How Does the Process Work?

Here’s a simple overview of the Party Wall process:

1. Serve Notice:

   The Building Owners must serve written notice on the Adjoining Owners before starting the notifiable works. The notice should detail the nature of the proposed work.

2. Agree or Disagree:
   
On receipt of the notice, the Adjoining Owners have 14 days to respond. They may either consent to the notice, in which case the Building Owners may proceed with the notifiable works, or dissent to the notice, in which case Party Wall surveyors must be appointed.  Each party may appoint a surveyor, or they may agree to appoint the same surveyor to act as the Agreed Surveyor.

3. Award:
   The surveyor/s will then prepare and serve a “Party Wall Award,” a legally binding document that sets out the manner in which the notifiable works must be undertaken, in order to safeguard the Adjoining Owners’ property from damage. The Award willing include details about safety measures, working hours, rights of access, and the Building Owners’ obligation to compensate the Adjoining Owners in the event that damage is caused by the works.
4. Start the Work:
   Once the Award has been served, the Building Owners may proceed with the notifiable work, subject to following the provisions of the Award, and once the statutory notice periods have expired.