Are you planning a building project or have you received notice?
As a specialist Party Wall surveyor, Richard Hourican will protect your interests during building works.
Are you planning a building project – perhaps an extension, loft conversion or basement – that is on or adjacent to your property’s boundary line? Or has a ‘Party Wall’ notice dropped on the doormat informing you of a neighbour’s impending works?
In either scenario, it’s likely that you will need a surveyor with the experience and expertise to negotiate the legal minefield of the Party Wall Act (1996). Richard Hourican’s Chiswick-based chartered building consultancy provides exactly that professional service, and does so in a straightforward manner.
‘I’ve often found that surveyors speak their own language,’ Richard recalls. ‘That’s why we explain the Party Wall process to clients in detail – and we always do it in layman’s terms.’ While undertaking structural modifications, the chances of encroaching onto a neighbour's property are significant. ‘With loft conversions, problems are caused by raising the Party Wall (the physical divide between premises) or inserting steel beams and, with basements, it’s new foundations,’ says Richard.
‘As surveyors, we protect our client’s best interests. We will check all the drawings, serve legal notices and draw up a Party Wall Award; this is a binding agreement between home owners that sets out their duties and obligations and serves as reference in the event of a dispute.
‘Alternatively, we can also prepare a “Schedule of Condition Survey” prior to any work starting. In those instances, we survey the properties as they stand and then, if damage is caused, there is clear proof of previously existing conditions.’
Perhaps surprisingly, the same surveyor can be engaged by the ‘Building Owner’ and the ‘Adjoining Neighbour’. This has the benefit of avoiding confusions, speeding up proceedings and cutting costs. ‘According to the law, we work for the Party Wall Act,’ explains Richard. ‘That means we are obliged to be impartial, hence we can be appointed by – and then advise – both parties involved in any project. In those cases, we are called the ‘Agreed Surveyor.’
‘It’s essential to understand all the implications of building plans,’ he adds. ‘If you don’t, it could cost thousands. Our job is to ensure everything is done correctly – and that it doesn’t!’
Why choose Hourican Associates?
We are specialist regulated Party Wall surveyors and will always ensure our clients' interests are protected during building works.
Accredited
Hourican Associates specialise in all Party Wall matters in London and are fully qualified members of the FPWS, Pyramus & Thisbe Club and regulated by RICS, CIOB & CABE.
Thorough
We pay attention to the detail & are experts in all Party Wall matters, we ensure the protection supplied by the Party Wall Act is in place & accurately applied to your project.
Professional
We draw upon a wealth of experience and professional qualifications to ensure that we can assist our clients in the most cost and time effective way possible.
Experienced
We are specialist Party Wall surveyors with a wealth of experience working in London on projects of all sizes, always ensuring our clients are fully protected by the Party Wall Act.
Richard Hourican dealt with my party wall notices on both sides for an extension and loft conversion. Very efficient and knowledgeable. He got it all dealt with very quickly. Would definitely recommend!
Richard & team helped us sort out a party wall agreement with an unresponsive neighbour. Everything went smoothly and on time so I would recommend their services.
Richard worked efficiently to a very tight deadline, managing all counterparties excellently and with clear impartiality. Technically able, with an excellent knowledge of the Act, and an ability to explain to the layman. I would highly recommend and would definitely use him again.
Working with Richard has been the easiest part of our recent building project, would certainly use again. He agreed the Party Wall Awards quickly and without any prompting needed from our side.
We couldn’t be happier with the professional advice and service we received from Richard. He went above and beyond our expectations in handling a particularly difficult party wall award which we are extremely grateful for. I highly recommend Richard’s services to anyone and will definitely use his services again in the future.
Excellent service, would highly recommend. Richard made the party wall process pain free with both my neighbours happy with the agreements which were drawn up. Chiswick W4
Richard is a very professional and supportive expert. We have received lots of really helpful advice from the company and as such we feel assured we are carrying out our works appropriately. He is really friendly and puts complicated legal jargon into a laypersons language! I would most definitely use Hourican & Associates again and would not hesitate to recommend them to all. Thank you Richard!
We were extremely impressed with the service provided by Hourican Associates. We needed a Schedule of Condition completed to a tight deadline. Richard and his team were able to squeeze us in last minute to accommodate the project. Very professional and competitively priced service. I would highly recommend.
I would thoroughly recommend H&A having been referred by the company who are doing my loft conversion, about an unusual party wall matter. Richard was very helpful, professional and knowledgeable and willing to give some free, solid advice. A rarity these days! Should I need the services of a surveyor again in the future, I wouldn’t hesitate to use them and would I’d recommend wholeheartedly to others.
Fantastic service from Richard, would highly recommend.
Really professional, trustworthy and moved at pace. Really happy with the service provided.