Party Wall etc. Act 1996
The Act came into force in July 1997 and applies throughout England and Wales.
It provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings. It is based on some tried and tested provisions of the London Building Acts, which applied in inner London for many decades before the Act came into force.
If you intend to carry out building work which involves one of the following categories:
- Work on an existing wall or structure shared with another property (section 2 of the Act)
- Building a free standing wall or a wall of a building up to or astride the boundary with a neighbouring property (section 1 of the Act)
- Excavating near a neighbouring building (section 6 of the Act)
You must find out whether that work falls within the Act. If it does, you must notify all Adjoining Owners.
We can advise you on what works will fall within the Act and if necessary how to avoid it. We can prepare and manage the issue of notices and act as the appointed party wall surveyor should a dispute arise. Our surveyor is a member of the Pyramus and Thisbe Club – the organisation for professionals specialising in party wall matters. He has acted in this role on numerous projects for all types of clients: commercial, domestic and institutional.
Learn more about what the Party Wall etc Act 1996 by referring to the following links:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/partywall