What Do You Need Help With?
I Am Planning Building Work
We can review your drawings, identify works that may fall within the Act, establish which adjoining owners may need notice and manage the process from notice through to an Award where required.
I Have Received a Party Wall Notice
We can review the notice and drawings, explain your rights and options, and act as your Adjoining Owner's Surveyor where a statutory appointment is required.
We Would Prefer One Surveyor
Where both owners are comfortable doing so, one impartial Agreed Surveyor can be appointed instead of each owner appointing a separate surveyor.
Party Wall Notices
£150 + VAT per adjoining owner
Including title checks, notice preparation, service and follow-up communication.
Schedule of Condition
Typically £385–£585 + VAT
Depending on the works and size of the property. Basement surveys are priced separately.
Full Party Wall Award
Typically £1,100–£1,500 + VAT
Depending on the property, proposed works and complexity of the appointment.
Qualified & Professional
RICS-regulated Chartered Building Consultancy with professional memberships and qualifications including FPWS, CIOB, MCABE and the Pyramus & Thisbe Club.
Party Wall Advice Across South London
South London contains a wide range of closely adjoining housing, from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to semi-detached houses, converted flats and mansion blocks. The relevant Party Wall issue depends on the proposed construction rather than simply the age or style of the property.
Common instructions include loft conversions requiring structural steel, rear and side-return extensions, new walls at the boundary, chimney breast removal, deeper foundations, basement excavations and alterations to party structures between flats.
This page acts as the regional South London hub. Where we have a more specific borough page, you can follow the links below for local guidance while using our specialist service pages for detailed information about the type of work proposed.
When Might the Party Wall Act Apply?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 covers three broad categories of work: alterations to party structures, construction at the line of junction and qualifying excavation close to neighbouring buildings.
Work to a Party Wall or Party Structure
Loft conversions, chimney breast removal and other structural alterations can require a Party Structure Notice where steelwork or other works affect an existing party wall or party structure.
Serving notice does not automatically mean a Party Wall Award will be needed. If the Adjoining Owner validly consents, a statutory dispute may not arise.
New Walls at the Boundary
Section 1 of the Act can apply where a new wall is proposed at the line of junction between neighbouring land.
The procedure differs depending on whether the proposed wall is to be built astride the boundary or wholly on the Building Owner's land.
Excavating Within 3 or 6 Metres
Within 3 metres, Section 6 can apply where the proposed excavation will go lower than the bottom of the adjoining owner's foundations.
Within 6 metres, it can apply where the proposed excavation would extend below the statutory 45-degree line drawn downwards from the bottom of the adjoining owner's foundations towards the excavation.
Which Party Wall Notice Might Apply?
| Type of work | Typical part of the Act | Minimum notice period |
|---|---|---|
| Work to an existing party wall or party structure | Section 2 / Party Structure Notice | Normally 2 months |
| New wall at the line of junction | Section 1 / Line of Junction Notice | Normally 1 month |
| Qualifying excavation close to a neighbouring building | Section 6(1) or Section 6(2) | Normally 1 month |
The correct notice depends on the actual drawings, structural design, foundation depth and relationship between the properties. More than one notice can apply to the same project.
Party Wall Surveyors Covering South London Boroughs
Select the most relevant local page for your property. These pages provide borough-specific guidance while this South London page remains the regional hub.
Wandsworth
Wandsworth Town, Battersea, Tooting, Earlsfield, Southfields, Clapham Junction and nearby SW postcodes.
Southwark
Dulwich, Camberwell, Peckham, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Borough and surrounding SE districts.
Croydon
Croydon, South Croydon, Purley, Coulsdon, Sanderstead and neighbouring areas.
Putney
Putney, West Putney, Roehampton and neighbouring Wandsworth and Richmond areas.
Lewisham
Lewisham, Brockley, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Catford, Hither Green and New Cross.
Greenwich
Greenwich, Charlton, Blackheath, Woolwich, Eltham, Kidbrooke and surrounding districts.
Sutton
Sutton, Cheam, Carshalton, Wallington, Worcester Park and nearby residential areas.
Bexley
Bexley, Bexleyheath, Sidcup, Welling, Erith, Crayford and surrounding South East London areas.
Other South London Areas We Cover
We also advise throughout Lambeth and Merton and in neighbourhoods including Brixton, Clapham, Streatham, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, Balham, Tooting, Wimbledon, Colliers Wood and Crystal Palace.
Our work also extends across South East London neighbourhoods including Dulwich, Camberwell, Peckham, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Charlton, Woolwich, Rotherhithe and Blackheath.
How Our South London Party Wall Surveyors Can Help
We advise both owners carrying out work and neighbours affected by it. Once appointed under the Act, a Party Wall Surveyor has a statutory duty to act impartially.
For Building Owners in South London
If you are planning construction work, early advice can help prevent invalid notices and avoid Party Wall matters becoming a critical-path problem later in the project.
