Can I Do a Party Wall Agreement Myself?

If you’re planning building work, you might be tempted to undertake the party wall process yourself.

And while in some situations, you can manage parts of the process without appointing a surveyor, you can’t do the entire process yourself.

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll show you what you can and can’t do during the party wall process, and when you will need a party wall surveyor like Peter Barry.

Can I Write My Own Party Wall Agreement?

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you must first serve a party wall notice which outlines your planned works. Your neighbour then has the opportunity to consent or dissent.

You are allowed to draft and serve the party wall notice yourself. If they consent, you may proceed without appointing surveyors. In that case, the written consent effectively becomes the agreement between neighbours.

If they dissent, surveyors must be appointed, and a party wall award is prepared. This document sets out how the works will be carried out and protects both properties.

You’re not legally allowed to act for yourself so must appoint a party wall surveyor.

Party Wall Agreement vs Party Wall Notice

Many homeowners get confused between a party wall agreement and a party wall notice, with some using the term “party wall agreement” to describe the entire process.

In reality, there are two distinct documents to be aware of during the party wall process.

1. Party wall notice – A formal written notice informing your neighbour of the proposed works. You are legally allowed to write and send a party wall notice yourself. If your neighbour consents to the works, this serves as an agreement, and there’s no need to appoint a party wall surveyor.
2. Party wall award – If a dispute arises, you are legally required under the Party Wall Act to appoint a surveyor. The surveyor will then prepare a legally binding document that allows the works to proceed with safeguards in place.

Understanding this distinction helps avoid confusion when researching the process.

Can I Serve a Party Wall Notice?

Yes, a building owner is allowed to serve their own party wall notice as the Party Wall Act doesn’t require notices to be prepared by a surveyor.

However, the notice must contain the correct information and be served properly. If the notice is incorrect or incomplete, it may be considered invalid, and the process will need to start again.

For this reason, some homeowners prefer to have notices prepared professionally.

You can learn more about party wall notices in our guide.

Can I Act as My Own Party Wall Surveyor?

No, you cannot act as your own party wall surveyor in the event of a dispute with your neighbour.

Under the Party Wall Act, a surveyor must be appointed. The owners cannot act as their own surveyor.

Surveyors appointed under the Act must act impartially and follow the statutory procedure. Their role is to assess the proposed works and prepare the party wall award.

Even if you initially served the notice yourself, a surveyor becomes necessary once the dispute process begins.

When Do I Need a Party Wall Agreement?

You may need to follow the party wall process if your works involve:

• Cutting into a shared wall
• Inserting steel beams into a party wall
• Removing a chimney breast attached to a party wall
• Excavating within 3 metres of a neighbouring or shared structure and deeper than their foundations
• Building directly on the boundary line between properties

Loft conversions, rear extensions and basement works commonly trigger these requirements.

If you’re unsure whether your planned works are covered in the Party Wall Act, be sure to contact us today to learn more.

How Do I Submit a Party Wall Agreement?

The process normally works like this:

1. Confirm whether your proposed works fall within the scope of the Party Wall Act
2. Serve a written party wall notice on the adjoining owner
3. Wait up to 14 days for a response
4. If consent is given, you may proceed with the notified works
5. If your neighbour dissents, or they don’t respond within 14 days, surveyors are appointed to prepare a party wall award

Once the award is served, the works can proceed in accordance with the conditions set out in the document.

Can My Neighbour Refuse a Party Wall Agreement?

Your neighbour can refuse consent to the proposed works.

However, refusal doesn’t automatically stop the project. Instead, it triggers the formal dispute resolution process under the Party Wall Act.

At that stage, surveyors are appointed to assess the works and prepare the party wall award.

The award sets out how the work must be carried out and what protections must be in place for the adjoining property.

You can learn more about what happens if your neighbour refuses a party wall agreement by reading our guide.