EXTENSIONS

Planning an extension, loft conversion, or a new build? You may be legally required to serve a Party Wall Notice on your adjoining owner before starting work.

We can guide you through the entire process — from serving valid Party Wall Notices to preparing legally binding Party Wall Awards.

⭐ Why do I need to serve a Party Wall Notice for excavations?

This is the “etc” part of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

The Act requires you to serve notice if you plan to excavate:

within 3 metres of a neighbour’s structure, and deeper than their foundations

within 6 metres, if the works meet the 45-degree rule

This applies whether the neighbouring structure is a house, garage, outbuilding, shed, conservatory, or even a garden wall.

⭐ How long does an Adjoining Owner have to respond?

Once a Notice is served, the Adjoining Owner has 14 days to either:

Consent to the works

or

Dissent and require a Party Wall Surveyor

If they do not reply, this becomes a deemed dissent, and a 10-day reminder notice must be served.

⭐ What happens after the 10-day Notice?

The Adjoining Owner must either:

Appoint one of our surveyors as the Agreed Surveyor, or

Appoint their own surveyor

If they still do not respond, you (the Building Owner) are legally obliged to appoint a surveyor on their behalf—something we can handle for you.

In this situation, you are responsible for both surveyors’ fees, as required by the Act.

⭐ What is a Party Wall Award?

A Party Wall Award is a legally binding document prepared by a Party Wall Surveyor.

It:

Authorises the works covered by the Act

Protects both owners’ rights

Sets conditions for how the works should be carried out

Includes a Schedule of Condition of the neighbour’s property

Helps avoid disputes and makes the process legally compliant