What’s included in a Party Wall Award?

What is a Party Wall?

What is the Party Wall Act?

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to work to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings.

A Building Owner proposing to start work covered by the Act must give notice to ‘Adjoining Owners’ of their intentions in the way set out in the Act. Failure to serve notice may result in an injunction to stop works on site.

Building Owner - Property Undertaking The Works

Adjoining Owner(s) - Property adjoining / nearby construction works.

This act provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to building owner works

What does the Act do?

Enables ‘building owners’ to carry out works subject to conditions and following a legal process

Gives a framework for preventing & resolving disputes to enable the ‘building owner’ to undertake the works even if the ‘adjoining owner’ objects

Enables ‘adjoining owners’ to challenge works and ensure they are undertaken in a proper way with correct design works sequences and insurances

Legally Protects both owners should damages arise out of the works

Sections

Section 1 - New Walls

A New wall constructed up to the line of the junction for the purpose of a new rear extension

Section 2 - Inserting Beams

Cutting in new steel beam for extensions, creating open plan spaces or loft conversions

Section 6-1 - Excavations

Excavation within 3 metres of an adjoining owner’s property and below the depth of their foundations

Section 6-2 - Excavations

Excavation within 6 metres of an adjoining owner’s property and if any part of the excavation intersects with a plane drawn at a 45° angle from the bottom of Adjoining owner’s foundations (such as for basement or piling works)

Timescales

Download Time Process PDF

‘Building Owner’ must inform ‘Adjoining Owner(s)’ in writing (Archway serve party wall notices)

Injunction can be issued by Adjoining Owners if not notified

Work must not cause ‘unnecessary inconvenience’ (Archway agree reasonable working practices as part of the awards

Schedule of Condition = Protection

The schedule of condition records the condition of the neighbours property before the works start. This provides protection to both parties if damage occurs due to the works. The schedule of condition can be referenced to assess what is new and what is old and allow surveyors to determine any costs that should be awarded.