How to Choose a Party Wall Surveyor
Choose someone with proven party wall experience, clear written terms and a professional body you can check independently. Cheapest is not the safest guide. Get more than one written quote and compare like with like.
Start with what you need
Are you the building owner or the adjoining owner? Do you want an agreed surveyor for both sides, or your own? The answer changes who you look for and what you ask.
Also note the type of work. A loft conversion, a basement and a new boundary wall raise different issues.
Check experience and credentials
No legal licence is needed to act as a party wall surveyor, so anyone can be appointed. That makes checking important. Professional bodies include RICS, the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors, the Pyramus & Thisbe Society, CABE, CIOB and the Institute of Party Wall Surveyors.
Membership does not guarantee quality. Check it on the body's own website and ask how many party wall cases they handle.
Good signs
- Explains the process clearly and answers questions directly
- Shows membership you can check on the body's own website
- Gives a written quote listing exactly what is included
- Discusses impartiality and does not promise to favour you
- Can give examples of similar jobs they have handled
Warning signs
- Pushes you to sign quickly with no written terms
- Will not say which professional body they belong to
- Quotes are vague on extras and hourly charges
- Promises to get you a quick award or a low cost regardless
- Says a notice is not needed without looking at the plans
Get comparable quotes
Ask for written quotes that set out what is included: notices, site visits, the schedule of condition, the award and any extras. A low quote that leaves out key steps is not really lower.
Ask how fees change if the neighbour dissents or the work changes. Do not expect a promise of an exact total for an uncertain process.
Assess how they communicate
A good surveyor explains the process in plain terms and returns calls. They should be willing to explain their role, which is to act fairly and impartially, even if appointed by you.
Before you appoint
Ask your neighbour whether they have a surveyor in mind. If they name one, do not assume a conflict. Check that person as carefully as you would check your own. If you cannot agree on one shared surveyor, each of you can appoint separately, and the building owner would normally cover the reasonable fees of both. Keep the choice in writing and confirm the appointment before any work on site is planned.
Compare in practice
Use the panel below to weigh up a strong candidate against a weak one. If you are unsure, ask a second surveyor to comment on the first quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a chartered surveyor?
Not legally. Choose on experience and checkable credentials.
Can my neighbour choose the same surveyor?
Yes. An agreed surveyor can act for both owners if both agree.
Is the cheapest quote best?
Not necessarily. Compare what each quote covers.
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three written quotes give a fair comparison.
Related guides
- Red Flags When Hiring a Party Wall Surveyor
- How to Verify a Party Wall Surveyor's Credentials (RICS vs Faculty vs Pyramus & Thisbe)
- Questions to Ask a Party Wall Surveyor Before Hiring Them
- What is a Party Wall Surveyor?
Last updated: . This page is general information about the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (England and Wales). It is not legal advice. Every property and dispute is different, so take advice from a party wall surveyor or a solicitor before you act.