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.
We had a party wall issue that Hourican & Associates assisted us with. They're knowledge was excellent with great communication advising us every step of the way. Very happy to have worked with them.
Richard was fantastic. He was responsive, professional, and very helpful with all the questions I had throughout the process. I can highly recommend him!
Richard dealt with a lengthy and complicated set of several simultaneous party wall awards relating to our recent building project. He was professional and personable which was a great help to us in what was a difficult situation. He brought all matters to a happy conclusion for us.
It was a pleasure working with Richard of Hourican Associates. He was very professional and responsive throughout a stressful time for us. I’d have no hesitation recommending him and their services.
We had the pleasure of working with Richard Hourican and his team at Hourican & Associates for our party wall agreement, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. From start to finish, Richard exhibited a level of professionalism and expertise that surpassed our expectations. Communication was a standout aspect of our collaboration with Hourican & Associates. Richard kept us informed every step of the way, ensuring that we were always in the loop regarding the progress of our party wall agreement. Any queries or concerns we had were promptly addressed, contributing to a seamless and transparent process. The timeliness of their work is commendable. Unlike some experiences we've heard about, there was no unnecessary delay or dragging out of the process. Richard and his team efficiently navigated the complexities of our party wall agreement, demonstrating a commitment to meeting deadlines without compromising on the quality of their work. In summary, if you're in need of a reliable, communicative, and efficient team to handle your party wall agreement, look no further than Hourican & Associates. Richard's professionalism and the team's dedication to client satisfaction make them a top choice in their field. We wholeheartedly recommend their services and would gladly work with them again in the future.
Hourican Associates handled a complex set of party wall agreements for us with a range of stakeholders including both leasehold and freehold owners. From our first conversation, Richard's vast knowledge of this process was evident; he explained the whole process clearly and answered all my questions thoroughly. Communication was extremely prompt the whole way through with Richard always making time to chat on the phone to keep us updated. I would highly recommend Hourican Associates.
The team at Hourican Associates were exceptional. They were very helpful professional in handling my party wall consents. Thank you! Highly recommend them to anyone.
Absolutely first class. Helpful and kind. I would very much recommend Hourican Associates.
Richard is fantastic, understands the situation and helps sort the PWA quickly. He’s also very responsive. We have used Hourican twice now and would definitely use again.
Had a brilliant experience working with Richard Hourican. The service was amazing and he went above and beyond to explain everything to me and also to make sure that things were completed as soon as possible. Overall I was so extremely happy and would recommend Richard and Hourican Associates to everyone!
Very new to this company - but I have been delighted by their professionalism and willingness to help. Their thorough, clear and efficient approach to my party wall needs has been truly impressive.
Hourican Associates have been fantastic to work with. Always happy to answer any questions we have had via phone or email. Our neighbour also said that a thorough job was done. Would definitely recommend to a friend - great service thank you!