout Great Britain (UK). Please call in regards to our structural surveys in London.