We can assist with:
- Reviewing architectural and structural drawings
- Identifying work that falls within the Act
- Establishing affected adjoining owners
- Preparing and serving the appropriate notices
- Managing responses and neighbour queries
- Preparing Schedules of Condition where appropriate
- Agreed Surveyor appointments
- Preparing and agreeing Party Wall Awards where a dispute arises
A well-prepared notice supported by clear project information can make it easier for an Adjoining Owner to understand what is proposed and make an informed response.
Received a Party Wall Notice in South London?
Receiving a notice does not mean you must automatically consent or automatically object. The appropriate response depends on what work is proposed, how it may affect your property and what information has been supplied.
Where we are appointed as an Adjoining Owner's Surveyor, our work can include:
- Reviewing the notice and proposed Party Wall works
- Considering relevant drawings and structural information
- Inspecting the adjoining property
- Preparing a photographic and written Schedule of Condition
- Considering relevant protective measures
- Agreeing appropriate terms within a Party Wall Award
Our statutory role is impartial. The objective is to deal properly with matters arising under the Act while avoiding unnecessary conflict between neighbours.
Agreed Surveyor and Party Wall Awards
Where a relevant statutory dispute arises, both owners can agree to appoint one impartial Agreed Surveyor, or each owner can appoint a separate surveyor.
Where an Award is required, it records how the relevant Party Wall works may proceed and can address matters including:
- The notifiable works covered by the Award
- Relevant construction methods and sequencing
- Protection of the adjoining property
- Access where rights under the Act apply
- Schedules of Condition and monitoring where appropriate
- Procedures if damage attributable to the notifiable works occurs
Common Party Wall Projects in South London
Loft Conversions
Structural steel supported by party walls, alterations to chimney breasts and raising or altering party structures can all bring loft projects within the Act.
Rear & Side-Return Extensions
Extensions can involve Section 1 boundary matters, Section 6 excavation notices and, in some cases, alterations to an existing party structure.
Basements & Excavations
Basement works, underpinning and deeper foundations can require detailed Section 6 consideration because of their proximity to neighbouring foundations.
Chimney Breast Removal
Removing a chimney breast connected to a party wall can involve work covered by Section 2 and should be reviewed before construction starts.
Boundary & Garden Works
New walls at the boundary and foundations for garden buildings or extensions may require consideration under Sections 1 and 6.
Flats & Converted Buildings
A party structure is not limited to a wall. In flats and converted buildings it can also include separating floors and other structures between separately occupied parts of a building.
Our South London Party Wall Process
Step 1
Review
Send us the property address, drawings and a description of the proposed works. We identify likely Party Wall requirements.
Step 2
Notice
Where required, we prepare and serve the correct notice and supporting information on the relevant Adjoining Owners.
Step 3
Response
We deal with responses, consent or surveyor appointments and explain the next step to the parties.
Step 4
Survey & Award
Where necessary, we prepare a Schedule of Condition and agree a Party Wall Award so the relevant works can proceed.
An Award is not automatically required whenever a notice is served. Where the Adjoining Owner validly consents, the formal dispute-resolution procedure may not be necessary.
Hourican Associates Party Wall Projects in South London
Our published project records include Party Wall appointments across South and South West London. The examples below are genuine Hourican Associates project records rather than hypothetical location examples.
SW4 9ED
Mandalay Road
Loft Conversion
Published Hourican Associates Party Wall project in the SW4 area.
SW15 1PF
Norroy Road
Loft Conversion
Published Party Wall project in Putney, South West London.
SW18 3SZ
Littleton Street
Chimney Removal
Published Party Wall project in the Wandsworth SW18 area.
SE13 6DE
Limes Grove
Loft Conversion
Published Party Wall project in Lewisham, South East London.
Our wider project records also include Party Wall appointments in Wimbledon Park Road SW18, Mitcham Lane SW16 and SM4, demonstrating experience across the wider South London area.
How Much Does a Party Wall Surveyor Cost in South London?
The cost depends on the type of appointment, the number of adjoining owners, property size, proposed works and complexity of the Party Wall matter.
- Party Wall Notice Service: £150 + VAT per adjoining owner
- Schedule of Condition Survey: typically £385–£585 + VAT depending on the works and property size
- Basement Schedule of Condition Surveys: quoted separately because a more detailed survey of the adjoining property may be required
- Full Party Wall Award: typically £1,100–£1,500 + VAT depending on the property and project
A full Award appointment can include notice service, the relevant survey and preparation and agreement of the Party Wall Award.
Send us your architectural and structural drawings for a quotation based on the actual project rather than a generic estimate.
Party Wall Agreement, Consent or Party Wall Award?
The phrase "Party Wall Agreement" is widely used, but it can describe different outcomes.
An Adjoining Owner may give written consent to a valid Party Wall Notice. If a relevant dispute arises and surveyors are appointed, the formal document prepared under the Act is normally a Party Wall Award.
Which route applies depends on the type of notice, the neighbour's response and the proposed works. A surveyor should not create an Award where the statutory process does not require one.
