EXPERT PROPERTY SURVEYING SERVICES THAT SPECIFICALLY CATER TO EAST LONDON & ESSEX

Piled foundations, even if the ground is being displaced rather than removed (such as with driven piles) is generally considered to be covered by Section 6 of the Part Wall Act. If the piles are deep, and it’s not unusual for augured piles to go down 10.0m+, the owners of all structures with 6.0m have to be notified. Piled foundation tend to be used when the ground is poor and it would therefore be costly or impractical to construct the more common trench fill foundations.

Our surveyor Justin Burns recently finalised the party wall awards for a project where, unusually, piled foundations were being used to support an outbuilding at the end of the garden. Piling is a comparatively low risk activity as the hole is supported by a sleeve immediately following excavation. Rather than ground movement, the risk to adjoining structures comes from vibration if the auger meets resistance or from the piling rig toppling if an adequate piling mat has not been constructed. These risks were mitigated in the award to protect the adjoining owners.

A homeowner from a quiet residential turning close to Gidea Park station contacted us after receiving notice from his neighbour that he intended to carry out  work to his property. He wanted to seek advice on the process and the potential effects of the neighbours’ works on his own home. At the end of the conversation with Katie Merchant, the adjoining owner had decided to dissent to the notices, and appoint us as their surveyor, but was content with sharing us with the neighbour.

After a conversation with the building owner he also agreed to appoint Peter Barry Surveyors as agreed surveyor. We reviewed the party wall notices and discovered that they did not include all of the notifiable works, which resulted in us serving further notices on the building owners’ behalf.

The party wall process continued with ease and a written schedule of condition was recorded to form part of the finalised Party Wall Award. The building owners had not been through the party wall process before, but commented in a review “We found her (Katie) very thorough and good at communication.”

Proposed works were due to commence at a mid-terrace property in Gants Hill. Both adjoining owners received the relevant party wall notice relating to the works and at this point had the right to dissent to the notices and appoint us as their party wall surveyors.

The proposed works related to a single storey rear extension, which would not be counted as complex. However, both adjoining owners had their own concerns, which were raised and addressed prior to the party wall award commencing.

One of the neighbours commented that we “had been very helpful, patient and efficient dealing with our queries.”