WHEN DOES THE PARTY WALL ACT APPLY?
Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you need to notify adjoining owners when building works may affect a shared wall or boundary.
The Act applies when:
- Modifying a shared wall or structure (e.g. chimney removal, loft extension)
- Excavating within 3 metres of another building
- Building up to or astride a boundary
This is common in Richmond’s semi-detached and terraced homes, particularly in areas like St Margarets, Kew, and North Sheen.
We can help both the building owner and adjoining owner handle the situation efficiently.
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 Richmond Choose Us
For building owners, appointing a qualified RICS surveyor like Peter Barry can help avoid misunderstandings and save thousands in unexpected costs. If a notice results in a dispute, a surveyor can then be formally appointed to act on your behalf.
We help:
- Draft and serve notices that comply with the Act
- Increase the chance of neighbour consent
- Record a Schedule of Condition with supporting photographs
- Manage disputes if they arise
In family neighbourhoods like Richmond, a friendly approach with expert guidance goes a long way toward positive outcomes.
Worried About a Party Wall Notice You’ve Received in Richmond?
As an adjoining owner, if you’ve received notice of work from your neighbour, you have three options:
- Consent
- Agree on a shared surveyor
- or appoint your own surveyor (at no cost to you).
We can assess risks to your home, liaise with the other party wall surveyor on your behalf, and advise on the best next steps.
With Richmond’s older houses, minor works can have big impacts, so it’s best to get expert advice early on.
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 Richmond upon Thames, from our local office in Fulham. Use the map below to find us or get directions.
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
AREAS WE COVER IN SOUTH WEST LONDON
From our Fulham office we cover South West London including the areas 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 Richmond Homeowners Trust Us?
– Trusted for party wall matters in South West London for 40+ years
– Excellent knowledge of local conservation rules
– Transparent fees and practical guidance
– Chartered Surveyors regulated by RICS
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.
