Legislation & core guides
The Act itself, section by section.
- What is a Party Wall Surveyor?A party wall surveyor is a person appointed under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 to deal with a dispute between neighbours about building work. Their…
- Party Wall etc. Act 1996: The Definitive GuideThe Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the law in England and Wales that sets a process for certain building work near or on a shared wall or boundary. It…
- What is an Ex-Parte Party Wall Award and When is it Used?An ex parte award is a party wall award made by one surveyor acting alone, because the other owner or the other surveyor has failed to act. It exists…
- Understanding Section 1 of the Party Wall Act: New Walls on Junction LinesSection 1 of the Party Wall etc. Act applies when you want to build a new wall on the line of junction between your land and a neighbour's, or…
- Understanding Section 2 of the Party Wall Act: Existing Party WallsSection 2 of the Party Wall etc. Act gives a building owner the right to carry out certain work to an existing party wall or party structure,…
- Understanding Section 6 of the Party Wall Act: Excavation Within 3 or 6 MetresSection 6 of the Party Wall etc. Act applies when you excavate close to a neighbour's building. Notice is needed if you dig within 3 metres and…
- A Guide to the Third Surveyor in Party Wall ProceduresThe third surveyor is a neutral person chosen by the two appointed party wall surveyors to settle any point on which they disagree. They do not act…
- What is a "Party Structure"? Legal Definitions for HomeownersA party structure is a wall, floor, partition or other structure that separates buildings or parts of buildings used by different owners. It is…
- How Party Wall Procedures Apply to Leaseholders vs FreeholdersBoth freeholders and leaseholders can be owners under the Party Wall etc. Act, and both can serve or receive notices. Tenants on short tenancies are…
- What is the Retrospective Party Wall Procedure? (When Work Starts Without a Notice)A retrospective party wall procedure is what happens when work covered by the Act has begun, or even finished, without notice being served. It is…
- Rights of Access Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996The Party Wall etc. Act gives building owners, their workers and surveyors a right to enter the neighbouring property to carry out work required by…
- Temporary Works and Shoring Under the Party Wall ActTemporary works such as props, needles and shoring are not a separate category under the Party Wall etc. Act. They matter because they support the…
- What is a Party Wall Agreement? A Comprehensive Homeowner GuideA party wall agreement is the popular name for the paperwork that lets building work go ahead next to a shared wall or boundary. The Party Wall etc.…
- A Layman’s Explanatory Summary of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the law in England and Wales that governs certain building work near or on a shared wall or boundary. It requires the…