Process FAQ
Do I need a Party Wall agreement?
If you're building near or against a neighbour's wall, yes.
If you're building near or against a neighbour's wall, yes.
If your work touches a shared wall, builds at the boundary, or excavates within 3 m of a neighbouring structure and below its foundations, yes — the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 requires written notice. One month for a party structure notice, two months for an excavation notice.
Section 1 — building a new wall at the line of junction. Section 2 — work to an existing party structure, including cutting in a beam, raising or underpinning a party wall, or inserting a damp-proof course. Section 6 — excavation within 3 m of a neighbouring structure and below its foundations, or within 6 m where the excavation falls below a 45-degree line from the neighbour's foundation.
Almost every London loft conversion, rear extension and basement engages at least one. Cutting a steel into the party wall is section 2; digging a new foundation beside the neighbour's is section 6.
The adjoining owner has fourteen days to consent or dissent. Consent in writing ends the process at no cost. Silence counts as dissent, which means surveyors must be appointed — either one agreed surveyor or one each, who then select a third.
The surveyors produce an award setting out the permitted work, working hours, access, and a schedule of condition recording the neighbour's property before work starts.
Nothing if the neighbour consents in writing. With an agreed surveyor, typically £900 to £1,400 per neighbour in London; with a surveyor each, commonly £1,500 to £2,500. The building owner normally pays both sides under section 11.
The neighbour can seek an injunction to stop the work. Without an award and a schedule of condition, any later damage claim is argued from a position of weakness. Talking to the neighbour before the formal notice arrives is the single most effective way to secure consent rather than dissent.
A worked Ealing example of do i need a party wall agreement?: with 30 conservation areas — the Ealing Broadway Conservation Area and the Pitshanger Conservation Area among the best known — London Borough of Ealing (Ealing Council) sees do i need a party wall agreement? constantly, and an Article 4 direction is in force there, so permitted development cannot be assumed. Where do i need a party wall agreement? pushes a Ealing scheme out of permitted development, the route becomes a £548 application decided in 8 weeks rather than a £249 prior approval in 6 weeks. is governed by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the GPDO 2015 and the Building Regulations 2010.
| Party structure notice | One month |
|---|---|
| Excavation notice | Two months |
| Response window | 14 days; silence is dissent |
| Agreed surveyor | £900–£1,400 per neighbour |
| Two surveyors | £1,500–£2,500 per neighbour |
| Our party wall service |
No, not lawful work — but they can require an award and can seek an injunction if no notice was served.
Normally the building owner, under section 11.
Strongly advisable even where consent is given — it protects both sides.
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