DO YOU NEED A PARTY WALL SURVEYOR IN CROYDON?
Our party wall surveyors are experts who can resolve disputes and deal with issues covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
You’ll need a party wall surveyor in Croydon if you want to:
- Alert and propose work to your neighbour on a shared structure that could impact or pose a risk to their property.
- Get a Schedule of Condition – a survey document outlining the areas of a property at risk from the proposed work, including photographic evidence.
- Resolve a dispute when the adjoining owner rejects the notice of the proposed works.
- Get a Party Wall Award – a document outlining the agreed-upon terms of the proposed work once a dispute is resolved.
(More on all of these later).
As you can see, both the party proposing the works and the affected adjoining owner can benefit from an expert party wall surveyor in Croydon.
There are three main areas of work where the building owner must serve a notice to adjoining owners.
- Work is being carried out on the shared wall that will affect its structure. This can include inserting steels, increasing the height of the wall, and removing a chimney breast bonded into the party wall and underpinning.
- Excavation is planned within 3.0m of a shared structure, and the excavation depth is greater than the base of the foundation.
- A new wall will be built up to or astride the shared boundary.
Contact us today to learn how we can help with a free consultation and quote.
How Our Party Wall Surveyors in Croydon Can Help You
We can help Croydon property owners with all their party wall needs, from the initial service of notices to dispute resolutions.
The way we help will depend on who you are and the work required.
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in Croydon please contact us today.
Building Owner Proposing Works
As the building owner proposing works in Croydon, our party wall surveyors can help you prepare notices, complete a Schedule of Condition, and resolve any potential disputes.
If you’ve got work planned that is covered under the Party Wall Act, you will need to serve a notice to any affected adjoining owners.
The adjoining owners can respond in three ways:
- To consent and allow your proposed work to continue.
- To dissent and appoint the same Croydon surveyor as you.
- To dissent and appoint a different Croydon surveyor.
Generally, option three is the least favourable for building owners.
This is because building owners are responsible for the surveyor’s reasonable fees, which means you’ll need to cover the costs of a second surveyor.
You should hire an expert property surveyor in Croydon to have the best chance of the adjoining owner picking the first two options.
This is because we can give you expert recommendations and handle the situation with the technical knowledge required to ensure a smooth and favourable process.
We recommend offering to pay for a Schedule of Condition when serving your notice.
This document will record the condition of the parts of the adjoining property at risk from your proposed works.
Doing this will better protect you from damage claims during or after work, as neighbouring owners can often assume any cracks in the wall are new and caused by your work.
Adjoining Owner Notified of Works
If your neighbour in Croydon has served a party wall notice on you, we can help you with the following process.
Your first step is deciding how to respond to the notice. You have three options:
- To consent and allow your Croydon neighbour to continue their proposed work.
- To dissent and appoint the same surveyor as your neighbour to resolve the dispute.
- To dissent and appoint a surveyor different from your neighbour to resolve the dispute.
If you consent, we recommend getting a Schedule of Condition from an expert party wall surveyor near you like Peter Barry.
By getting a Schedule of Condition, you can document the current condition of the parts of your property at risk from your neighbour’s proposed work.
Having this on record will then let you identify and have proof of any damage caused by the work.
We can also help if you dissent to the served notice (more on this next).
If a Dispute Arises
Once a party wall notice has been dissented to, it becomes a “dispute” as per the Party Wall Act.
The appointed party wall surveyors are obligated to resolve the dispute and must act impartially and balance the interests of all parties.
Once there’s an agreement between the surveyors, a Party Wall Award is made to outline the agreed-upon terms.
This document will authorise the proposed works to continue while placing obligations on the building owner, such as ensuring that the risk of damage is minimised as much as possible and that there’s no unnecessary inconvenience for the adjoining owners.
Party Wall Surveyor Croydon Cost
As per the Party Wall Act, the party proposing the works must pay the surveyor’s reasonable fees.
These fees can change depending on the project’s scope and if the adjoining owner dissents.
At Peter Barry, we charge a flat fee of £65 + VAT per adjoining owner to prepare and serve notices.
A Schedule of Condition can cost between £450 and £650 + VAT. This is determined by the scope of the proposed work in Croydon and the property size.
Costs can vary once a dispute arises, as adjoining owner’s surveyors charge hourly.
However, the Party Wall Act has mechanisms to keep these fees as reasonable as possible.
Your Local Party Wall Surveyors in Croydon
Our incredible Carter Fielding team provides expert party wall surveying services in Croydon from our Fulham office.
Our Other Services in Croydon
About Croydon
Croydon, a bustling borough nestled in Greater London, finds itself flanked by the neighbouring areas of Sutton and Wimbledon. This prime location offers a fusion of vibrant city life and the serene suburban charm that defines the area.
Transport links in Croydon are exceptionally well-developed, ensuring seamless connectivity for residents and visitors alike. The borough benefits from its extensive tram network, efficient railway stations, and a comprehensive bus network, allowing for effortless travel within Croydon and beyond.
Croydon is adorned with a plethora of significant buildings and landmarks that reflect its rich history and architectural diversity. The iconic Croydon Clocktower stands tall as a cultural centre, housing the town’s library, museum, and art galleries. The striking 50-storey Nestlé Tower, known as the Croydon Tower, dominates the skyline and symbolises the area’s modern development.
Additionally, Croydon holds a special connection to the world of music through Kirsty MacColl, the acclaimed singer-songwriter. MacColl, a former resident of the borough and daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl, drew inspiration from the vibrant atmosphere of Croydon and crafted timeless melodies that resonated with audiences worldwide. Fairytale of New York, the greatest Christmas song of all time, just would not have been the same without her unique vocal contribution.
YOUR LOCAL PETER BARRY OFFICE
New Kings House,136-144 New Kings Road,
Fulham,
London,
SW6 4LZ
Telephone: 020 7471 8932
Email: surveying@peterbarry.co.uk
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in Croydon please contact us today.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Excellent
WHAT SETS PETER BARRY APART FROM OTHER PARTY WALL SURVEYORS CROYDON?
Leading London-based party wall specialists with a 35+ year history.
Breadth & depth of expertise provided by experienced team of RICS surveyors.
Straight forward and honest professional, impartial advice.
Up-to-date understanding of best practice and case law through training and CPD.
Members of relevant governing bodies – RICS, FPWS, P&T.
Party Wall Frequently Asked Questions
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.
