Party Wall Etc. Act 1996  

The owner of any property (whether a building or land) which includes a dividing structure (wall, floor, ceiling) with a neighbour has important legal obligations under the Party Wall legislation.

Many people are unaware of these obligations and sometimes, when building works are carried out, this can lead to all sorts of problems and possible conflict.

For example:-

• If a 'Building Owner' decides to have a party wall injected with a chemical, for damp-proofing purposes, important notification procedures must be followed to ensure the 'Adjoining Owner' is fully aware of and in agreement with the works proposed. 
• If a 'Building Owner' or 'Adjoining Owner' decides to build an extension near or on the legal boundary, the requirements of the Party Wall Etc Act 1996 stipulate (amongst other things) that a qulaified surveyor is appointed to serve Notice and undertake a 'before and after' inspection- to be certain that any works carried out do not cause damage to a third party's property.

It is critical that Party Wall Notices are served in a correct manner and within a specific time-frame.

If you are a potential purchaser (or an existing owner) of a property where Party Wall works have been carried out (or are about to be carried out) it is essential that you consult a Party Wall surveyor to establish the facts and to check that everything is 'above board'.

Mark Duckworth, our Associate, is fully qualified to advise on all Party Wall matters. He can be contacted at our Ely office - 01353 661222. Why not ring him for a FREE initial 'phone consultation (maximum 20 minutes)?

There is a useful guide on Party Wall issues, too -

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/133214.pdf