If your construction work falls within the scope of the Party Wall Act. It is your legal obligation to serve the required statutory notice on all those defined in the Act as adjoining owners. (neighbours effected by the works) You are required to serve the Party Wall Notice a minimum of one month prior to commencing works, however if the works are of a structural nature you will be required to serve the Party Wall Notice a minimum of two months prior to commencing works
Once your Party Wall Notice is served the adjoining owner will have three response options:
This means that the adjoining owner reserves the protections of the Party Wall etc Act 1996, allowing the you (building owner) to commence with your proposed work.
When adjoining owner’s dissent to Party Wall Notice’s they are invoking the formalities and protections set out by the Party Wall etc Act 1996. Choosing to appoint their own Party Wall Surveyor, will make you (building owner) duty-bound to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor, the two appointed Party Wall Surveyors will follow the required procedures and agree a Party Wall Award legally protecting both owners.
This option mirrors the second Party Wall Notice response. The only difference being, one Party Wall Surveyor acts impartially on behalf of both yourself (building owner) and the adjoining owner.
Your Icon Party Wall Surveyor initial review, will look at the listed documents below, and how they will interact with any adjoining owner’s properties.
Your experienced and qualified Icon Surveyor will visit your property prior to your neighbours, construction work commencing. We will accommodate ourselves with the lay of the land, thus ensuring that we have taken all aspects of the Building Owner’s construction works and risk into account. Whilst on site we record a detailed document ensuring we have clear concise photographic evidence, of your property. This will then form part of your Party Wall Award, providing both yourself and the Building Owner with full legal protection if the damage is caused.
Upon completion of the two previous steps, we will be in a position to undertake a full review of the works, taking into account any associated risk. We will then proceed in agreeing your Party Wall Award, this will include:
Once the construction works are complete, your Icon surveyor will visit the neighbouring property and insure that, no changes or damage has occurred as a result of the works. This inspection is commonly known as a Check off Inspection. If there has been damage to a property, Icon will assist, ensuring it is repaired by the contractor, or the neighbour is compensated for the repair costs. The Building Owner, would bear these costs.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is one of the world's largest and most influential professional bodies that regulates and promotes the property surveying profession. With a Royal Charter since 1881. Within our team, we have both RICS Registered Party Wall Surveyors, Valuers and RICS Accredited Mediators.
The Chartered Institute of Building is the world's largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership. With a Royal Charter since 1834 to promote the science and practice of building and construction for the benefit of society.
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators is the world’s leading qualification and professional body for dispute avoidance and dispute management. With a Royal Charter since1979.
Chartered Association of Building Engineers
A Building Engineer is a competent, professionally qualified, experienced individual with a critical understanding of the interaction of buildings and people. Building Engineers collaborate to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is one of the world’s largest and most influential professional bodies that regulates and promotes the property surveying profession. With a Royal Charter since 1881. Within our team, we have both RICS Registered Party Wall Surveyors, Valuers and RICS Accredited Mediators.
The Chartered Institute of Building is the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership. With a Royal Charter since 1834 to promote the science and practice of building and construction for the benefit of society.
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators is the world’s leading qualification and professional body for dispute avoidance and dispute management. With a Royal Charter since1979.
Chartered Association of Building Engineers
A Building Engineer is a competent, professionally qualified, experienced individual with a critical understanding of the interaction of buildings and people. Building Engineers collaborate to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) specialises in mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). We are an independent non-profit organisation and a registered charity.
The independent quality assurance process of Valuer Registration, reinforces the highest professional standards. Valuer Registration is a risk monitoring and quality assurance programme which checks compliance with the RICS Red Book.
All Accredited Mediators included on the register will have successfully completed training with RICS or a training provider that meets the requirements of the Civil Mediation Council.
The Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors promotes the highest standards of professional practice in this field of expertise and to expand the knowledge and study of all matters to do with party walls, to encourage the exchange of information and ideas amongst its Members.
The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) specialises in mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). We are an independent non-profit organisation and a registered charity.
The independent quality assurance process of Valuer Registration, reinforces the highest professional standards. Valuer Registration is a risk monitoring and quality assurance programme which checks compliance with the RICS Red Book.
All Accredited Mediators included on the register will have successfully completed training with RICS or a training provider that meets the requirements of the Civil Mediation Council.
The Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors promotes the highest standards of professional practice in this field of expertise and to expand the knowledge and study of all matters to do with party walls, to encourage the exchange of information and ideas amongst its Members.
Party Wall Surveying procedures start upon service of a Party Wall Notice. This Notice will need to be served a minimum of 1 or 2 months in advance of the proposed works commencing, however, here at Icon Surveyors, we advise serving the Party Wall Notices as soon as possible.
Party Wall Notices can be served directly by a Building Owner however, we recommend a Party Wall Surveyor serves them, this will ensure the legal validity and avoid delay down the line. This also confirms to the neighbour that professionals are involved, and will make it more likely to get an agreement.
In most circumstances, the Building Owner will pay for the Party Wall Surveyor’s reasonable fees.
There are some scenarios the Party Wall Surveyor’s / Surveyors’ costs may be apportioned between both the Building Owner and Adjoining Owner.
We advise discussing fees with your Party Wall Surveyor in advance of instruction this will ensure you are fully informed.
Here at Icon Surveyors, our Party Wall Surveying costs are fixed.
The time to complete Party Wall Surveying Procedures can vary depending upon a number of different variables including:
Generally speaking, 1 – 3 months from the point at which the Party Wall Notices are served upon the Adjoining Owner.
Party Wall Surveying costs / Surveyor’s fees will vary dependent on the construction works taking place as well as the types of property the works are being undertaken on.
Here at Icon Surveyors, both our Building Owner Party Wall Surveyor and Agreed Party Wall Surveyor jobs are competitively priced at a fixed cost.
