Compare & choose
Comparisons, red flags and how to check credentials.
- How to Choose a Party Wall SurveyorChoose someone with proven party wall experience, clear written terms and a professional body you can check independently. Cheapest is not the safest…
- Red Flags When Hiring a Party Wall SurveyorWalk away from anyone who is vague about fees, will not show credentials or promises to favour you. A party wall surveyor must act fairly under the…
- RICS vs FPWS: Choosing the Right Faculty or InstitutionNeither is legally required. RICS is a broad chartered surveying body. The Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors is a specialist body focused on party wall…
- 10 Common Party Wall Mistakes Homeowners MakeMost party wall problems come from a handful of avoidable mistakes: leaving notices too late, relying on chat instead of writing, and starting work…
- Party Wall Notice Consent vs Acknowledgement: What's the Difference?Consent means the adjoining owner agrees in writing to the work described, without an award. Acknowledgement only confirms they received the notice.…
- Party Wall Act vs Planning Permission vs Building Regulations ExplainedThey are three separate systems. Planning permission is about whether development is acceptable. Building regulations are about safe, sound…
- Chartered Building Surveyor vs Specialist Party Wall Surveyor: Which Do You Need?For party wall work, choose someone with party wall experience. A chartered building surveyor may have it, but the title alone does not show it. A…
- RICS Home Survey Level 2 vs Schedule of ConditionThey do different jobs. A Level 2 survey assesses the condition of a home for a buyer. A schedule of condition records the state of specific rooms or…
- Agreed Surveyor vs Two Separate Surveyors: Cost and Speed ComparisonAn agreed surveyor is usually faster and can cost less overall, because only one fee is paid. Two surveyors give each owner their own adviser. The…
- How to Verify a Party Wall Surveyor's Credentials (RICS vs Faculty vs Pyramus & Thisbe)Look them up on the professional body's own website, not on the surveyor's brochure. No licence is required to act, so verification is up to you.…
- Questions to Ask a Party Wall Surveyor Before Hiring ThemAsk about experience with your type of work, how fees are set, what is included, how long it should take and what happens if the neighbour dissents.…
- What to Do If You Want to Fire Your Party Wall SurveyorYou can raise concerns and ask to end the engagement, but changing surveyor mid-process is not always simple. Check your terms, put your concerns in…
- How to Check If a Party Wall Award is Genuine or FakeCheck that it names the owners, the properties and the surveyors, describes the work, and is signed and dated. Then contact the surveyor directly,…
- Why You Should Hire an RICS Regulated Party Wall SurveyorThere is no legal licence needed to act as a party wall surveyor, so hiring an RICS regulated surveyor is a choice, not a requirement. RICS…