WHEN DOES THE PARTY WALL ACT APPLY?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies when building work may impact a shared wall, structure, or boundary. It protects both the building owner carrying out the work and the adjoining owner affected by it.
You’ll likely need a party wall surveyor and to serve notice if your plans in Chelsea include:
- Structural changes to a shared wall – e.g. chimney removal or loft works in a mansion block
- Excavations within 3 metres – common in basement conversions or rear extensions
- New walls built up to or astride boundaries – such as for garden landscaping or outbuildings
In Chelsea, where many homes are listed or within conservation areas, party wall procedures require particular care and experience.
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in South West London please contact us today.
Why Building Owners in Chelsea Choose Us?
Homeowners in Chelsea trust Peter Barry to ensure notices are served properly and disputes are avoided early on. If a notice results in a dispute, a surveyor can then be formally appointed to act on your behalf.
We:
- Prepare and serve legally sound notices
- Provide strategies to encourage consent
- Handle party wall awards if disputes arise
Received a Party Wall Notice in Chelsea?
As an adjoining owner, you have three options:
- Consent to the works
- Dissent and appoint the same surveyor
- Dissent and appoint your own surveyor
We’ll guide you through the process, assess risks, and document your property’s condition.
In Chelsea’s older brick townhouses, even small works can cause movement, so a Schedule of Condition is highly recommended.
Our Other Services in South West London
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in South West London please contact us today.
BEST PARTY WALL SURVEYOR NEAR YOU IN SOUTH WEST LONDON
We operate across South West London, including Chelsea, from our local office in Fulham. Use the map below to find us or get directions.
YOUR LOCAL PETER BARRY OFFICE
New Kings House136-144 New Kings Road
Fulham
London
SW6 4LZ
Telephone: 020 7471 8932
Email: surveying@peterbarry.co.uk
AREAS WE COVER IN SOUTH WEST LONDON
We cover the south-west of London from our office at New Kings House, 136-144 New Kings Road, Fulham including the areas noted below.
- Brixton SW2
- Streatham Hill SW2
- Chelsea SW3
- Clapham SW4
- Clapham Common SW4
- Clapham Park SW4
- Earls Court SW5
- Fulham SW6
- Parsons Green SW6
- Knightsbridge SW7
- South Kensington SW7
- Battersea SW8
- Nine Elms SW8
- Vauxhall SW8
- Stockwell SW9
- West Brompton SW10
- Clapham Junction SW11
- Lavender Hill SW11
- Balham SW12
- Barnes SW13
- East Sheen SW14
- Mortlake SW14
- Putney SW15
- Putney Heath SW15
- Roehampton SW15
- Norbury SW16
- Streatham SW16
- Furzedown SW17
- Tooting SW17
- Tooting Bec SW17
- Earlsfield SW18
- Southfields SW18
- Wandsworth SW18
- Colliers Wood SW19
- Merton Park SW19
- Wimbledon SW19
- Raynes Park SW20
- West Wimbledon SW20
Party Wall Frequently Asked Questions
Why Chelsea Residents Trust Peter Barry?
– 40+ years of London party wall surveyor experience
– Local insight into Chelsea property types
– RICS-regulated Chartered Surveyors
– Clear quotes and fast turnaround
What is a Party Wall?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 came into force on 1st July 1997 and is now enshrined in English law. It stipulates the rights and responsibilities that must be observed for anyone planning to work falling within its scope. Read more about the Act here.
What is a Party Wall Agreement?
For surveyors who undertake this form of work day in day out, it can be easy to assume that there is good general understanding as to what a party wall award includes and entails. That assumption is regularly proven wrong when our team is speaking to potential clients and detailing the 3 response options to the notices. Learn about party wall agreements here.
When Do You Need a Party Wall Agreement?
Completing the party wall awards is often the last part of the jigsaw required to allow work to commence on site and the process which leads up to that point can be delayed for any number of reasons; from technical queries relating to the proposed works to the appointed surveyors’ holiday arrangements. It’s therefore advisable to get started as soon as possible but when is the perfect time to start the process by serving notice?
Can Neighbours Refuse Party Wall Agreement?
It is not uncommon to discover that your neighbour has gone ahead with building works that technically fall under party wall legislation. Indeed, at Peter Barry Surveyors, we are used to getting two or three phone calls a week from Adjoining Owners whose neighbours are carrying out qualifying works without having served notice as legally required by the Party Wall Act. Click here to learn what to do when your neighbour ignores the Party Wall Act.
