(The Party Wall Etc. Act 1996)
This legislation may apply to you if you are proposing building works adjoining or in close proximity to your neighbours. Failure to comply could delay or impede your project. We can assist in the structural aspects of Party Wall Awards and can act as Party Wall Surveyors as required by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
We can also advise clients directly, for example, if a neighbour is proposing to carry out any underpinning, loft conversion or new extension works on or adjacent to the Party Wall, or within three or six metres of the Party Wall if the new foundations are deeper than those of the party wall.
Your neighbour must serve a Notice of their proposals and allow you to employ, at their cost, your own Engineer/Surveyor to ensure your rights are not overridden or infringed upon. This is the law.
The basis of the Party Wall Award is to set out the conditions for the organisation of the building works, insofar as they related to the Party Wall, so that they do not unnecessarily interfere with your occupation of your building, together with a written description of the condition of the wall or building in question and photographic evidence. The Award is a legal document and the written report is set aside until completion of construction works when it is used as a reference to identify any damage that has occurred and thereby to formulate repair or compensation.
Please call us for a free consultation, Tel. 01737 362233.