What is the Party Wall Act?
The Party Wall Act is a process facilitating boundary & excavation agreements between a developer & neighbouring property owner(s) before the developer starts work. Whether you're building or an adjoining owner, we can help you.
I am building
As the building owner / developer you have certain legal obligations under the Party Wall Act that you must fulfil before you even get started on the project, we can help.
My neighbour is building
As the adjoining owner / neighbour you will want to ensure there is a legal agreement on the project and that your building & interests are protected throughout the building development.
Our approach
We specialise in Party Wall matters, not only do we serve Party Wall Notices for our clients, we also undertake comprehensive Party Wall surveys & ensure our clients buildings & interests are protected under the Party Wall Act.
Free
quotation
Contact us today for a no obligation, free quotation from our qualified surveyors to work on your project.
Professional
Survey
Our experienced surveyors will schedule a visit to the site of your project and conduct a through, professional survey.
Party wall
award
On completion of our survey we will produce a complete report, issue notices, or grant a party wall award.
Our party wall services
Our Party Wall services are designed to legally & professionally conduct surveys for our clients ensuring any building works that affecting their building or their neighbours building are compliant with the Party Wall Act.
Building Owners Surveyor Services
Planning building works? Our Building Owner Surveyor service ensures notices are valid, surveys are completed professionally, and Awards are finalised efficiently—minimising delays to your project.
Agreed
Surveyor
Appointing an agreed surveyor can streamline the Party Wall process, reduce costs, and keep things neighbourly. Hourican Associates act impartially for both owners to produce a fair and fully compliant Party Wall Award.
Adjoining Owner
is Surveyor
If you’ve received a Party Wall Notice, our Adjoining Owner Surveyor service protects your property, ensures accurate documentation, and secures a robust Award before works begin next door.
Schedule of Condition Survey
A Schedule of Condition records neighbouring property condition before construction, helping avoid disputes and providing vital photographic and written evidence.
Party Wall
Notice
We prepare and serve legally valid Party Wall Notices, ensuring your project starts correctly and reducing the risk of disputes or delays.
Party Wall
Award
We prepare legally binding Party Wall Awards covering access, protections, timings and neighbour safeguards—ensuring your project proceeds smoothly and compliantly.
Party Wall Dispute Resolution
When neighbours disagree, our experienced surveyors provide expert dispute resolution, ensuring the Party Wall Act is followed and both properties remain protected.
Basement Schedule of Condition Survey
Our detailed SOC surveys document the exact condition of adjoining properties before basement works begin—providing essential protection for all parties.
Basement Party Wall Survey
Basement excavations require specialist protection measures. Our surveyors deliver detailed assessments, SOCs, and Awards tailored to complex below-ground works.
Loft Conversion Party Wall Survey
Loft conversions often trigger Party Wall requirements. We handle notices, surveys, and Awards to safeguard both owners and keep your project on schedule.
Rear Extensions Party Wall Survey
We guide homeowners through the Party Wall requirements for rear extensions, from serving notices to securing Awards and protecting adjoining properties.
Chimney Removal Party Wall Survey
Removing a chimney breast? We manage the full Party Wall process, ensuring structural safety, neighbour consent, and a compliant Award tailored to your project.
Excavations Party Wall Survey
Any excavation within 3m or 6m of a neighbour’s property requires careful assessment. We provide compliant notices, SOCs and Awards for safe excavation works.
Boundaries Party Wall Survey
Boundary-related building works can be complex. Our surveyors provide expert advice, measurements, and Awards to keep projects compliant and neighbourly.
Party Wall Structure Survey
We assess the condition and structural integrity of shared walls to prevent disputes and ensure safe construction in line with the Party Wall Act.
Drone Roof Surveys
Our drone roof surveys safely capture high-resolution imagery of roofs, chimneys and parapets—ideal for defect analysis and pre-construction documentation with zero disruption.
Prompt and efficient service from Richard, who also took the time to answer questions and explain th…
Excellent work for Party Wall agreement - Richard was very helpful and efficient. Would thoroughly r…
Great fast response and the party wall award was received in good time before the build. Thank you
About party wall awards
The Party Wall Award also referred to as a Party Wall Agreement is a legal document prepared by the two appointed Party Wall Surveyors or the Agreed Party Wall Surveyor.
The Party Wall Surveying Process
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 covers three different types of work:
- Works directly to a Party Wall
- Excavations within 3m or 6m and to a depth lower that the adjoining owner’s (the neighbour’s) foundations
- New walls built up to, or astride, the line of junction.
The Party Wall Agreement procedure is in place to ensure that both the building owner and the adjoining owner are legally protected before, during and after the works.
In order to ensure this a Party Wall Surveyor will consider the building owner’s work from the perspective of the adjoining owner’s property.
The Party Wall Surveyor will ensure the potential risk is as low as it can possibly be, while also ensuring all the logistics of the works have been considered thereby avoiding disputes between the owners.
The Party Wall Agreement process follows a strict statutory procedure which commences when the building owner serves a Party Wall Notice upon the adjoining owner.
Party wall response options:
Once a Party Wall Notice is served the adjoining owner will have three response options:
- Consenting to the Party Wall Notice: This means that the adjoining owner waives the formalities and protection of the Party Wall etc Act 1996, thereby allowing the building owner to commence their proposed construction work.
- Dissenting to the Party Wall Notice and appointing their own Party Wall Surveyor: When an adjoining owner dissents to the Party Wall Notice they are activating the Party Wall etc Act 1996 and all of its protections and procedures. By appointing their own Party Wall Surveyor, the building owner will then be duty bound to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor, with those two Surveyors following the Party Wall procedures and agreeing a Party Wall Award legally protecting both owners.
- Dissenting to the Party Wall Notice and appointing an Agreed Party Wall Surveyor: This option is the same as the second response option, with the only difference being that one Party Wall Surveyor acts impartially upon behalf of both the building owner and the adjoining owner.
The party wall agreement
The Party Wall Award is the conclusion of the Party Wall process and once served, it means that the building owner is free to commence their proposed construction works subject to adhering to the requirements set out within the Party Wall Award.
Although every Party Wall Agreement is different and specific to the building owner’s and adjoining owner’s properties, generally speaking the Party Wall Award will contain the following information:
- A description of the works being undertaken
- The agreed protection measures to the adjoining owner’s property
- Method statements for the contractor to adhere to
- Access statements for the contractor to adhere to
- Clarification of the formal procedures in the event of damage or issue
- A timescale for the duration of the works
- The Schedule of Condition Report
- The main benefit of a Party Wall Award is that it places the dispute in the hands of the Agreed Party Wall Surveyor or the two Party Wall Surveyors; this not only means that both owners are fully and legally protected.
It also means that in the event of issue, damage or dispute the Party Wall Surveyor or Party Wall Surveyors are appointed to step in and resolve the dispute through their experience and knowledge thereby ensuring swift and cost effective resolution.
Projects we have been appointed on
We've worked on thousands of building projects requiring compliance with the Party Wall Act, here are some of the projects our Party Wall Surveyors have been involved in across London.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about Party Wall matters or our services? Here are answers to the most common queries we receive at Hourican Associates. If you need more information, our team is always here to help.
• Building on or up to the boundary line
• Working on an existing party wall or structure
• Excavating within 3 or 6 metres of a neighbouring property, depending on depth
Works include extensions, loft conversions, basement excavations, and structural alterations. The Act requires notice be served at least 1–2 months before work begins, depending on the type of work.