When Should You Appoint a Party Wall Surveyor in Sevenoaks?
Our party wall surveyors in Sevenoaks can resolve disputes and deal with issues covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
We can help both the party proposing the works (the building owner) and the party responding to the notice (the adjoining owner).
You’ll need a party wall surveyor in Sevenoaks if you want to:
- Propose work via a Notice to your Sevenoaks neighbour that could impact/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 dissents to 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.
What Type of Work Falls Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996?
There are three main areas of work where the building owner must serve a notice to adjoining owners in Sevenoaks.
- Work is planned on a shared wall that will affect its structure, including inserting steels or increasing the height of the wall.
- There’s excavation planned, such as to facilitate a basement extension, within 3.0m of an adjoining or shared structure, and to a greater depth than the base of the foundation to that structure.
- 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.
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in Sevenoaks please contact us today.
How Can Our Party Wall Surveyors in Sevenoaks Help You?
Whether you’re the building owner or the adjoining owner, our expert Sevenoaks party wall surveyors are here to help. Here’s how:
Building Owner Proposing Works
We can help building owners prepare notices, complete a Schedule of Condition, and help resolve disputes if they arise with your neighbour.
If your planned work falls under the Party Wall Act, you’ll need to serve a notice to any affected parties.
Your neighbour will then have three options to respond to this notice.
- To consent and allow your proposed work to continue.
- To dissent and appoint the same Sevenoaks surveyor as you.
- To dissent and appoint a different Sevenoaks surveyor.
Ideally, you’ll want your neighbour to respond with one of the first two options.
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.
We can help you increase the chances of your neighbour taking the first options by giving expert advice and having the technical knowledge required for a smooth process.
We’d recommend offering to pay for a Schedule of Condition as part of your Notice.
This document records the condition of the parts of the property at risk.
Getting a Schedule of Condition can also help protect you from damage claims during or after work.
In our experience, neighbouring owners often assume any cracks in their property are new and caused by your work.
Adjoining Owners Responding to Works
If your Sevenoaks neighbour is proposing works that can affect your property, you have three options when responding to their notice.
- You can consent if you’re happy with the proposed work.
- You can dissent and appoint the same surveyor as your neighbour to resolve the dispute.
- You can dissent and appoint a different surveyor from your neighbour to resolve the dispute.
Even if you choose to consent and are happy with the proposed work, we suggest getting a Schedule of Condition from an expert party wall surveyor.
A record of your property’s condition will let you identify any new damage and give you proof when seeking claims.
If you choose to dissent, a dispute will arise (more on this next).
If a Dispute Arises
If a party wall notice has been dissented to, a dispute arises as outlined in the Party Wall Act.
When this happens, the appointed party wall surveyors are obligated to resolve the dispute by acting impartially and balancing the interests of all involved parties.
This means there’s no harm in appointing the same surveyor as your neighbour.
Once the dispute has been resolved, a Party Wall Award is created to outline the agreed terms.
The Award authorises the proposed work to continue but places obligations on the building owner.
This can include ensuring that the risk of damage is minimised as reasonably possible and that there’s no unnecessary inconvenience for the affected neighbours.
Party Wall Surveyor Sevenoaks Cost
In all normal circumstances, the party proposing the works must pay the surveyor’s reasonable fees, which can depend on the scope of the project.
- Party Wall Notice – a flat of £65 + VAT per adjoining owner to prepare and serve.
- Schedule of Condition – between £450 and £650 + VAT depending on the scope of the proposed work and size of the property.
Costs can vary if a party wall dispute arises, as adjoining owners’s surveyors charge by the hour.
But there are mechanisms in the Party Wall Act to keep these fees as reasonable as possible.
Our Other Services in Sevenoaks
PARTY WALL SURVEYORS NEAR YOU IN SEVENOAKS
Sevenoaks seamlessly blends history, natural beauty, and a dash of literary legacy. Nestled amidst the greenery of the Garden of England, it enjoys its place between Tunbridge Wells to the west and Maidstone to the east.
Local transport links in Sevenoaks are quite convenient. The town’s railway station is well-connected to London, making it an attractive choice for commuters seeking a slice of countryside living. The M25 motorway also skirts the area, offering accessibility by road to nearby urban hubs.
One of the most striking features of Sevenoaks is the historic Knole House, an impressive stately home with centuries of history. Its grandeur and vast parkland are a testament to the region’s opulent heritage.
Sevenoaks also boasts literary connections, as it was the residence of iconic science fiction writer H. G. Wells. The property he lived in whilst writing The Time Machine, known as Tusculum Villa, displays a blue plaque. The echoes of his creativity still resonate in the area, inviting literature enthusiasts to explore the town’s unique connection to one of the literary greats.
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 Sevenoaks please contact us today.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
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Why Choose Peter Barry Party Wall Surveyors?
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.
