Party Wall Surveyor
Party Wall surveying for extensions, loft and mansard conversions, basement works, chimney removals and structural alterations across London. We act for building owners, adjoining owners and as an agreed surveyor, with architectural and structural engineering support available in-house.
Party Wall Advice Based on the Work You Are Actually Building
A Party Wall appointment should not begin and end with a notice template. The surveyor needs to understand the proposed construction, the neighbouring property and the risks created by the work.
We review the architectural drawings, structural design, foundation depths, excavation details, beam positions, chimney alterations and boundary arrangement before advising on the required notices. Where a design issue affects the Party Wall process, our architectural and structural teams can respond directly rather than leaving several separate consultants to resolve it between themselves.
This coordinated approach is particularly useful on mansard conversions, lower-ground-floor extensions, basements, retaining walls and projects involving several types of notifiable work.
Tell us about your property and plans. We will confirm the likely scope and next steps.
Service facts
Party Wall Surveying by Project Type
House Extensions
Rear, side-return and wraparound extensions commonly involve new foundations close to a neighbouring structure, walls built at the boundary and steelwork supported within an existing party wall. We review the proposed foundation levels and wall positions before deciding which notices are required.
Loft and Mansard Conversions
Loft work often requires steel beams or floor structure to be supported from a party wall. Mansard roofs can also involve raising, exposing or enclosing onto an existing party wall. The Party Wall Award may need to deal with beam pockets, weather protection, flashings, chimney alterations, vibration and any enclosure contribution arising from earlier work.
Basement and Lower-Ground-Floor Works
Basement excavation, retaining walls and underpinning require closer technical scrutiny because the depth, sequence and temporary support can directly affect neighbouring land and structures. Section 6 notices must be supported by plans and sections showing the proposed excavation and foundations.
Chimney-Breast Removal and Structural Alterations
Cutting into a party wall for steelwork, removing chimney breasts and making structural openings can fall within the Act. The design needs to show how loads are supported and how the party wall will be made good after the work.
New Walls at the Boundary
A wall may be proposed wholly on the building owner’s land or astride the boundary. A new wall cannot be built astride the boundary without the adjoining owner’s written consent. Where consent is not given, the wall must remain wholly on the building owner’s land.
New Builds and Major Refurbishments
Larger schemes can affect several adjoining owners and combine boundary work, excavation and alterations to existing party structures. Early coordination helps prevent separate notices, drawing revisions and surveyor negotiations from disrupting the construction programme.
Party Wall Projects Involving Real Design and Construction Decisions
Our Party Wall work is supported by experience in planning, architectural design and structural engineering. The examples shown here involve live residential projects where the Award had to respond to the actual construction rather than rely on standard wording.
Client Reviews for Party Wall Surveying
Read feedback from clients who appointed AC Design Solution for Party Wall notices, Schedules of Condition, Awards and coordinated architectural or structural advice.
How Our Party Wall Review Changed the Boundary Design at Vivian Road
AC Design Solution was initially appointed to obtain planning permission for a substantial residential development at 16 Vivian Road, Tower Hamlets. The project included a lower-ground-floor extension, a third-floor extension and the creation of a mansard roof. We subsequently prepared the architectural drawings, structural design and Party Wall information.
The works involved new steel beams, chimney-breast removal, excavation, retaining structures, work at the line of junction and enclosure onto a party wall that had previously been raised by the adjoining owner. Notices were served under Sections 1, 2 and 6 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. The adjoining owner dissented and appointed a separate surveyor.
Establishing the Correct Boundary-Wall Position
During the Party Wall process, the surveyors questioned whether the proposed rear wall was shown wholly on the building owner’s land or astride the boundary. The earlier planning drawings had not been intended to determine the boundary position to construction-level accuracy.
Zubear attended the site and reviewed the existing wall, the surviving boundary posts, the neighbouring paving and the garden steps. The physical evidence indicated that the existing wall stood wholly on the building owner’s land.
Repositioning the wall astride the boundary would have moved it towards the adjoining property. It would also have required part of the neighbour’s slabs and steps to be cut back, creating additional disruption without improving the project.
The drawings were therefore revised and clarified so that the new flank and retaining walls remained wholly on the building owner’s land, with their outer faces on the line of junction.
Agreeing the Mansard Enclosure Contribution
The proposed mansard roof would make use of a party wall that had previously been raised by the adjoining owner. This raised a separate question under Section 11(11) of the Act: whether the building owner should contribute towards the present-day cost of the existing work.
The surveyors assessed the benefit received by the building owner and agreed an enclosure contribution of £5,500 inclusive of VAT. The payment and the point at which it became due were recorded within the Award.
The Award also included project-specific protections covering non-percussive cutting methods, temporary weatherproofing, chimney and flue protection, acoustic separation between steelwork, scaffold safety, access arrangements and working hours.
