Where the owner of a property is intending to carry out works affecting a party wall dividing his property from another, or is carrying out excavations within specified distances of that wall, procedures under the Party Wall etc Act 1996 have to be followed. The person carrying out the works is known as the 'Building Owner' and is obliged to serve appropriate Notices upon the neighbour, known as the Adjoining Owner, who is entitled to employ a Party Wall Act Surveyor to act on his behalf at the expense of the Building Owner. Strict time limits apply which have to be followed by both parties to avoid a 'Dispute' arising. Matters are normally agreed amicably with a Record of Condition and an Award being prepared and issued.
We, as independent surveyors, are able to act in such matters for either the Building Owner or the Adjoining Owner. In certain circumstances, one surveyor can act between the two parties.