Why Choose Hourican Associates for Party Wall Advice in South London?
We specialise in Party Wall matters and combine building knowledge, statutory expertise and clear communication with a practical approach to neighbour relations.
Specialist
Party Wall Focus
Party Wall surveying is a core area of our practice, with experience across residential and more complex London projects.
Qualified &
Professional
RICS-regulated Chartered Building Consultancy with professional memberships and qualifications including FPWS, CIOB, MCABE and the Pyramus & Thisbe Club.
Real London
Project Experience
Our published project records include genuine Party Wall appointments throughout South and South West London.
Clear
Fees
Clear pricing for notices, Schedules of Condition and Award appointments, with project-specific quotations before instruction.
Neighbourly
Approach
We aim to deal with the statutory requirements properly while keeping communication proportionate, practical and constructive.
South London Party Wall FAQs
Not every project needs a surveyor, but works covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 must follow the statutory procedure. If an Adjoining Owner consents to a valid notice, a surveyor appointment and Award may not be necessary. If a relevant dispute arises, surveyor appointments are made under the Act.
No. Planning permission, permitted development rights, Building Regulations and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 are separate regimes. A project can have planning permission and still require Party Wall Notices before the relevant works begin.
Depending on the design, an extension can involve a Section 1 Line of Junction Notice, a Section 6 excavation notice and, where an existing party structure is affected, a Section 2 Party Structure Notice. More than one type of notice can apply to the same project.
Many do, particularly where structural steel is supported by or cut into a party wall, chimney breasts are removed or the party structure is otherwise altered. The requirement depends on the proposed construction rather than the location itself.
Within 3 metres, Section 6 can apply where the proposed excavation will go below the bottom of the Adjoining Owner's foundations. Within 6 metres, it can apply where the excavation would extend below the statutory 45-degree line drawn downwards from the bottom of those foundations towards the excavation. Distance alone is therefore not enough to determine whether notice is required.
For relevant Party Structure and excavation notices, if the Adjoining Owner dissents or does not respond within the statutory period, a dispute is regarded as having arisen under the Act. The owners then appoint an Agreed Surveyor or separate surveyors so that the statutory matters can be resolved.
Party Structure Notices under Section 2 normally require at least two months' notice. Line of Junction notices under Section 1 and excavation notices under Section 6 normally require at least one month's notice before the relevant works begin. Starting the process earlier is sensible where surveyor appointments may be needed.
Hourican Associates charge £150 + VAT per adjoining owner for the Party Wall Notice service. Standard Schedules of Condition are typically £385–£585 + VAT. Full Party Wall Award appointments are typically £1,100–£1,500 + VAT depending on the property and project. Basement surveys are priced separately where a more detailed inspection is required.
Yes. Where both owners agree, one surveyor can be appointed as the Agreed Surveyor. The surveyor does not act as an advocate for either owner and must deal impartially with matters arising under the Act.
We work throughout South and South East London, including Wandsworth, Battersea, Clapham, Putney, Tooting, Brixton, Streatham, Herne Hill, Dulwich, Camberwell, Southwark, Lewisham, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Greenwich, Charlton, Croydon, Sutton, Bexley, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and surrounding areas.
Speak to a Party Wall Surveyor in South London
Planning a loft conversion, rear extension, basement, excavation, chimney removal or structural alteration? Or have you received a Party Wall Notice from your neighbour?
Send us your drawings, property address or the notice you have received. We can explain how the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, what the next step should be and provide a clear quotation for the appropriate service.
Request your South London Party Wall quote
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Fees depend on project scope, property size, number of adjoining owners and complexity. Basement surveys are priced separately where a more detailed inspection is required.
Fantastic service - highly responsive and supportive in getting our party wall agreement across the line. Highly recommended.
This is the first time I've gone through the planning of an extension and party wall agreement. Richard from Hourican Associates, has been so helpful and fast through out the whole process. Would definitely recommend.
Richard & team provided a highly professional service, working well with my two neighbours to efficiently arrange surveyors for schedule of condition inspections and quickly complete and issue the required party wall agreement. Highly recommended.
Great! A professional service done quickly and efficiently. Highly recommend.
Friendly and very quick service. Highly recommend
Richard is a professional and diligent surveyor. I found him very courteous and pragmatic to deal with. Would recommend on house surveys, schedules of condition and PWA.
I am very happy with the service this company provided. Both quick and friendly made the whole process of dealing with the Party Wall Agreement easy. Many thanks Dave
Friendly and efficient service.We would use this company again.
Very good experience, good communication and smooth process. Quick too.
It has been a delight working with Richard. I had 5 party walls to sort involving a neighbour either side and owners of the flat above me. From start to finish it took approximately 3 weeks and was carried out and completed very efficiently. His response time was excellent and I would not hesitate to recommend his services. Jamie
Thank you Richard for your services. It was great to work with you. The process was very efficient and helpful at all stages.