Planning a loft, extension or basement, or been served a notice by your neighbour? We handle the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 process from notice to award: clearly, quickly and at a fair fee. RICS regulated, based on Rosendale Road, SE21.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 exists to ensure works proceed smoothly without damaging neighbouring properties or relationships. We provide balanced, authoritative statutory guidance from initial review through to signed awards.
If you are undertaking a loft conversion, a ground floor extension, chimney breast removal or basement excavation, you have a statutory duty to serve formal party wall notices on all affected adjoining owners before works begin. We review your architectural drawings, prepare and serve legal notices correctly, carry out thorough schedules of condition, and agree fair awards so your contractors start on schedule.
Tell us about your upcoming buildHas your neighbour served you with a party wall notice? You have statutory rights that safeguard your home, structure and peace of mind. We can act either as an independent Agreed Surveyor for both parties or solely as your appointed surveyor. Under the Party Wall Act, your surveyor's reasonable professional fees are almost invariably paid in full by the building owner carrying out the work.
Understand your response optionsWe also act for landlords, freeholders, residential managing agents, block managers and small developers who require project management, contract administration, PPM surveys or aerial drone inspections.
Tap the notice types or elements on our architectural terrace cross-section to see exactly when the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, followed by our four-stage statutory roadmap.
Applies when cutting into, repairing, raising, thickening, or cutting away chimney breasts or inserting structural steel beams into the shared party wall (e.g. for loft conversions or internal alterations). Requires at least 2 months’ statutory notice to your adjoining owner before work can begin.
The Building Owner serves formal statutory notices accompanied by clear drawings detailing proposed works.
The Adjoining Owner consents in writing, or dissents and appoints an agreed surveyor or independent surveyor.
A comprehensive photographic and written record is taken of the neighbouring property before works begin.
A legally binding award is agreed and signed, governing working hours, protections, and rights. Works proceed safely.
At CS Chartered Surveyors, we offer focused professional surveying services for residential homeowners, freeholders and commercial property clients across London.
Navigating party wall agreements can be complex, but CS Chartered Surveyors simplifies every stage. Our expert surveyors guide both Building Owners and Adjoining Owners through the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, ensuring complete legal compliance while safeguarding your home and timeline.
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Our project management services ensure that your building project stays strictly on track. From initial feasibility and team coordination through to final completion inspections, we ensure work is completed on time and within budget.
Our surveyors administer building contracts (including standard JCT forms) with precision: handling tendering, valuations, variation negotiations, interim payment certificates and defect rectification to reduce operational risk.
A planned preventative maintenance (PPM) survey inspects property fabric and mechanical services to identify impending defects and establish a prioritized 5-to-10 year schedule, keeping long-term maintenance budgets predictable.
Using unmanned aerial vehicles, our surveyors achieve a far higher standard of technical inspection for roof structures, chimneys, parapets and rainwater goods without the disruption or immense expense of temporary scaffolding.
“Chris has a calm, reassuring presence and you can tell he genuinely cares about doing things the right way. He also helped coordinate communications with adjoining owners smoothly, which made the entire process much less stressful.”
We take the complexity out of statutory party wall procedures through open communication, transparent written fees, and responsive local attendance.
Get in touch for free, friendly advice. Send us your architectural plans and we will examine your drawings to determine exactly which notices your project requires.
We provide a clear, transparent written quote confirming our professional scope and fixed or agreed hourly fees with no hidden extras or unexpected surprises.
Statutory notices are drafted and served. Where helpful, Christopher calls on neighbours in person to explain the procedure and answer questions calmly.
A photographic inspection is performed and the party wall award is completed within the agreed timescale, enabling works to begin safely under law.
Read verbatim experiences from London homeowners and adjoining owners who appointed Christopher Taylor for their party wall agreements.
“Christopher acted as our party wall surveyor and we couldn’t be happier with the service he provided. He was professional and very responsive, completing the party wall award within the time agreed. His fees were very reasonable. I would highly recommend!”
“A shout out to Chris Taylor who has served our Party Wall Agreement. The service he provided was excellent he responded quickly to both email and telephone contact and personally called on my neighbour and us to expedite the process.”
“Chris responded very quickly and was really helpful in terms of a party wall. Reasonably priced and provided an excellent service within the timescales we needed. Highly recommend!”
“We had a great experience with Christopher Taylor. He is very knowledgable and was approachable when we had questions. We 100% recommend his services.”
Party wall negotiations require more than legal form-filling; they require an exact understanding of construction methodology, structural integrity, and local residential architecture.
We operate under the rigorous professional, ethical, and client-money standards mandated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Trading formally as CS Party Wall Surveyors Ltd, ensuring contractual transparency and robust professional indemnity cover.
Because we actively manage building contracts and projects, we evaluate structural steel plans and foundation depths with practical construction expertise.
Equipped with advanced UAV technology to inspect chimney stacks, parapet copings and flashing details without expensive scaffolding.
Basement and foundation work: the jobs where a party wall award matters most.
Straightforward explanations of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 process. For specific project guidance, call us for free, friendly advice.
Yes, in almost all terraced and semi-detached properties. A loft conversion usually involves inserting steel beams into the shared party wall (requiring a Party Structure Notice under Section 2). A rear extension typically requires a Line of Junction Notice under Section 1 if building on or up to the boundary, and an Adjacent Excavation Notice under Section 6 if excavating foundations within 3 or 6 metres of your neighbour's footings.
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Do not worry, but do not ignore it: the statutory response timeframe is 14 days. You have three choices: consent in writing (we recommend requesting a schedule of condition first), dissent and appoint an Agreed Surveyor to impartially act for both properties, or dissent and appoint your own independent surveyor. Under statutory rules, the building owner doing the work pays the reasonable surveyor fees.
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A schedule of condition is a detailed, dated written record accompanied by high-resolution photographs documenting the exact state of the adjoining property before building work starts. It records existing plaster cracks, cosmetic defects, and structural conditions. If subsequent damage occurs, it provides incontrovertible proof; if no damage occurred, it protects the building owner from unfounded claims.
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Yes. Section 10 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 allows both neighbours to concur in the appointment of a single Agreed Surveyor. By law, the surveyor is not an advocate for either party; their statutory obligation is entirely impartial administration of the Act. An agreed surveyor saves substantial professional fees and frequently expedites the process.
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Under the Act, the Building Owner who initiates the work and derives the commercial and physical benefit of the extension or alteration is almost always responsible for paying the reasonable professional fees of both surveyors. An adjoining owner is not expected to bear legal costs to protect their building.
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If 14 days pass without a response, a statutory dispute is legally deemed to exist. A reminder notice is served under Section 10(4) granting a final 10 days to reply. If they still do not respond, the building owner's surveyor may appoint an independent surveyor on their behalf. This ensures your project is not stalled indefinitely while maintaining full statutory protection for your neighbour.
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Send us your plans or describe the work, and we'll tell you what notices you need and what it will cost. Free, friendly advice without obligation.
Send us a message or call us for free, friendly advice. Tell us more about your project and we will connect you with the services to fit your needs.
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| Tuesday | 8.30am – 6.00pm |
| Wednesday | 8.30am – 6.00pm |
| Thursday | 8.30am – 6.00pm |
| Friday | 8.30am – 6.00pm |
| Saturday | 9.00am – 1.00pm |
| Sunday | Closed |