Process & timelines

Notices, surveyors, awards and what happens when.

• When Do You Need a Party Wall Surveyor?You need a party wall surveyor when you plan work covered by the Party Wall etc. Act and your neighbour dissents or does not reply to your notice.…
• Party Wall Notices, Awards, and Agreements ExplainedA notice starts the party wall process, an award settles the terms when there is a dispute, and an agreement is what you have when the neighbour…
• Agreed Surveyor vs Two Surveyors: The Legal DifferencesUnder the Party Wall etc. Act, both owners can agree to appoint one surveyor, called an agreed surveyor, or each can appoint their own. Legally, the…
• Schedule of Condition: Why You Need One Before BuildingA schedule of condition is a written and photographic record of the neighbouring property before building work starts. You need one because, without…
• Security for Expenses: Protecting Against Unfinished WorkSecurity for expenses is a right under the Party Wall etc. Act for an adjoining owner to ask the building owner to provide money in advance, held as…
• The Exact Timeline of a Party Wall Dispute (From Notice to Award)The party wall process runs in fixed stages: notice, a 14-day response period, appointment of surveyors, an award, and a 14-day appeal window. The…
• How Long is a Party Wall Award Valid For? (Expiration and Extensions)The Party Wall etc. Act does not give an award a simple expiry date that readers can rely on, and how long one remains effective is uncertain. What…
• Step-by-Step Guide to Appointing a Party Wall SurveyorTo appoint a party wall surveyor, first serve your notice and wait for the neighbour's reply. If a dispute arises, either agree on one surveyor…
• How to Properly Challenge or Appeal a Party Wall Award in County CourtEither owner can appeal a party wall award to the county court within 14 days of receiving it. The deadline is short. If you are thinking of…
• What Evidence is Needed to Prove Damage in a Party Wall Claim?To prove damage in a party wall claim you need evidence of how the property looked before the work, and evidence that it changed afterwards. The…
• The Checklist for a Professional Schedule of Condition ReportA professional schedule of condition should record the neighbouring property's relevant rooms and structure in words and dated photographs before…
• What Does a Party Wall Surveyor Actually Inspect During a Site Visit?On a site visit, a party wall surveyor inspects the shared wall, the rooms and outside areas the work could affect, and the drawings for the proposed…