WHEN SHOULD YOU HIRE A PARTY WALL SURVEYOR IN SOUTH LONDON?
A party wall surveyor is a specialist who resolves disputes under the party wall act.
Under the party wall act, there are three main areas of work where it may be necessary to appoint a party wall surveyor.
- Work is being conducted on the party wall that directly affects the structure, such as inserting steels, increasing the height of the wall, or removing a chimney breast bonded into the party wall and underpinning.
- Excavation occurs within 3.0m of an adjoining wall or shared structure, and it’s to a greater depth than the base of the foundation. We usually see this occurring when foundations are needed for a rear extension or a new basement is being excavated.
- A new wall is being constructed up to or astride the shared boundary. We most commonly see this with a rear extension with a wall at the boundary. Garden walls are also included.
If any of this work is being planned, the party proposing the work must notify any affected adjoining owners.
As one of the most trusted Chartered Surveyors in London, we’ve got the combination of technical and legal knowledge needed to ensure that notices are valid and that the response is as favourable as possible.
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in South London please contact us today.
Can Peter Barry Party Wall Surveyors in South London Help You?
From the service of notices to handling disputes, our party wall surveyors remain on hand to assist you as necessary.
The help we can give will depend upon the adjoining owner’s response.
If you’re looking for party wall services in Wimbledon or Croydon, be sure to check out our specific pages on party wall surveyors Wimbledon and party wall surveyors in Croydon.
Are You the Building Owner (the Party Proposing the Works)?
If you’ve proposed work that falls under the Party Wall Act, you’ll need to notify any affected adjoining owners by serving a notice.
Your adjoining owner will have three options when responding to this notice:
- To consent.
- To dissent and appoint the same surveyor as you.
- To dissent and appoint a separate surveyor.
As the building owner, you’ll be responsible for the surveyors’ reasonable fees.
In other words, you must also pay for the second surveyor if the adjoining owner decides to appoint one.
This makes it important to have the notice prepared by one of our expert South London party wall surveyors, as it’ll increase the chances of the adjoining owner picking one of the first two options – preventing you from paying for two surveyors.
We can also help you improve the chances of consent. To do this, we recommend including an offer to pay for a schedule of condition when serving the notice.
A schedule of condition is a written record that outlines the parts of the adjoining owner’s property that are at risk from the proposed works, along with supporting photographs.
Having this record on file will be useful should there be a damage claim during or after the works are completed.
In our experience, this is a common occurrence as neighbours take much more notice of the condition of their property during neighbouring works.
They’ll often assume that any cracks in the wall are new.
Are You the Adjoining Owner (The Neighbours of the Party Proposing Works)?
If you’re the adjoining owner, you can respond to the party wall notice in three ways:
- To consent.
- To dissent and appoint the same surveyor as your neighbour
- To dissent and appoint a separate surveyor.
How you respond to the notice depends on your concern about the work proposals.
If the work is straightforward and thoroughly described, you may choose to consent.
We recommend you get a schedule of condition when consenting to the notice.
This will record the condition of the parts of your property that are at risk from the works. Having it on record will allow you to identify any damage during or after work is completed.
You may be concerned about the proposed work. In this case, you can dissent and appoint your own surveyor – the same as your neighbours or one of your choice.
With over 40 years of experience, our team of specialist party wall surveyors in South London are adept at reducing the risk of damage and putting measures in place to minimise your inconvenience.
Contact us today to see how we can help you.
Is There a Dispute?
Per the Party Wall Act, a “dispute” arises if the notice has been dissented to.
When this happens, the appointed party wall surveyor(s) must resolve this dispute.
To do so, they must act impartially and balance the interests of the property owners.
When terms are agreed, they are set out in a document known as the party wall award.
The party wall award will authorise the notified works while placing obligations on the building owner.
This includes ensuring the risk of damage is minimised as reasonably possible and the adjoining owner does not suffer unnecessary inconvenience.
Our Party Wall Surveyor South London Prices
At Peter Barry, we charge a flat fee of £75 plus VAT per adjoining owner to prepare and service the party wall notices.
