When you are considering carrying out work on a property, whether it is your own or that of a client, it is important to take into consideration whether any of the planned work affects a party wall. A party wall is defined as any wall that links two or more properties so that the wall cannot be said to belong wholly to any one property owner. In any terraced or semi-detached property at least some of the walls will therefore inevitably be party walls, as will several of the walls in a flat or maisonette.
Work that impacts a party wall is specifically dealt with in law under the Party Wall Act (1996) and there are strict requirements about steps you must take before beginning any work. In many cases, this requires a professional survey and Anderson Wilde & Harris have extensive experience in conducting such surveys for individuals as well as some of the UK’s largest developers.
When you might need a Party Wall survey
The Party Wall Act covers any work that could affect both sides of the wall, for example demolishing or rebuilding it, inserting damp proof course or cutting into it to insert a beam. Whenever work affects the co-owning party you must obtain their consent before it is carried out. This is done through serving a written notice to all the owners of affected properties. The notice must be served at least two months before work commences.
Any neighbour who does not respond in writing within 14 days of receiving the notice is considered as dissenting to the work. When there is a dispute to the proposed work, the Party Wall Act requires the appointment of at least one surveyor. This could be a single surveyor who is appointed by both parties and acts impartially, or it may be that each party appoints their own surveyor.
Bloomsbury Plaza Residents Association
It has been a great pleasure to work with you since AWH commenced the management. We have all been much impressed by AWH.
It has been a great pleasure to work with you since AWH commenced the management. We have all been much impressed by AWH.
Hanover Gate Mansions
Thank you for doing such a great job of managing the properties. Before you took over we always noticed that there seemed to be an unnecessary amount of gardening being done - at an excessive cost per year. We're pleased to see that the front garden looks just as nice but you've significantly cut the costs.
Removing the fire escapes, as well as improving safety will be a significant improvement to the light quality in the flats below, and will reduce the damage to the windows below.
- Lessee at Hanover Gate Mansions
Thank you for doing such a great job of managing the properties. Before you took over we always noticed that there seemed to be an unnecessary amount of gardening being done - at an excessive cost per year. We're pleased to see that the front garden looks just as nice but you've significantly cut the costs.
Removing the fire escapes, as well as improving safety will be a significant improvement to the light quality in the flats below, and will reduce the damage to the windows below.
- Lessee at Hanover Gate Mansions
Climpson & Co. Limited
What can I say but you're doing a fantastic Job and we appreciate all you're doing for us.
What can I say but you're doing a fantastic Job and we appreciate all you're doing for us.
Graham Properties
I would like to take this opportunity to comment that having dealt with multiple managing agents over the years, it was a breath of fresh air to deal with your company who sent everything across very precisely and efficiently and made the whole process extremely straight forward and easy, I very much appreciate it.
I would like to take this opportunity to comment that having dealt with multiple managing agents over the years, it was a breath of fresh air to deal with your company who sent everything across very precisely and efficiently and made the whole process extremely straight forward and easy, I very much appreciate it.
Chancellor Court N3
Moving the managing agents of our block of flats to Clive Greenwood and his team at Anderson Wilde & Harris, has proved a breath of fresh air. They have grasped the various inherited nuances that came with the block. They are swift to respond to every request or incident be they current, or future planned upgrade issues. The latter fully supported by an excellent AWH Building Projects Management team. They answer their telephones without having to go through time consuming switchboards, and reply almost instantly to messages and emails. Rapid communication and good advice has been the key for us and we are always felt to be important. What more should one wish for?
Moving the managing agents of our block of flats to Clive Greenwood and his team at Anderson Wilde & Harris, has proved a breath of fresh air. They have grasped the various inherited nuances that came with the block. They are swift to respond to every request or incident be they current, or future planned upgrade issues. The latter fully supported by an excellent AWH Building Projects Management team. They answer their telephones without having to go through time consuming switchboards, and reply almost instantly to messages and emails. Rapid communication and good advice has been the key for us and we are always felt to be important. What more should one wish for?
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How Anderson Wilde & Harris can help
If you are looking for a Party Wall surveyor, London-based Anderson Wilde & Harris is here to help. Our Chartered Surveyors have worked on projects of all sizes and fill a vital role in the process of making changes to a party wall. Their vast experience in acting as an impartial party and mediator between the shared owners of the affected properties has helped hundreds of cases come to a successful conclusion.
Get expert advice from our team of professional surveyors. Call 0800 071 5517 or email admin@awh.co.uk.