Party Wall Awards

If you live in a semi-detached or terraced house, the wall that separates your property from your neighbour’s house, is known as a party wall.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996, lays down a procedure to follow when building work involves a party wall, which is designed to protect both property owners' rights over the wall and to minimise the extent of any dispute that may arise as a result of the work. The Act also covers other building operations which involve excavation to certain depths, within certain specified distances of an existing building. It also applies to commercial property.

If a dispute arises under the Act, two surveyors, or a single agreed surveyor, have to be appointed and it is their duty to prepare a Party Wall Award, an “Agreement”, which records the nature of the work, the method to be used to complete the work and the timing of certain operations necessary to carry out the work. In short, the Award is a legal agreement between the neighbouring property owners, which protects both parties’ interests and which is legally enforceable.

It is important to appoint surveyors who are trained and experienced in Party Wall matters, as if the Act is not followed diligently, any Award may be unenforceable and this may lead to lengthy and costly legal proceedings for both property owners.