Construction has now commenced under the agreed Award. The project demonstrates why Party Wall surveying works best when the surveyor understands and can coordinate the architectural and structural design.
What We Need to Review Your Party Wall Matter
Send what you already have. We will review it and confirm whether anything else is needed before notices are prepared.
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Why Choose AC Design Solution as Your Party Wall Surveyor?
MIPWS-Led Party Wall Service
our matter is led by Zubear Ali BA (Hons), ACIArb, MIPWS, MCMI, who has handled Party Wall matters for building owners, adjoining owners and agreed-surveyor appointments since 2018.
Architectural and Structural Knowledge In-HouseThe Party Wall process often exposes questions about foundations, boundaries, steelwork, retaining walls and construction sequence. Our in-house architectural and structural teams can review and revise the technical design where needed.
Clear Appointment Routes and Fixed ScopeWe explain whether you need notice preparation only, a Schedule of Condition, an agreed surveyor or separate appointed surveyors. The scope and fee are confirmed before we proceed.
When Does the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 Apply?
The Act applies in England and Wales. It is separate from planning permission and Building Regulations approval, so a project can have both approvals and still require Party Wall notices. Section 1
New Walls at the Line of Junction
This applies where a building owner proposes a new wall at the boundary. A wall can only be built astride the boundary with the adjoining owner’s written consent. Without that consent, it must be built wholly on the building owner’s land. Normal notice period: one month. Section 2
Work to an Existing Party Structure
This can include cutting into a party wall for beams, raising or rebuilding the wall, removing chimney breasts, cutting away projections, underpinning or exposing the wall during construction. Normal notice period: two months. Section 6
Excavation Near a Neighbouring Structure
This can apply where excavation is within three metres and deeper than the neighbour’s foundations, or within six metres where the proposed excavation crosses the statutory 45-degree line taken from the neighbouring foundation. Normal notice period: one month. The exact position depends on the property, proposed work and neighbouring foundations. Send us the drawings and we will review which notices are likely to be needed.
What Is Included in a Party Wall Surveyor Appointment?
Initial Drawing and Ownership Review
We review the proposed design, property ownership and adjoining interests to identify who must be notified and which parts of the Act may apply.
Preparation and Service of Notices
We prepare the relevant notice or notices and serve them on the affected adjoining owners. Section 6 notices are supported by the required plans and sections.
Response and Appointment Management
We record consents, deal with non-responses and correspond with any surveyor appointed by the adjoining owner.
Schedule of Condition
Where agreed or required for the Award, we inspect the relevant areas of the adjoining property and record existing finishes, cracks, staining and other visible defects in writing and photographs.
Technical Review and Surveyor Negotiation
We review the architectural and structural information and agree any necessary protections, amendments, method statements or further details with the other surveyor.
Party Wall Award
The Award records the authorised work, how and when it may be carried out, the drawings forming part of the Award, relevant protections and the responsibility for reasonable costs.
Party Wall Surveyor Costs
We provide a defined scope and fixed starting price for straightforward residential work. The final fee depends on the number of adjoining owners, the complexity of the design, the level of negotiation required and whether separate surveyors are appointed.
Party Wall Notice Service
- Land Registry ownership check
- Review of the proposed drawings
- Preparation and service of the relevant notice
- Suitable where the neighbour is expected to consent
Notice and Schedule of Condition
- Notice service
- Inspection of relevant adjoining areas by agreement
- Written and photographic Schedule of Condition
- Useful where the neighbour consents but both owners want a condition record
Agreed Surveyor
- One impartial surveyor agreed by both owners
- Technical review and Schedule of Condition
- Preparation and service of the Party Wall Award
- Often more economical than two separate surveyor appointments
Building Owner’s Surveyor
- Separate appointment where the adjoining owner selects another surveyor
- Review of drawings and proposed work
- Liaison and negotiation with the adjoining owner’s surveyor
- Preparation and agreement of the Award
What Does a Party Wall Schedule of Condition Record?
A Schedule of Condition is a written and photographic record of the relevant parts of the adjoining property before the notifiable work begins. Although the Act does not expressly require one in every case, it is commonly attached to an Award because it provides a clear reference point if damage is alleged later.
The inspection may record walls, ceilings, floors, external elevations, roof coverings, chimney breasts, finishes, existing cracking, staining and other visible defects. It is a visual Party Wall record, not a full structural survey, valuation or mortgage inspection.
Learn how the Schedule forms part of the Party Wall process →
Our Party Wall Surveyor Process
We take the project from measured information through technical coordination and submission support, keeping the drawing package clear for approval and construction.
Send Us Your Drawings
Provide the property address, proposed plans, structural information and expected start date.
