Appoint a Party Wall surveyor

AC Design Solution Ltd
Terms & Conditions of Appointment – Party Wall Surveying Services

(Institute of Party Wall Surveyors)

1. Scope of Services
Work Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996

1.1 AC Design Solution Ltd (“ACDS”) provides professional Party Wall surveying services solely in accordance with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (“the Act”).
1.2 ACDS surveyors act in accordance with guidance from the Institute of Party Wall Surveyors.
1.3 Where instructed, ACDS will review a valid written appointment and ensure, where reasonably possible, that ownership details correspond with information provided by the client.

2. Acting for the Building Owner

2.1 Reviewing ownership information provided and, where required, checking adjoining ownership through Land Registry searches.
2.2 Preparing and serving all relevant Party Wall notices on adjoining owners.
2.3 Carrying out internal schedules of condition of adjoining properties likely to be affected, where access is provided. If access is refused or not made available, limited or external records will be undertaken.
2.4 Liaising with architects, structural engineers and contractors to obtain drawings, construction details and method statements required under the Act.
2.5 Preparing and agreeing Party Wall Awards with any adjoining owner’s surveyor, where applicable.
2.6 Signing and serving Award(s) on all relevant owners in accordance with statutory requirements and, where permitted, electronically under the Electronic Communications Order 2016.
2.7 Where damage is alleged and where appointed, carrying out further inspections and agreeing appropriate remedial works or compensation in accordance with the Award.

3. Acting for the Adjoining Owner

3.1 Reviewing Party Wall notices served by or on behalf of the building owner and advising on validity and implications.
3.2 Undertaking an inspection of the adjoining owner’s property and preparing or agreeing a schedule of condition. Where access is refused or not reasonably possible, an external inspection or limited record will be undertaken.
3.3 Reviewing structural drawings, method statements and proposals reasonably necessary for the Award.
3.4 Agreeing the terms of the Party Wall Award with the building owner’s surveyor.
3.5 Signing and serving the Award on the adjoining owner.
3.6 Carrying out interim or final inspections where required or permitted under the Award.
3.7 Liaising with the building owner’s surveyor about concerns that fall within the scope of the Act or Award.

4. Acting as Agreed Surveyor

4.1 Acting impartially for both owners once a valid written appointment as Agreed Surveyor has been received from all relevant parties.
4.2 Ensuring, where reasonably possible, that the ownership details supplied are consistent with Land Registry information.
4.3 Preparing schedules of condition where access is provided; preparing external/limited records where access is refused.
4.4 Reviewing drawings, structural information and method statements reasonably required to prepare an Award.
4.5 Preparing and serving a fair and impartial Award in accordance with the Act.
4.6 Preparing any necessary further Awards (for example, for variations or damage) where required under the Act.
4.7 Serving the Award electronically where permitted by the owners.
4.8 Conducting final inspections where provided for within the Award and where ACDS remains appointed.

5. Licences and Access (Within Scope of the Act)

5.1 ACDS may prepare access-related provisions within Party Wall Awards (such as temporary access, oversail or scaffolding) only where such provisions fall within the statutory powers of the Act.
5.2 Any non-Party-Wall licences (e.g., crane oversail, general access licences, scaffold licences outside the Act) are not included unless separately quoted and agreed in writing.

6. Exclusions

AC Design Solution Ltd does NOT:

act as a Third Surveyor under any circumstances;

undertake boundary surveys or provide boundary dispute resolution;

provide services outside the scope of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 unless separately agreed;

guarantee access to neighbouring properties;

provide legal advice (only professional Party Wall surveying services).

7. Fees and Charges

7.1 Fees are as set out in our quotation or agreed in writing.
7.2 Work carried out from the point of appointment is chargeable.
7.3 If a fixed fee becomes invalid due to changes in scope, delays, variations or additional work, hourly rates may apply.
7.4 Invoices are payable upon receipt and no later than 14 days.
7.5 Late payment may incur interest and administration fees.
7.6 Cancellation after written appointment may incur a minimum £100 + VAT administration fee.

8. Access, Safety & Limitations

8.1 Safe and timely access must be arranged by the appointing owner.
8.2 ACDS may suspend work if health and safety concerns arise.
8.3 Inspections may be limited where access is refused or restricted.
8.4 External or partial schedules may be used in Awards where access was denied.

9. Copyright

All drawings, schedules, photographs and documents prepared by ACDS remain our copyright.
A licence is granted for Party Wall purposes only.

10. Dispute Handling

10.1 Any dispute arising in connection with service delivery (not Party Wall matters under the Act) will be handled under ACDS’s internal complaint process.
10.2 Party Wall disputes are dealt with strictly under the provisions of the Act.

11. Data Protection

All personal data is handled in accordance with GDPR and is stored securely for statutory periods.
We do not share client information except where required by the Act or with the owner's consent.

12. Notices

Serving of notices and Awards may be by hand, post, or electronic communication where permission is granted.

13. Governing Law

These terms are governed exclusively by the laws of England and Wales.

14. Complaints

If you wish to make a complaint, please contact:

AC Design Solution Ltd
📧 sales@acdesignsolution.com

📞 020 8152 4006

We will acknowledge all complaints within 5 working days.