Planning an extension, fence or new build? Get a precise, defensible boundary line first — avoid disputes and planning delays later.
A property boundary survey establishes the precise legal position of the line between your land and your neighbour's — based on title deeds, the Land Registry title plan, historical mapping and an on-site measurement — rather than relying on where a fence happens to stand today. For anyone planning an extension, a new fence or wall, or a new build close to a shared boundary, this is the single most important piece of due diligence before work starts.
Building without a confirmed boundary line risks a neighbour boundary dispute after the fact — including claims that your structure encroaches on their land, planning objections, and in the worst cases an order to remove or alter what's been built. A pre-build boundary determination protects your investment and gives your architect, builder and planning application a legally defensible reference point from day one.
Where the exact line is unclear or contested, an application can be made to HM Land Registry to have a boundary formally "determined" and fixed on the register — the strongest form of certainty available, and one that prevents future encroachment or adverse possession claims from ever arising.
Building on or near an unclear boundary risks expensive redesigns, neighbour objections, and planning refusals. Confirming the precise line first means your plans, and your relationship with neighbours, start on solid ground.
It isn't a legal requirement, but it's strongly recommended for any build near a shared boundary. A confirmed line prevents costly disputes, protects your planning application, and gives your architect and builder a precise reference point.
A RICS-accredited surveyor examines the title deeds, the Land Registry title plan, historical Ordnance Survey mapping and physical evidence on site — such as fences, walls and boundary markers — to establish where the legal line runs, following the RICS professional standard for boundary determination.
A determined boundary is a formal application that fixes the exact legal line on the title register, backed by a surveyor's plan accurate to within 10mm. Once registered, it removes any future ambiguity and heads off encroachment or adverse possession disputes.
For a standard boundary survey, no. For a formal determined boundary application, HM Land Registry will usually notify neighbouring owners — though if your neighbour agrees the position in writing beforehand, this step can be simplified considerably.
Our boundary surveys start from a fixed £1,050 for a single boundary line, agreed upfront with no hidden costs — confirmed after a short, free discussion about your project.
The six stages of resolving a dispute, from gathering the paperwork through to court — and where each one usually ends.
Read the guide →What to do if a fence, extension or hedge has already crossed onto your land.
Read more →If your neighbour says you've crossed the line, here's how an independent survey protects you too.
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