We Review the Proposed Work
We identify the likely adjoining owners, relevant work and any information required before notices are served.
Notices Are Prepared and Served
The relevant notices are issued with the supporting plans and sections required for the work.
The Adjoining Owner Responds
They may consent, dissent and appoint a surveyor, agree to one surveyor, or not respond. A non-response to relevant Section 2 or Section 6 notices creates a deemed dispute after 14 days.
Surveyor Appointments Are Confirmed
Both owners can appoint one agreed surveyor, or each owner can appoint a separate surveyor.
Schedule of Condition and Technical Review
We inspect the relevant adjoining areas and review the architectural, structural and construction information needed to agree the Award.
What Does a Party Wall Award Include?
Where a dispute arises, the appointed surveyor or surveyors prepare a Party Wall Award. The Award does not grant planning permission and does not redesign the whole project. It determines matters arising under the Act so that the authorised work can proceed while the rights of both owners are protected.
The Award may record:
- The work authorised under the Act
- The drawings and structural information forming part of the Award
- How and when the work may be carried out
- Access arrangements where statutory access is required
- Temporary support, vibration and weathering precautions
- Protection of the adjoining property and procedures for making good damage
- Surveyor fees and other reasonable costs
- Enclosure contributions or other cost matters where applicable
Zubear Ali BA (Hons), ACIArb, MIPWS, MCMI
Zubear Ali is the Lead Party Wall Surveyor at AC Design Solution. He has advised building owners, adjoining owners, developers and construction professionals on Party Wall matters since 2018.
He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Member of the Institute of Party Wall Surveyors and a Member of the Chartered Management Institute.
Zubear has acted as building owner’s surveyor, adjoining owner’s surveyor and agreed surveyor on residential and commercial projects involving extensions, loft and mansard conversions, basement excavation, structural alterations, new developments and major refurbishment.
His work includes reviewing architectural and structural information, serving notices, preparing Schedules of Condition, negotiating Awards and advising design teams on measures that reduce risk to adjoining properties before construction starts.
Because AC Design Solution also provides architectural design and structural engineering, Party Wall issues can be coordinated directly with the technical design rather than being treated as a separate paperwork exercise.
Party Wall Surveyor FAQs
Do I always need to appoint a Party Wall surveyor?
No. If a valid notice is served and the adjoining owner gives unconditional written consent, the statutory dispute-resolution process is not triggered. The owners may still agree to have a Schedule of Condition prepared, but that is different from appointing a surveyor to resolve a dispute under Section 10.
What happens if my neighbour ignores a Party Wall notice?
For work to an existing party structure or qualifying excavation, a failure to respond within 14 days normally means a dispute is deemed to have arisen. The surveyor appointment process can then proceed. The position is different for a proposed wall astride the boundary: without written consent, the wall must be built wholly on the building owner’s land.
Can my neighbour stop my building work?
An adjoining owner cannot use the Act simply to prevent lawful development, but they can require the statutory procedure to be followed and can influence how and when notifiable work is carried out. Starting notifiable work without following the Act may expose the building owner to an application for an injunction or other civil remedies.
Can building work start before the Party Wall Award is served?
Work covered by a dispute should not start before the Award is served and the relevant notice period has expired, unless the adjoining owner has agreed in writing to an earlier start. Other work outside the scope of the Act may be treated differently, so the construction programme should be reviewed carefully.
Who pays the Party Wall surveyor’s fees?
The building owner normally pays the reasonable costs where the work is for their sole benefit. Costs may be shared where work is required because of common disrepair or where the adjoining owner requests additional work that benefits them. The Award can determine responsibility where the owners do not agree.
What is an agreed surveyor?
An agreed surveyor is one impartial surveyor appointed by both owners to resolve the dispute and prepare the Award. The surveyor does not act as one owner’s advocate and must consider the rights and interests of both owners.
Does a loft conversion require a Party Wall notice?
It often does where steel beams, floor joists or other structure will be inserted into a party wall, or where chimney breasts, party-wall height or shared roof construction are affected. A loft conversion that does not involve notifiable work may fall outside the Act, so the proposed drawings must be checked.
Does an extension require a Party Wall notice?
An extension may require notice where it involves a wall at the boundary, excavation within the statutory distances and depths, or work directly affecting an existing party structure. Not every extension triggers every section of the Act.
Is planning permission the same as a Party Wall agreement?
No. Planning permission, Building Regulations approval and the Party Wall process are separate. Securing planning permission does not remove the requirement to serve notices where the Act applies.
What should I do if work has already started without notice?
Obtain urgent Party Wall and, where appropriate, legal advice before continuing with potentially notifiable work. The Act does not contain a retrospective notice procedure that automatically restores the statutory process after work has already begun, and an adjoining owner may consider civil remedies.
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