If you need to prepare a schedule of condition, you can expect a charge between £450 and £650 plus VAT, depending on the scope of the works and size of the property.
Building Owner Fees
Fees to the building owner will depend on the scope of the work, the number of affected adjoining properties, and how their owners respond to the notice.
Remember that when a dispute arises, the building owner (the party proposing the works) will be responsible for the surveyors’ reasonable fees.
If you email us a copy of the drawings, we’ll be happy to give you a competitive fixed fee quote covering the various scenarios.
Contact us today to request a free quote.
Adjoining Owner Fees
The adjoining owner’s surveyor’s fee is not known in advance as it’s charged hourly.
However, there are mechanisms within the Party Wall Act which try to keep the fees reasonable.
If you’re the building owner, the best way to minimise these fees is to hire a surveyor with the skill and experience to anticipate and address issues quickly.
Where Are Our South London Party Wall Surveyors Located?
We have two offices serving the South London area, with party wall surveyors in South West London and party wall surveyors in South East London.
Our Other Services in South London
CONTACT US
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in South London please contact us today.
Party Wall Surveyor South West London
With some of the most exclusive residential addresses in the country, South West London is perfectly positioned between Central London and the Surrey countryside. The area includes delightful stretches of the Thames, elegant squares and lots of green space.
Whilst reassuringly self-contained, South West London has some of the best transport links in the capital by train, London Underground, bus and tram. A typical journey from Fulham into London’s Zone 1 will take around 20 minutes, meaning you are in a prime position to enjoy the best the capital has to offer both at work and during your leisure time.
Once you have decided on which part of London is for you and found the perfect property to buy our team of Chartered Surveyors will be happy to help you with that important next step.
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
Party Wall Surveyor South East London
Our offices in Greenwich are ideally situated in the heart of South East London, meaning our surveyors are perfectly placed to inspect your potential new home and give you the reassurance you need to proceed.
South East London’s laid-back, arty vibe is becoming more and more popular as property hunters seek a London address at an achievable price. Recent regeneration has stimulated the local economy and enhanced South East London’s reputation as a complete cultural, entertainment and leisure package, with venues such as the 02 Centre in Greenwich gaining worldwide recognition.
Once you have settled upon a property to buy, we will be happy to provide advice on which type of survey is likely to provide you with the information you require to take the next step.
YOUR LOCAL PETER BARRY OFFICE
6 Mitre Passage,Greenwich,
London,
SE10 0ER
Telephone: 020 8305 2099
Email: surveying@peterbarry.co.uk
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Excellent
WHAT SETS PETER BARRY APART FROM OTHER PARTY WALL SURVEYORS SOUTH LONDON?
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 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
AREAS WE COVER IN SOUTH EAST LONDON
We cover the south-east of London from our office at 6 Mitre Passage, Greenwich, London SE10 0ER including the areas noted below.
- Abbey Wood SE2
- West Heath SE2
- Blackheath SE3
- Kidbrooke SE3
- Brockley SE4
- Crofton Park SE4
- Ladywell SE4
- Camberwell SE5
- Denmark Hill SE5
- Bellingham SE6
- Catford SE6
- Charlton SE7
- Deptford SE8
- Eltham SE9
- Mottingham SE9
- New Eltham SE9
- Greenwich SE10
- Kennington SE11
- LambethSE11
- Oval SE11
- Grove Park SE12
- Lee SE12
- Hither Green SE13
- Lewisham SE13
- New Cross SE14
- Nunhead SE15
- Peckham SE15
- Peckham Rye SE15
- Bermondsey SE16
- Canada Water SE16
- Rotherhithe SE16
- Surrey Quays SE16
- Walworth SE17
- Plumstead SE18
- Shooters Hill SE18
- Woolwich SE18
- Crystal Palace SE19
- Norwood SE19
- Upper Norwood SE19
- Anerley SE20
- Penge SE20
- Dulwich SE21
- West Dulwich SE21
- East Dulwich SE22
- Forest Hill SE23
- Honor Oak SE23
- Herne Hill SE24
- Tulse Hill SE24
- Selhurst SE25
- South Norwood SE25
- Sydenham SE26
- West Norwood SE27
- Thamesmead SE28
