When to Appoint a Party Wall Surveyor in Kent?
Our party wall surveyors in Kent can handle disputes and address issues outlined in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
We cater to both the party proposing the works (the building owner) and the party responding to the works (the adjoining owner).
You’ll require a party wall surveyor in Kent if you wish to:
- Propose work to your Kent neighbour that may impact or pose a risk to their property.
- Obtain a Schedule of Condition – a survey document outlining the areas at risk from the proposed work, accompanied by photographic evidence.
- Resolve a dispute when the adjoining owner dissents to the notice of the proposed works.
- Reach a party wall agreement and acquire a Party Wall Award, the final document that details the agreed-upon terms once a dispute is resolved.
What Falls Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996?
There are three primary areas where the building owner must serve a notice to adjoining owners in Kent.
- Work is planned on a shared wall affecting its structure, including inserting steels or increasing the wall’s height.
- Excavation is planned within 3.0m of an adjoining or shared structure, with a depth greater than the base of the foundation. This would include a retrospectively constructed basement.
- A new wall will be built up to or astride the shared boundary.
Contact us today for a free consultation and quote to understand how we can assist.
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in Kent please contact us today.
How Can Our Party Wall Surveyors in Kent Assist You?
Whether you’re the building owner or the adjoining owner, our adept Kent party wall surveyors are here to support you.
For Building Owners Proposing Works
We assist building owners in preparing notices, completing a Schedule of Condition, and resolving disputes with neighbours.
If your planned work falls under the Party Wall Act, you must notify the affected parties. Your neighbour then has three response options:
- Consent and allow your proposed work to continue.
- Dissent and appoint the same Kent party wall surveyor as you.
- Dissent and appoint a different Kent party wall surveyor.
Ideally, you’d want your neighbour to choose one of the first two options, as building owners are responsible for the surveyor’s reasonable fees.
By hiring an expert party wall surveyor like Peter Barry, we can increase the likelihood of a smooth process with expert advice and technical knowledge.
We recommend offering to pay for a Schedule of Condition as part of your Notice.
This document records the property’s condition, which can protect you from damage claims during or after work.
Offering to pay can also show goodwill to your neighbour and increase the chance of consent.
Adjoining Owners Responding to Works
If your Kent neighbour is proposing works that can affect your property, you have three response options:
- Consent if you’re content with the proposed work.
- Dissent and appoint the same surveyor as your neighbour to resolve the dispute.
- Dissent and appoint a different surveyor from your neighbour to resolve the dispute.
Even if you consent, we suggest obtaining a Schedule of Condition from an expert party wall surveyor like Peter Barry.
It provides a record of your property’s condition, which can help identify new damage and substantiate your damage claims.
If a Dispute Arises
If a party wall notice is dissented to, a dispute arises per the Party Wall Act.
Appointed party wall surveyors must impartially resolve the dispute, balancing the interests of all parties involved.
Once the dispute is resolved, a Party Wall Award is created, outlining agreed terms and authorising the proposed work to continue.
Obligations may include minimising the risk of damage and avoiding unnecessary inconvenience for affected neighbours.
Party Wall Surveyors Fees in Kent
As per the Party Wall Act, the party proposing the works must cover the surveyor’s reasonable fees.
These fees will depend on the scope of the project, with varying costs depending on what you’ll need.
Our common fees include:
- Party Wall Notice: A flat fee of £65 + VAT per adjoining owner for preparation and service.
- Schedule of Condition: Between £450 and £650 + VAT, depending on the proposed work’s scope and property size.
Costs may vary in case of a party wall dispute, with adjoining owners charged hourly.
However, the Party Wall Act includes mechanisms to keep these fees reasonable.
Our Other Services in Kent
PARTY WALL SURVEYORS NEAR YOU IN KENT
YOUR LOCAL PETER BARRY OFFICE
1 Cobden RoadSevenoaks
Kent
TN13 3UB
Telephone: 01732 441 536
Email: surveying@peterbarry.co.uk
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in Kent please contact us today.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Excellent
Why Choose Peter Barry Party Wall Surveyors in Kent?
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.
AREAS WE COVER IN KENT
From our office in Sevenoaks, Peter Barry Chartered Surveyors cover popular locations across Kent, including:
- East Grinstead
- Edenbridge
- Gravesend
- Maidstone
- Oxted
- Rochester
- Sevenoaks
- Tunbridge Wells
