Party wall in London
Party wall notices and schedules of condition, and structural reviews of a neighbour’s proposals.
About these services
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to a large share of London building work, because so many homes share walls with neighbours or sit within a few metres of them. Loft conversions that cut into the party wall, rear extensions built on the boundary, and basements or foundations dug close to a neighbour all trigger it. This group covers the structural side of that process, for the owner doing the work and for the neighbour next door.
Building owners need notices served correctly and a clear record of the neighbouring property before work starts. Adjoining owners, and the surveyors acting for them, need someone to check that the proposed structural works are sound and will not put their home at risk. Architects and builders also come to us when a neighbour's surveyor raises structural questions that need an engineer's answer before an award can be agreed.
In terraced streets across Lambeth, Wandsworth and Hammersmith and Fulham, party wall matters are part of almost every loft and rear extension. Steel beams bearing into party walls, cut-in flashings, new foundations along the boundary and excavations close to a neighbour's footings all need to be described properly. Getting notices and drawings right early avoids disputes that can delay a start on site by weeks.
Services in this group
Are you the building owner or the neighbour?
If you are planning work, our party wall notices and schedule of condition service prepares the notices for your project and records your neighbour's property before work begins. Notice periods are generally one month for a new wall on the boundary and for nearby excavation, and two months for work to an existing party wall, so serve them early in your programme rather than waiting until the builder is booked.
If a neighbour has served notice on you, or you are a surveyor acting for an adjoining owner, a party wall structural review checks the proposed structural design: beam bearings, foundation depths, underpinning sequences and temporary works. It gives the surveyor an engineer's view to rely on when preparing the award. For an overview of how the Act and structural work fit together, see our party wall guide.
Projects using these services
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my neighbour does not respond to a party wall notice?
If the adjoining owner does not consent in writing within 14 days, a dispute is treated as having arisen under the Act. That is less serious than it sounds. It simply means surveyors are appointed, either one agreed surveyor or one for each owner, and they prepare an award setting out how and when the work will be done.
Do I need party wall notices for a loft conversion?
Usually, yes. Most loft conversions in terraced and semi-detached houses involve cutting into the party wall to bear steel beams, raising the wall for a hip-to-gable or mansard, or cutting in flashings. All of these are notifiable works. Your structural drawings should show what is proposed to the party wall so the notice describes it accurately.
Why does a schedule of condition matter for party wall work?
It records the neighbour's property before work starts, with photographs and notes on existing cracks and defects. If damage is claimed later, the schedule shows what was already there and what is new. That protects both owners. Without it, disagreements over minor cracking can become slow, costly and difficult to settle fairly.
Can a party wall surveyor ask for structural calculations?
Yes, and it is common. The adjoining owner's surveyor needs to be satisfied that the works will not harm the neighbouring property, so they often ask for calculations, drawings and a method statement covering beams bearing on the party wall, underpinning or excavation. Having these ready when notices are served speeds up the award.